Friday, July 10, 2009

Guide To Greece : The Weather In Greece

By Jamie Gibbs

In this installment of our guide to holidays in Greece we look at Greece's climate...

Greece has a typical Mediterranean climate - it usually has long warm, dry summers and short, mild but wet winters.

However, the climate does have regional variations. While Greece is a relatively small country, its southern islands, central mainland hills and plains, and northern mountains experience different weather in the same seasons.

From April until November, the weather is almost constantly hot, dry and sunny throughout Greece. Rain in this season is infrequent and rarely consists of more than short showers. The best weather is in May-June and September-October. The hottest time of the year is from mid-July to mid-August when temperatures average about 35 degrees and heat-waves with significantly higher temperatures can occur. If you're in Greece at this time of year, try to stay indoors or in the shade from 11am-4pm when the sun is at its strongest.

Once the dry season is over, the rains begin. This cool, wet period usually starts in November and lasts until late March or early April. Most of the rain falls from December to April, when it rains on roughly one in every three days. In northern Greece, the winters are wetter and colder than in other parts of the country. Flooding can occur and snowfalls are not uncommon.

Summer is Greece's peak tourist season, but the off-season from November through February has its attractions. Visitors from cooler climates can find this a rewarding time to see the country, especially its driest parts - the southern Aegean and parts of the southeastern mainland. Sun isn't guaranteed, but the fall in temperatures will be mirrored by drops in prices and crowds.

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