In Kalymnos, an island of the eastern Aegean Sea, and belonging to the Dodecanese group, a short distance from the Turkish coast, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild and rainy winters, and hot and sunny summers. The average temperature of February is 9.5 °C (49 °F), that of July is 25.5 °C (78 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 730 millimetres (28.5 inches) per year, and is concentrated between October and March; it often occurs in the form of thunderstorm, and sometimes can be abundant. In summer it almost never rains. Due to the length of the dry period, the landscape is arid, also in the inland hills, whose highest point is at about 600 metres (2,000 feet) above sea level.
Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to mid-March, is mild enough: daytime temperatures hover about 12/14 °C (54/57 °F). The rains are quite frequent, but there are also sunny days. Sometimes it can be a bit cold, with highs below 10 °C (50 °F). The wind can increase the feeling of cold. Sometimes you can even see a bit of snow, though usually with no accumulation, at least in the plains.

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

Summer, from June to mid-September, is hot and sunny. The Meltemi, the north-west wind, blows from mid-May, cooling the air, but with lower intensity than on the central islands of the Aegean Sea. In addition, sometimes there are some periods of intense heat, with highs around 35 °C (95 °F).

Autumn, from mid-September to November, is often sunny and pleasantly warm at the beginning, and then gradually becomes milder, and also rainier.



The amount of sunshine in Kalymnos is great in summer, when clear skies prevail, it's very good in late spring, while in autumn and winter it is only decent, because sunny periods alternate with others characterized by clouds and rain.
Here are the average daily sunshine hours in nearby Kos.

The sea is warm enough for swimming from July to September, and reaches 24 °C (75 °F) in August.
Here are the average sea temperatures.

When to go

The best time to go to Kalymnos for a beach holiday runs from June to mid-September. In early June it can still be a little cool in the evening: for safety you can bring a sweatshirt.
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.
For hiking, the best time is spring, especially the month of May, since in summer it can be hot. You can also choose autumn, especially the month of October, whereas November is cooler and rainfall is more frequent.

Back to the Dodecanese.