Climate - Milos (Greece)

In Milos, the most south-western island of the Cyclades, and on the nearby islands of Kimolos, Polyaigos and Antimilos, the climate is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and warm, sunny summers.
The island is windy, and in summer, it is cooled by a wind which often blows from the north. The wind has been exploited for centuries by windmills.
The interior of the island is flat in the eastern part, while the western one is occupied by hills, whose highest point is Mount Profitis Elias, 748 meters (2,454 feet) high. The island is of origin volcanic and is characterized by a lunar landscape, with rocky terrain, caves and sulfur springs.
At sea level, the daily average temperature ranges from 11 °C (52 °F) in January and February to 26.5 °C (79.5 °F) in July and August. Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation follows the Mediterranean pattern, in fact, it is concentrated from October to March, and it's not abundant, since it amounts to about 400 millimeters (15.7 inches) per year, which is confirmed by the aridity of the landscape. In summer, it practically never rains. Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to mid-March, is mild, quite rainy and windy. The wind, frequent and sometimes intense, exacerbates the feeling of cold. Sometimes, the area can be affected by cold air coming from the Balkans, in fact, there can be cold days, with highs below 10 °C (50 °F), and sometimes, even snow can fall, although generally there is no accumulation at sea level. The coldest record is -2 °C (28.4 °F) and was set in February 1976 and in February 2004.

Spring, from mid-March to May, is mild and sunny, and also quite windy. By mid-May, the Meltemi starts to blow, a persistent wind, cool and dry, blowing from the north for a few days in a row, especially during the daytime, but sometimes even at night.

Summer, from June to mid-September, is warm and sunny, but also windy. The Meltemi blows for long periods, especially in July and August, and it's stronger in the afternoon, but can insist also in the evening. Thanks to this wind, the maximum temperature remains around 30 °C (86 °F), even though we can not be exclude periods with temperatures about 35/36 °C (95/97 °F), and very rarely, peaks of 40 °C (104 °F). The highest record is 42 °C (107.6 °F), set in July 1998 and in July 2000.

Autumn, from mid-September to November, is initially warm and sunny, but then it gradually becomes cooler and rainier. Autumn too is windy: as long as the weather is good, the Meltemi still blows, while later, the wind blows along with disturbances from the Atlantic Ocean or the Mediterranean Sea.



The amount of sunshine in Milos is excellent in summer, when clear skies prevail, while in winter, sunny periods alternate with others characterized by clouds and rain.
Here are the average daily sunshine hours.

The temperature of the sea is not very high, however, it is warm enough for swimming from July to September; in June, it is still a bit cool. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to go to Milos for a beach holiday is the summer, from June to mid-September.
It's better to bring a sweatshirt for cool evenings, which occur mainly in June, but given the intensity of the wind, those who are sensitive to cold may feel a bit cool also in July and August.
If you want to go on excursions, you can go in spring, in April and May, but since it's usually not too hot, you can stroll around the island also in summer.

Back to the Cyclades Islands.

Milos - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Milos is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30.2 °F) in January 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in January 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (61 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In February, the weather in Milos is usually mild. The average temperature is of 11.1 °C (52 °F), with a minimum of 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) and a maximum of 13.5 °C (56.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in February 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 22.8 °C (73 °F) in February 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Milos is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.8 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 10 °C (50 °F) and a maximum of 15.6 °C (60.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (42 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in March 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (59.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Milos is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.8 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 12.3 °C (54.1 °F) and a maximum of 19.3 °C (66.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47.5 °F). However, it dropped to 4 °C (39.2 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in April 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Milos is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.2 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 16.1 °C (61 °F) and a maximum of 24.2 °C (75.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in May 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 36.6 °C (97.9 °F) in May 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Milos is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 24.6 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F) and a maximum of 28.7 °C (83.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it dropped to 12.4 °C (54.3 °F) in June 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 41.6 °C (106.9 °F) in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 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 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In July, the weather in Milos is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 26.5 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 22.6 °C (72.7 °F) and a maximum of 30.4 °C (86.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). However, it dropped to 17.8 °C (64 °F) in July 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in July 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 84% of the time.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average sea temperature is of 24 °C (75 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In August, the hottest month of the year, the weather in Milos is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 26.6 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23 °C (73.4 °F) and a maximum of 30.2 °C (86.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it dropped to 18.8 °C (65.8 °F) in August 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 39.2 °C (102.6 °F) in August 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only 0 mm (0 in), so on average it never rains in the whole month.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average sea temperature is of 25 °C (77 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Milos is usually warm to hot. The average temperature is of 23.9 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 20.5 °C (68.9 °F) and a maximum of 27.3 °C (81.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it dropped to 13 °C (55.4 °F) in September 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 39.6 °C (103.3 °F) in September 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 77% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average sea temperature is of 24 °C (75.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Milos is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.2 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 17.2 °C (63 °F) and a maximum of 23.1 °C (73.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (56 °F). However, it dropped to 10.2 °C (50.4 °F) in October 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in October 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (72 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Milos is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) and a maximum of 18.5 °C (65.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in November 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Milos is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.5 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 1 °C (33.8 °F) in December 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 26.2 °C (79.2 °F) in December 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 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 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.