Climate in Crete — Annual Weather Overview
Crete has a mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters. The hottest month is August (average high 30.7°C) and the coolest is January (14.7°C). The seasons are strongly defined — a 16.0°C swing between August highs and January lows. Annual rainfall totals around 595mm. March is the wettest month at 97.6mm, while July averages just 3.2mm. Average daily sunshine is 10.6 hours.
**Spring (March, April, May):** average highs 19.9°C, 168mm rain. **Summer (June, July, August):** average highs 29.5°C, 27mm rain. **Autumn (September, October, November):** average highs 23.9°C, 148mm rain. **Winter (December, January, February):** average highs 15.7°C, 253mm rain.
Crete — Monthly Temperatures
Crete — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Crete stays reasonable all year.
Crete weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.7°C | 8.3°C | 90.3mm | 7.6h | 12 | 10/10 |
| February | 14.9°C | 8.0°C | 86.7mm | 9.0h | 9 | 10/10 |
| March | 15.7°C | 8.8°C | 97.6mm | 9.4h | 13 | 10/10 |
| April | 20.0°C | 11.6°C | 43.2mm | 11.0h | 6 | 10/10 |
| May | 24.0°C | 15.5°C | 26.9mm | 12.2h | 6 | 10/10 |
| June | 27.4°C | 19.4°C | 17.7mm | 13.5h | 3 | 10/10 |
| July | 30.5°C | 23.1°C | 3.2mm | 13.4h | 1 | 10/10 |
| August | 30.7°C | 23.0°C | 5.8mm | 12.9h | 1 | 10/10 |
| September | 27.7°C | 20.4°C | 25.1mm | 11.7h | 5 | 10/10 |
| October | 23.6°C | 16.8°C | 49.0mm | 9.7h | 6 | 10/10 |
| November | 20.3°C | 13.6°C | 73.5mm | 8.7h | 10 | 10/10 |
| December | 17.4°C | 10.5°C | 76.0mm | 7.8h | 11 | 10/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Crete. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Crete have?
Crete has a mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters. Average highs range from 14.7°C in January to 30.7°C in August.
What is the hottest month in Crete?
August is the hottest month in Crete, with average highs of 30.7°C and lows of 23.0°C.
What is the coldest month in Crete?
January is the coolest month, with average highs of 14.7°C and lows of 8.0°C.
What is the wettest month in Crete?
March is the wettest month, averaging 97.6mm of rainfall over around 13 rainy days.
How much rain does Crete get per year?
Crete receives around 595mm of rain per year. The driest month is July (3.2mm).
When is the best time to visit Crete?
The best time to visit Crete is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Crete
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.