The Weather Forecast for Crete

The best time to visit Crete for the weather has to be June, July and August, but the weather is still fine around these months. During the winter months the climate is much colder on Crete and it does receive a heavy amount of rain, the mountains around the west of Crete receive a fair amount of snow, and sometimes it snows on the beaches of Crete, which being a hot country is a sight to see.

If your just looking for an average temperature forecast for the island of Crete then use the graphs to work out what the average temperature will be. The daily reports give you an indication on the temperature that day.

The weather forecasts cover the main holiday resorts, these temperatures and weather forecasts cover the popular holiday resorts in Crete. Below the daily temperatures you will find more information on the weather to the East and West of the island including average yearly temperatures for the island itself.

Having data on average yearly temperatures in Crete helps you the holiday maker decide when the best time is to visit. If you like cooler weather but hotter than the UK then try May, June, September and October and for those looking to bake on the beach try late June, July and August and you wont be disappointed.

The Weather in the West of Crete

The west of Crete with its capital city of Chania is hotter than its eastern counterparts, with temperatures usually hovering 1 or 2 degrees higher than say Heraklion. We have included the weather forecasts for Chania of which includes the current temperatures and wind speeds.

The holiday weather report with 5 day forecast is Chania, the capital city and the 2nd largest city on the island. The west of Crete is a highly desirable holiday destination due to its more traditional rural villages, its not thronged with tourists so you can relax, enjoy and not have to worry about fighting for your sunbeds on the beach.

If your thinking about going to Crete in the high season (June, July and August) then make sure you take good UV protection, sunglasses, a hat to cover your face and the appropriate sun creams, with at least a factor 30 or 40 for the first few days.

The sun is at it’s hottest during the times of 12 noon until 2pm, so you will find even the locals heading for the shade or a siesta, we recommend you do the same.

The Weather in the East of Crete

The east of Crete has some great weather and temperatures, its slightly cooler than the west side of the island, but not so you would notice the difference.

The main city for the west of the island is Heraklion, and its the capital city of Crete. You will fly into this airport to get to resorts like Matala, Agios Nikolaos, Ierapetra, Sitia, Stalis, Malia and Hersonissos to name a few.

You will notice the difference in the weather reports for the 4 main resorts here vary very little, that’s because overall Crete is a small island and the weather throughout the summer is generally clear and sunny.

The island does get what's known as the Meltemi winds or Etesians which is a northerly wind, the winds are at their strongest in late July and August and are created by low pressure troughs in Turkey. These winds channel over the island through the cooling mountains and over the sea’s.

The Average Monthly Temperatures for Crete

The chart with the orange bars shows the average monthly temperatures throughout the year based on results taken from the MET office of Greece. This must be taken as a rough guide due to the constant climatic changes happening around the world.

The next bar graph is the average monthly sea temperatures for the island of Crete, which as you can see actually its higher than the land temperatures at times. Again these are subject to the climatic changes happening around the globe, but no matter what the temperature of the sea you will always find the sea in Crete to be very clean and unpolluted with thriving underwater life.

If you have already booked a holiday to Crete then the best you can hope for is that the weather holds cam and dry, which it does throughout the summer season. But if you are looking to book a holiday for a great beach holiday you cant go far wrong in July and August.

For those looking for cooler temperatures try June or September.

Average Monthly Temperatures for Crete

Average Monthly Sea Temperatures for Crete

A seasonal weather overview for Crete

If you plan to visit Crete then this little guide might help you decide the best times to travel. The summer temperatures start in June and continue through until September. In June the temperatures averages 22ºC, with July and August seeing that rise up to 30ºC and beyond at times. In September you can expect averages of 26ºC.

Moving into October and November the autumn months see the temperature dip to around 19ºC, also this is when the rain really starts to come.

Throughout the winter in Crete, the resorts have mainly all shut down and the bars all close up, all that's left is the small Greek bars and Taverna's open all year round, the temperature now is highest at 16ºC but can drop to 10ºC and lower. The months of January and February are the coldest in Crete and over the past few years snow has even laid on the beaches.

Spring time is a popular time for most families to visit Crete as its mild, but the weather is acceptable at 13ºC to 15ºC, the sea is pleasant enough to swim in and the swimming pools are slightly chilled. You can still expect some rainfall in the months of March and April.

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

Crete Weather

Holidays2Crete.com > Guides to Crete > Weather in Crete