Climate - Chios (Greece)

In Chios, an island of the Eastern Aegean Sea, not far from the Turkish coast, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. The monthly average temperature ranges from 10 °C (50 °F) in January and February to 26.5 °C (79.5 °F) in July and August.
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 650 millimeters (25.5 inches) per year and is concentrated from November to March; the rains often occur in the form of thunderstorm, and sometimes may be abundant. In summer, basically it never rains. In the interior of the island, there are hills and mountains, which culminate in Mount Pelineon, 1,297 meters (4,255 feet) high, and Mount Epos, 1,188 meters (3,898 feet) high. Most of the island is semi-arid, but there are also greener areas. Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to mid-March, is quite mild: daytime temperatures hover around 13/14 °C (55/57 °F). The rains are quite frequent, but there are also sunny days. The north wind can bring cold periods, with maximum temperatures below 10 °C (50 °F); moreover, the wind can increase the feeling of cold. Sometimes, it can even snow.

Spring, from mid-March to May, is mild, and becomes progressively warmer over the weeks, with more sunshine and less rain.

Summer, from June to mid-September, is hot and sunny. The Meltemi, the wind from the north-west, blows from mid-May onwards, cooling the air, but less often than on the islands of the Central Aegean Sea. Usually, the maximum temperatures hover around 30 °C (86 °F); sometimes, there can be short periods of intense heat, with highs around 36/38 °C (97/100 °F).

Autumn, from mid-September to November, is often sunny and pleasantly warm at the beginning, and then it gradually becomes milder, and with more frequent rain.



The amount of sunshine in Chios is great in summer, when clear skies prevail, and it's very good in spring, while in autumn and winter, there are sunny periods, but also others characterized by clouds and rain. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The temperature of the sea in this part of the Aegean Sea is never very high, however, it reaches a maximum of 23 °C (73 °F) in July and August. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to go to Chios for a beach holiday runs from June to mid-September. In early June, the weather can still be a little cool in the evening: you can bring a sweatshirt for safety.
In May, not only the sea is still a bit cold, but also the air can be cool for sunbathing, at least on certain days.
Since in summer it can be hot, the spring, in April and May, is the best time to visit the ruins of ancient Greece or the Middle Ages. You can also choose autumn, at least until October, while later, the rains become more frequent.

Back to the North Aegean Islands.