Weather and climate in Lefkada (Greece)

In Lefkada (also called Leucas), a Greek island in the Ionian Sea, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers. At sea level, the daily average temperature ranges from 10 °C (50 °F) in January to 26 °C (79 °F) in August.
Here are the average temperatures.

Rainfall amounts to about 1.000 millimeters (40 inches) per year, and follows the Mediterranean pattern, in fact, it is concentrated in the period from October to April, while in summer, it rains very rarely. The rains are plentiful from October to February, when they exceed 100 mm (4 in) per month. Here is the average precipitation.

The island is very close to the mainland, to which it is connected by a bridge. In the interior, there are hills and low mountains, which culminate in Mount Stavrota, 1,158 meters (3,799 feet) high. Given the amount of rainfall, the island is green despite the summer drought, and it's covered with forests.



Winter, from December to mid-March, is mild and rainy: there is a moderate amount of sunny days, but they alternate with periods of bad weather, with rains even abundant. Sometimes, a cold wind from the north can blow, and in the coldest nights, light frosts can occur in the plain.

Spring, from mid-March to May, is mild; the rains become gradually rarer, and fine weather becomes more and more frequent. May is a good month, before the summer heat.

Summer, from June to mid-September, is hot and sunny; the maximum temperature normally fluctuates around 30 °C (86 °F), but it can sometimes reach 35/37 °C (95/99 °F). Luckily, sea breezes blow, and in any case, you can cool yourself in the sea.

Autumn, from mid-September to November, is mild (and initially, even quite warm) and rainy. In October, there can still be sunny days, but the rains are quite abundant, and can also occur in the form of thunderstorms.



The amount of sunshine in Lefkada is great in late spring and summer, when clear skies prevail; from October to April, instead, the sun does not always shine because there are sunny days, but also periods of bad weather. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The temperature of the sea in Lefkada is high enough for swimming from July to September, while in June, it is still a bit cool. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to go to Lefkada for a beach holiday runs from June to mid-September.
If you plan to go hiking and walking across the island, you can go from mid-April to mid-June in order to avoid the heat that can occur in high summer.

Back to the Ionian Islands.

Lefkada - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.8 °C (50 °F), with a minimum of 6.3 °C (43.3 °F) and a maximum of 13.2 °C (55.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -1.4 °C (29.5 °F) in January 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it reached 21 °C (69.8 °F) in January 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 140 mm (5.5 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (60.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.3 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.7 °C (44 °F) and a maximum of 14 °C (57.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -3.2 °C (26.2 °F) in February 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F) and a maximum of 16.2 °C (61.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in March 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it reached 25.2 °C (77.4 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F) and a maximum of 19.1 °C (66.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) in April 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in April 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.0 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 14.7 °C (58.4 °F) and a maximum of 23.4 °C (74.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 8 °C (46.4 °F) in May 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 23.0 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 18.5 °C (65.4 °F) and a maximum of 27.6 °C (81.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in June 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in June 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 11 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 25.4 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 20.7 °C (69.2 °F) and a maximum of 30 °C (86 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it dropped to 14.8 °C (58.6 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95 °F). However, it reached 39.2 °C (102.6 °F) in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 82% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25 °C (77 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.2 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 21.4 °C (70.6 °F) and a maximum of 31 °C (87.8 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 18 °C (65 °F). However, it dropped to 15.4 °C (59.7 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (96 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in August 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 88% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 26 °C (79 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 22.9 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 18.5 °C (65.4 °F) and a maximum of 27.2 °C (81.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in September 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 35.4 °C (95.7 °F) in September 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 81% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25 °C (77 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.4 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 15.4 °C (59.7 °F) and a maximum of 23.4 °C (74.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 7.6 °C (45.7 °F) in October 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 33 °C (91.4 °F) in October 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (73 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.1 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 11.5 °C (52.6 °F) and a maximum of 18.7 °C (65.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) in November 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in November 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 175 mm (6.9 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.2 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F) and a maximum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.5 °C (31.1 °F) in December 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C (66.5 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 185 mm (7.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.