Today's weather for Athens, Greece8th Nov 2009 09:20

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Weather Overview for Athens

The climate of Athens is Mediterranean and can be summed up as having hot dry summers and mild wet winters.

Yearly rainfall is low – amongst the lowest in Greece - and occurs mostly as short heavy showers in winter. Summer can get very hot and smog sometimes becomes a problem. Spring and autumn are arguably the best time to visit the city, though most choose the height of summer.

Summer Weather: June - September

Summer is very hot in Athens, especially in August when many locals flee the city for cooler areas. Daytime average highs are in the mid 30s in the middle of summer. Combined with the smog, this can be very uncomfortable, especially if you are looking to pack in lots of sight-seeing.

Summer heat waves are common in Athens; these see the mercury shooting into the 40s. The highest temperature recorded in Athens is a sweltering 48°C; also the record for Greece. These heat levels can be somewhat debilitating. Even at night the temperature remains above 20°C, so a room with air-conditioning might be preferable!

One thing you are guaranteed in summer in Athens is sunshine; its one of Europe’s sunniest cities. Average rainfall is very low between June and September and almost non-existent in the months of July and August.

Autumn Weather: October & November

Autumn can be a great time to visit Athens as temperatures are a little cooler and there is still a lot of sunshine.

October has an average high of 24°C; November sees daytime highs in the upper teens. Night times are pleasantly cool in October but in November it can drop down close to 10°C.

Rainfall increases rapidly from the start of October. About 50mm of rain can be expected each month. Most of this rain falls in short heavy showers so there is still a lot of sunshine.

For an active visit to Athens, this is a very good time.

Winter Weather:

Winter is generally quite mild in Athens with average temperatures ranging between 6°C at night and 15°C in the day. Colder temperatures are possible and the city can receive snowfall on occasions. Snowfall is normally light and short-lived, but heavier falls can sometimes bring disruption to the city.

Temperatures can occasionally, but rarely, drop very low. A strong blizzard in February 2004 saw heavy snow and temperatures plummeting towards -10°C.

Rainfall continues to increase, peaking in December and January at around 70mm per month. Again, expect mostly short heavy downpours between sunny periods. Athens sees four hours of sunshine per day in its gloomiest months which is quadruple the sunshine expectancy for London at the same time.

Spring Weather:

Like autumn, spring is a great time to visit Athens with pleasant temperatures and low rainfall.

Daytime highs begin to hit the 20s by April, and by May it starts to get hot.

Rainfall is low in spring – just about 20 to 35mm per month – and the sun comes out for longer and longer.

As with anywhere, the weather averages in Athens only tell part of the story. Weather can vary year to year, especially recently. Visit in August and you might find it’s an enjoyable 30°C, or then again you could be sweltering in 45° heat. In winter, you might enjoy sunshine with temperatures in the teens, or you could find yourself at -5° in a snowstorm!

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