The remaining 4 months are divided between spring and fall
The pleasant climate of Crete provides sunshine for more than 2800 hours/year.
Greece has a wide
range of climate types, ranging from the semi-arid, semi-desert climate
of south-eastern Crete to the cold, humid continental climate of Rhodope.
Vegetation and
variations in climate are dependent on geographical regions. The multiplicity
of plants is exceptional with some 6000 indigenous species having been
recorded so far. Over 250 of these flourish in Crete alone. This impressive
abundance of flora and fauna arises from Greece's unique geographical
location between Europe and Africa and the specific climate of this
region, affected by the mountain range crossing the island from east
to west and dividing Crete in a northern, typical Mediterranean climate
area, and a southern, almost subtropical one.
Higher in the mountains
the climate is mountainous. Thus, for instance in Imbros gorge, south-west
Crete (Sfakia), one starts at the top with a mountain climate, half
way the gorge it's Mediterranean and at the bottom boarding the Libyan
Sea subtropical. Flora has adapted itself to this situation, so a wide
variety can be found.
Over the year the weather in (South) Crete can be characterised like this:
* March and
April: early Spring, with unstable weather. It can be rainy
and windy, but also sunny and warm. Temperatures on Crete range
from 14 to 25° C
* May and early
June: full Spring, with usually sunny weather and some short
rain showers. Temperatures range from 25° C early May until
low thirties in June. This period is great for outdoors activities,
like walking and mountain hiking, or for sunbathing and swimming
* Late June
until mid September: full summer, no rain, temperatures in
the thirties Celsius. Also in the nights temperature may well stay
above 30° C. Winds on the islands, such as Crete, well contribute
to the experience of temperature: late afternoon there might be
a cooling breeze. More about the winds on Crete here
* Mid September
to late October: like Spring again. High twenties Celsius,
an occassional rain shower or some clouds. The second period of
the year suitable for walking, but also for the beach
* Late October
to early January: unstable Autumn weather, ranging from sunny
and warm days with about 25° C to some rainy, cloudy and windy
days with 16° C. It might be possible to comfortably swim in
the sea until early January, since the water still is warm. See
also our daily
winter report 2002 - 2003
* Early January
until mid March: more rain and wind, sometimes very sunny.
Temperatures from 10 - 20° C.
South
Crete has a warmer climate than North Crete:
higher temperatures, less wind and less rain
Please
note the above description is a general weather impression. Actual
conditions may vary from day to day.
Other side of the
Libyan Sea: Tobruk, Libya, directly opposite of Chora Sfakion. The actual
weather in Sfakia is between the observations of Souda, Chania and Tobruk.
With winds from the north, Sfakia is warmer, from the south Tobruk.
The data presented
here are collected from the meteorological station of the Institute
for Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, located at
Penteli
area, Athens, Greece
Daily forecasts
are issued for Europe, Greece and Athens area by two models: BOLAM and
MM5.
Detailed forecasts are issued for 40 major Greek cities, as well as
for selected locations over the Greek seas (sailing forecasts). Forecasts
are presented as maps, time-plots, word text and outlook tables. Surface
observations over Europe and Greece, satellite pictures, satellite
winds
and sferics are also presented.
The most recently
observed weather conditions for Greece are available here. Select
a location from the map to display
the latest observation from that location
Interesting
article about what could happen to Crete
when the climate gets hotter: Desertification
(=The transformation of arable or habitable land
to desert, as by a change in climate or destructive land use)
South
Crete has a warmer climate than North Crete: 
