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Greece: Climate

Overview

In general, Greece enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. However, the Greek climate varies considerably depending on the location, elevation and distance from the coast, and it isn’t possible to generalise. Many regions and areas are influenced by the surrounding mountains, islands and other geographical features, and some even have their own micro-climates. If you’re planning to live in Greece and don’t know whether the climate in a particular region will suit you, you should rent accommodation until you’re sure, as the extremes of hot and cold in some areas are too much for some people. Winter can also be harsh and/or extremely wet in many areas. However, you can be sure of sunshine throughout most of the country from spring to autumn and Greece boasts over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year.

Greece can be divided into several main climatic regions: Northern Macedonia and northern Epiros have a climate similar to the Balkans, with freezing winters and very hot, humid summers. In the mountains in this part of Greece, summers can also be very short and during the winter the mountains are covered in snow from November to May. Temperatures in Thessaloniki average 5ºC (40ºF) in winter and 25ºC (70ºF) in summer, although high humidity can make it appear much hotter. The area experiences rain most of the year and the average rainfall is around 50mm (2in) per month.

The Attica peninsula, the Cyclades, the Dodecanese, Crete, and the central and eastern Peloponnese enjoy a typically Mediterranean climate. Winters are generally mild (particularly by northern European standards) with daytime temperatures averaging around 14ºC (58ºF). Snow is extremely rare in the Cyclades but the high mountains of Crete and the Peloponnese are snow-covered throughout the winter and it has been known to snow in Athens. Summers are very hot with average daytime temperatures of 32ºC (94ºF), although some respite is provided by the northern meltémi winds in July and August. However, although the meltémi lowers the temperature and reduces humidity, the strong wind often causes havoc with ferry schedules and sends everything flying. Summer evenings are usually pleasantly cool on the islands.

The western Peloponnese, Stereá Ellhada, Epiros and the Ionian islands escape the meltémi winds and have less severe winters than northern Greece, but have the highest rainfall, with an average of around 270mm (11in) a month during the winter in Crete. Crete is, however, the warmest place in Greece and you can swim in the warm waters off its southern coast from mid-April to November.

The north-eastern Aegean islands, Halkidiki and the Pelion peninsula have a climate that’s mid-way between that of the harsher Balkans to the north and the southern Mediterranean.

The best time to make a house-hunting visit to Greece is in the spring (or autumn), when it’s pleasantly warm but not usually too hot, the countryside is a mass of flowers and the hordes of tourists have yet to arrive. However, note that outside the high season not all services will be operating or offering the quality of service they provide in the summer, and some islands may be virtually at a standstill.

Winters can be harsh in most of Greece, but the most dependable winter weather can be found in the Dodecanese (especially Rhodes) and in southern Crete, although winters in most islands are generally mild and a blessed relief from frozen northern Europe. However, you should not underestimate a Greek winter, which can be cold and very damp! In summer, hot and dry conditions are common everywhere except for some higher altitudes, which should be borne in mind when buying a home in Greece. The average sea-level temperature in July is around 27ºC (81ºF). Most islands have little rainfall in summer and parts of the country frequently suffer drought conditions.

Earthquakes

Greece is situated in one of the most earthquake-prone areas of the world and seismic activity is almost a daily occurrence (there have been over 20,000 tremors over the last four decades). Fortunately most of this is limited to minor or imperceptible tremors, but occasionally the country suffers a major earthquake. In 1953 most of the towns and villages on the Ionian islands of Ithaki and Kefallonia were destroyed by an earthquake. More recently in 1999 an earthquake in Athens killed 139 and left thousands homeless, and in 2003 the island of Lefkada suffered an earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale.

There’s strict legislation regarding construction and all new properties must be built to withstand earth tremors. Older properties, particularly village houses and farmhouses, tend to have thick stone walls strong enough to hold up against earthquakes.

Information about recent seismic activity and which areas are most prone can be found on the Athen’s Institute of Geodynamics website (www.gein.noa.gr) or at: http://lemnos.geo.auth.gr/the_seisnet/en/greekquakes.htm.

© Survival Books Limited 2005

“Buying a Home in Greece” 3rd Edition, Joanna Styles.

Reproduced with the permission of Survival Books Limited.

Further information on buying a home in Greece can be found in “Buying a Home in Greece” 3rd edition, by Joanna Styles.

For extensive information about buying a property in Greece, you can purchase this book at www.survivalbooks.net

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