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Greece's Weather
Home » Greece » Greece: Overview and History » Greece's WeatherThe weather in Greece is that of a warm Mediterranean climate, alternating between hot, dry summers and cold, damp winters. There is, however, significant amount of variation depending on the cities elevation and distance from the sea. The summers are dry and hot, with respite coming from breezes in the north and the coastal areas. The average sea-level temperature is 27° C in July. Athens, the country’s capital, can be oppressively hot while the Ionian and Aegean islands are extremely warm in October and November. The evenings in Greece tend to be cool.
Winters are mild in southern Greece while in northern Greece they are significantly colder. During the winter, low-pressure systems travel to Greece from the North Atlantic, carrying with them rain and moderating temperatures as well as cold winds from the eastern Balkans. The same systems also bring up warmer winds from the south, generating an average January temperature differential of 4°C between Thessaloniki (6° C) and Athens (10° C).
The rainy season in Greece occurs from November to March. The western mountains and Ionian Islands receive a significant amount of rain while the eastern mainland receives considerably less precipitation as mountains protect them. Athens only receives about 406 millimeters of rain annually whereas Corfu receives about 1,300 millimeters.
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