Weather and climate in Santorini (Greece)

The climate of Santorini, the largest and southernmost of the Cyclades, is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and warm, sunny summers.
The Cyclades (which include islands like Delos, Mykonos, Paros and Ios) are located in the Aegean Sea. The interior is largely flat, but there is also a hill, Mount Profitis Ilias, 567 meters (1,860 feet) high. The island is volcanic, and is the result of an ancient explosion, along with the nearby smaller islands: Therasia, Aspronisi, Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni.
In the warm season, starting from May, the Cyclades (and therefore also Santorini) are particularly affected by the Meltemi, a wind that blows from the north, persistently and in periods lasting a few days. This wind is able to make the air feel cooler than it is, but it can also be annoying and make the sea rough.
The average temperature ranges from 12 °C (53.5 °F) in January and February to 26.5 °C (79.5 °F) in July and August. Here are the average temperatures.

The rainfall pattern is typically Mediterranean, in fact, the rains are concentrated in autumn and winter, and in particular, from October to March. In practice, it rains very rarely from April to September, and almost never in summer, from June to August. The length of the dry season makes the landscape arid. Here is the average precipitation.

In winter, from December to mid-March, temperatures are generally mild, but waves of bad weather, with wind and rain, can not be excluded. Sometimes, there can be cold days, with the north wind blowing, during which the maximum temperature remains below 10 °C (50 °F).
Given its southern location, snow in Santorini is rarer than in the other Cyclades islands, however, occasionally the island can be whitened even at sea level, as happened in February 2004 and February 2008.

In spring, from mid-March to May, the weather is mild, and it gradually becomes more stable, with rain becoming gradually less frequent.

Summer, from June to mid-September, is warm and sunny. The wind makes the heat almost always bearable, although there can sometimes be some short heat waves coming from Africa.

Autumn, from mid-September to November, is initially warm and sunny, but then, the first rains occur, and with each passing week, they become more frequent. In autumn, there may be many sunny days, but the rains in this season can sometimes be abundant.



The amount of sunshine in Santorini 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 sunshine hours per day.

The sea is warm enough for swimming from July to September, and reaches a maximum of 24.5 °C (76 °F) in August; therefore, it is not very warm, but it is acceptable. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time for a beach holiday in Santorini is the summer, from June to mid-September. Those who are sensitive to cold can bring a sweatshirt also in midsummer, for windy and cool evenings.
In spring and autumn, especially in April and May and from mid-September to mid-October, you will find pleasant temperatures, and the weather will be often sunny, although there can be also some short periods of bad weather.

Back to the Cyclades Islands.

Santorini - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

---

January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.2 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 10.2 °C (50.3 °F) and a maximum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (40.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in January 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 24 °C (75.2 °F) in January 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) and a maximum of 14.4 °C (58 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °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 25 °C (77 °F) in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 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 68%.
The average wind speed is 24 kph (15 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (60.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.7 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) and a maximum of 16 °C (60.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35.6 °F) in March 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 30 °C (86 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 6 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 67%.
The average wind speed is 23 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (60.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.1 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (49.5 °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 24 °C (75 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in April 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 3 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 wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16.5 °C (61.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.0 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 17 °C (62.7 °F) and a maximum of 23 °C (73.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9 °C (48.2 °F) in May 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in May 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 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 65%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

---

June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.3 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 21.1 °C (70 °F) and a maximum of 27.5 °C (81.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it dropped to 14 °C (57.2 °F) in June 1994.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 41 °C (105.8 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 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 60%.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

---

July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.6 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23.5 °C (74.2 °F) and a maximum of 29.6 °C (85.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it dropped to 18 °C (64.4 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in July 2017.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 12 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 85% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (14 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

---

August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.6 °C (80 °F), with a minimum of 23.7 °C (74.6 °F) and a maximum of 29.6 °C (85.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21.5 °C (70.5 °F). However, it dropped to 19 °C (66.2 °F) in August 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to only 1 mm (0 in), distributed over 0 days.
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 61%.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24.5 °C (76.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

---

September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.8 °C (75 °F), with a minimum of 21 °C (69.7 °F) and a maximum of 26.7 °C (80.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). However, it dropped to 15 °C (59 °F) in September 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in September 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 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 65%.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 24 °C (75 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

---

October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.3 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 17.7 °C (63.9 °F) and a maximum of 22.9 °C (73.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in October 2018.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 27.5 °C (82 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in October 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 3 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 70%.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

---

November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.8 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 14.5 °C (58.1 °F) and a maximum of 19.1 °C (66.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in November 2004.
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 27 °C (80.6 °F) in November 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 5 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 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

---

December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.6 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 11.7 °C (53 °F) and a maximum of 15.6 °C (60.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 4 °C (39.2 °F) in December 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in December 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 9 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 70%.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17.5 °C (63.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.