Platanias, Greece<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Platanias village is a busy tourist resort located on the Greek island of Crete, which experiences the typical Mediterranean climate of extremely hot summers and cool, rainy winters. Holidaymakers can expect to enjoy up to 13 hours of sunshine in July, making Platanias the ideal destination for a summer holiday.
Plataniasâs location on the northern coastline of Crete brings the benefit of Mediterranean winds (also known as the âMeltemiâ) along the beaches, which provide a welcome relief from the summer heat.
Summer:
From June to July tourists experience the hottest temperatures in Platanias, averaging at the 29°C mark in August. The temperature doesnât cool much at night, staying up at an average of 21 degrees in the midst of summer. It is worth noting that the resort does experience very low levels of humidity, making the heat much more bearable. The sea is also very warm in summer, making swimming extremely pleasant in the 25°C waters. The chances of it raining in summer are minimal, with only an average of one day of rain throughout July and August.
Autumn:
The average temperatures drop to the low twenties at the start of October, making it cooler but still tremendously pleasant. The evenings are mild with an average high of 16°C right through until November. Rain showers then become more prevalent with an average of six H2O-heavy days per month throughout the autumn, so itâs useful to peek at a forecast before setting off. The sea is still warm enough for swimming at a nice 22 °C in October. Seven hours of sunshine a day makes Platanias an ideal autumn getaway and avoiding the high season crowds allows for a very relaxing holiday.
Winter:
December to February brings the cooler weather, with just four hours of sunshine a day, although by U.K standards the mild average temperatures of 14 degrees are not exactly cold! The winters in Platanias are however rainy and wet, with up to 11 days of rain and 137mm falling each month during the winter. The nights are cold, averaging at 8°C â" a jumper is definitely required!
Spring:
March, April and May see the temperatures steadily begin to rise, from averages of 16°C up to highs of 23°C by the end of May. A warm, balmy, spring holiday can be experienced by tourists at this time, with only an average of 13mm of rain falling in May, so there are minimal chances of a washed out vacation. The sea begins to warm up, reaching 20 degrees by the end of spring. Night times remain cool at an average of 15 degrees in April, but are nevertheless more bearable than those of the winter months.
Platanias is located on Creteâs west coast which experiences milder temperatures than the more desert-like heat of the south coast due to the cooling effect of the northern winds. This makes the resort more popular than some of the resorts in the south such as Paleohora and Sougia. Crete itself has the mildest climate in Greece due to its southerly location. Amongst a cluster of resorts on the western coast, Platanias is the biggest and the busiest.