Weather and climate in Cyclades (Greece)

The Cyclades Islands are located in the central part of the Aegean Sea, and have a Mediterranean climate, with mild, moderately rainy winters and warm, sunny summers. The wind blows frequently: in winter, a cold wind from the continent can blow, while summers are characterized by the Meltemi, a wind that reduces the feeling of heat while maintaining the sea temperature a bit cool, and that can also make the sea rough and create marine currents.
The main islands of the Cyclades are Amorgos, Anafi, Andros, Antiparos, Kimolos, Delos, Ios, Kea, Folegandros, Kythnos, Milos, Mykonos, Naxos, Paros, Rineia, Serifos, Sifnos, Sikinos, Syros, Tinos, and Santorini.
To the south of Naxos, we find the small archipelago of the Lesser Cyclades, which includes the islands of Ano Koufonisi, Kato Koufonisi, Donoussa, Schoinoussa, Irakleia, and Keros (with the neighbouring islets of Ano Antikeri and Kato Antikeri). On the Lesser Cyclades, the climate is similar to that of the nearby islands of Naxos and Ios.

The average temperature on the Cyclades ranges from around 11/12 °C (52/53 °F) in January and February to around 26 °C (79 °F) in July and August.
Here, for example, are the average temperatures in Santorini.

In winter, especially in January and February, the islands can be affected by outbreaks of cold air from the continent, and in these cases, there may be cold days, with highs below 10 °C (50 °F), and a strong wind able to increase the feeling of cold. Sometimes it can even snow, especially on the northernmost islands, and on the elevations of the islands that have hills and low mountains in the interior.
In summer, during heat waves, when in other areas of Greece the temperature can exceed 40 °C (104 °F), in the Cyclades it generally remains on lower values.



Rainfall on the Cyclades is not abundant, since it is generally below 500 millimeters (20 inches) per year, and sometimes below 400 mm (16 inches); it is concentrated in the cold period, from October to March, when it can occur in the form of showers or thunderstorms.
Because of the long summer drought, the landscape is typically semi-arid, especially on the flat islands, on the southern slopes and along the coasts; on the islands that have some elevations, the highest areas and the slopes exposed to the north and west are generally more verdant.
Here is the average precipitation in Milos.

The amount of sunshine on the Cyclades is great in summer, when clear skies are the norm. In winter, periods of bad weather, with cloudy skies, alternate with sunny periods.
Here are the average daily sunshine hours in Naxos.



Since the wind that blows in summer tends to keep the sea temperature a bit low, the sea on the Cyclades Islands is never very warm; however, it reaches a maximum of 23/24 °C (73/75 °F) in July and August. In June, it's still a bit cool. Here, for example, is the sea temperature in Mykonos.

Best Time

The best time to go to the Cyclades Islands for a beach holiday is the summer, from June to mid-September.
It's better to bring a sweatshirt for the cool evenings, which occur mainly in June, but given the intensity of the wind, those who are sensitive to cold can feel a little cool also in July and August.
For hikes, the spring is good, in April and May, but since it's usually not too hot, you can walk round the islands also in summer.

Back to the Greek Islands.