Today's weather for Skiathos, Greece20th Nov 2009 14:50

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Weather Overview for Skiathos

Off the east coast of mainland Greece you will find the Sporades group of Greek Islands, and amongst this group of islands is the small and beautiful island of Skiathos- which is the western most of all of the Sporades. Skiathos is a lush, green island- aided by the heavy rainfall that falls throughout the winter months which refreshes and regenerates the island ready for the long dry summers. The island, with its capital of Skiathos Town, is home to over 70 beautiful white sandy beaches and is connected to the mainland via ferry services which run from Skiathos Town. Much of the island is covered in dense forest, particularly as you head further south and east. It is these pine forests which were the site of the 2007 forest fire which ravaged the island on July 11.

The fire which started in the garbage dump spread rapidly, and caused all the residents and tourists in the town of Aghia Paraskevi to be evacuated to nearby Troulos town. The fire was undoubtedly supported by the summer highs that the island witnesses- frequently recording temperatures over 30 ºC and well into the 30’s, there is also minimal rainfall during this time as well so there are only occasional breaks from the heat. The main relief from the heat comes from the local Meltemia winds which blow from the north and bring cooler air into island- causing temperatures to drop a few degrees, generally in the evenings. While the wind is generally refreshing, on some coastal locations it can pick up quite a speed and blow with force- though this won’t last for too long and within a few hours the conditions will be calm and clear again. The island is a great place to explore and take part in various out door sports such as hiking and biking, if this isn’t you’re cup of tea the summer months bring warmer ocean temperatures which are perfect for water sports or just working on your tan on the beach.

June, July and August see average daily temperatures of 23 ºC, 26 ºC and 25 ºC respectively with highs of 30 ºC in July and 29 ºC in August. As the weather conditions are fairly typical Mediterranean conditions, this means summers are fairly long- with the mercury staying well and truly above 25 ºC well into September. By October the average daily temperature has fallen to 18 ºC and the winter rains begin to fall. From the period November to January the island records, on average, about 150 mm of rainfall. Rain will fall consistently through until April when it begins to dry up and summer is again on its way. The weather in winter brings daily highs of 12 ºC to 13 ºC and the nights have a tendency to get quite chilly, falling to lows of about 6 ºC. January is the coldest month of the year, and if visiting during winter be sure to bring at least a light jacket to keep you warm in the evenings- the conditions are still pleasant enough to sit outside on the terrace and enjoy some Greek cuisine- but just be prepared for a bit of rain and colder weather.

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