Today's weather for Hersonissos, Greece7th Nov 2009 22:20

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Weather Overview for Hersonissos

Hersonissos enjoys a typical Mediterranean climate. The long, hot summers are famous for their endless sunshine while the mild winters are characterised by rain. Sitting on the north coast of Crete, north of mainland Greece, Hersonissos shares a similar climate to the resorts of the area such as Stalis and Rethymnon.

Summer, from June till September, is beautifully hot and dry. The average high temperature rises to 26°C in June and up to a peak of 28°C in July and August before getting back down to 26°C in September. While humidity is very low, it can still feel a bit too hot under the relentless sunshine and at night when temperatures stay up in the low 20s. The sun shines for twelve hours per day in June and July, reducing to a still brilliant ten by September. The northern Etesian winds help to soothe temperatures and the warm Mediterranean is never far for a refreshing swim. The sea is warmest in August at 25°C, though it is more than warm enough for swimming for the entire season.

Autumn, in October and November, is warm but quite rainy. The average high stays warm; October receives an average of 22°C while November is around 19°C. But November nights can be very cool, getting down to an average low of 12°C. Rainfall steadily increase, at first falling as short but heavy storms, sometimes with thunder and lightning, then growing calmer but more persistent in longer showers. The sea is still warm enough for swimming throughout the season. October offers a more generous seven hours of sunshine per day in comparison to November’s five.

Winter, from December till February, is cool and wet. It is much warmer than other parts of the northern hemisphere, for instance dreary old England, but it receives quite a lot of rain. January is the wettest month, receiving an average of 169 mm in intermittent showers. It can get quite windy and is often grey; the sun only manages around four hours per day, though it does brighten slightly in February. The average high temperature drops to 16°C in December and down to 14°C in January and February. The average low is at 10°C in December and 8°C in January and February. It rarely gets down to freezing and frosts are unheard of along the coast.

Spring, from March till May, is pleasant and mild with erratic sunshine and heat that gradually increase. The average high rises to 16°C in March, 18°C in April and 22°C in May, while the average low stays cool, not getting above 15°C till the end of the season. Similarly, the sea remains chilly, though warm enough for water sports with a wetsuit. The sun enthusiastically rids itself of cloud, coming out for longer and longer, reaching ten hours per day in May. From the beginning of April conditions are generally changeable; temperatures are highly dependent on the sun, sometimes getting up to 20°C, and cold winds can blow in much cooler temperatures. But conditions generally improve as the winter rains recede.

Hersonissos benefits from its southerly position, guaranteeing its long, hot summers. The surrounding Mediterranean helps is to avoid extremes of temperature in the summer and keeps its winters mild. Crete has a central mountain range which acts as a natural barrier to wind; as the prevailing wind is from the north, Hersonissos, on the north coast, is actually slightly wetter and cooler than resorts on the south coast, but this is generally considered to be preferable in the summer.

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