The climate of Samothrace, an island in the north-eastern Aegean Sea, is transitional Mediterranean, given the northern location, with relatively cold and rainy winters, and hot and sunny summers. The average temperature of January is 6 °C (43 °F), that of August is 26 °C (79 °F).
Here are the average temperatures.

The island is windy in the cold half of the year, and in winter it is subject to cold air outbreaks from the Balkan Peninsula. The interior of the island is almost entirely occupied by Mount Fengari, 1,611 metres (5,285 feet) high. The northern and eastern sides are green and covered with forests, while the western and the southern sides are arid.

The rains follow the Mediterranean pattern, and are more frequent from October to April; they are not abundant, since they do not reach 600 millimetres (23.5 in) per year. In summer, rainfall is rare, in the form of short showers or thunderstorms.
Here is the average precipitation.



Winter, from December to mid-March, is pretty cold: normally the maximum temperature hovers around 10 °C (50 °F), but at certain times it may remain below 5 °C (41 °F), in addition a moderate or even strong wind can blow, heightening the feeling of cold. Moreover, sometimes, and not too infrequently, it can snow, and there may be night frosts. The rains are quite frequent; the rainiest month is December. There are also mild days, with highs about 13/15 °C (55/59 °F).

Spring, from mid-March to May, is mild, but with some periods a bit cold, windy and rainy, which gradually become less frequent.

Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, with rare showers. Typically the maximum temperatures hover around 30 °C (86 °F), but there are also hotter periods, with highs around 32/34 °C (93/97 °F). Luckily, sea breezes blow.

Autumn, from September to November, is pleasantly warm at first, then gradually becomes milder. The rains gradually become more frequent, although in September there are still entire weeks without rain. In November, the first days a bit cold and windy begin to occur, and sometimes also in October.



The amount of sunshine in Samothrace is very good in summer, when clear skies prevail, and it is also good in May and September, while in the rest of the year it is not so remarkable, since there are several periods in which the sky is cloudy.
Here are the average daily sunshine hours in nearby Thasos.

The temperature of the sea, still cold in May, and cool in June, when it's around 22 °C (72 °F), reaches its peak in July and August, around 24 °C (75 °F), when it becomes warm enough for swimming, and remains acceptable in September, when it drops to 23 °C (73 °F).
Here are the average sea temperatures.

When to go

The best time to go to Samothrace, for swimming and sunbathing, is the summer, from June to August. In June, and sometimes in early July, there may be some cool evenings, so it's best to bring a sweatshirt for the evening.
In May, not only the sea is cold, but sometimes there may be some cool days, with highs below 20 °C (68 °F), especially in the first part of the month.
For excursions across the island, you can choose May and September.

Back to the North Aegean Islands.