What Is the Climate Like in Greece?
Greece experiences a dry-summer subtropical climate, which is commonly referred to as the Mediterranean climate, according to the Köppen climate-classification system. The two main seasons of the Mediterranean climate are a rainy and mild winter that lasts from October to March and a warm, dry summer that lasts from April to September. There are typically long periods of sunshine throughout the year.
Greece is located in southeastern Europe between the Aegean, Ionian and East Mediterranean Seas. Due to the mountain ranges in the central part of the country, eastern Greece and the areas around Athens can experience drier weather than northern and western Greece. January and February are usually the coldest months of the year, with temperatures averaging from 5 to 10 C at the coasts and 0 to 5 C over the mainland.
Despite the Mediterranean winter being classified as a rainy season, it rarely rains for more than a few days at a time in Greece. The Aegean and Ionian Islands typically experience a milder winter season. The warmest days of the year usually occur in late July and early August, when temperatures can reach 35 C. Skies are mostly clear throughout the summer season, and high temperatures are balanced by coastal breezes and the north winds of the Aegean Sea. The mainland can experience occasional, brief thunderstorms during the summer.
