Being a regular user of
various Skiathos-related social media groups and platforms, it’s common to see
questions asking what the weather is like on the island at a particular time of
year. If you’re reading this, it’s almost
certainly because you’ve asked such a question, and have been directed here.
It's important to be clear
that no one can guarantee what the weather will be like on Skiathos in advance,
but it’s equally true that you can be given a good idea what it will be like,
along with some idea of the possibility that it might be different to the
average.
The following information is
in month order, so just scroll down to the month you’re visiting, and read
on. Please note, if you’re going at the
very start, or very end of a month, it’s not a bad idea to read up on what the
weather is like in the adjacent month, too.
All
figures are averages based on
the 30-year period 1991-2020
Skiathos in January,
February, and March
Cool/mild, rather than
cold. The average minimum temperature in
January and February is 8°C, rising to 10°C in
March, the average maximum is 12°C, rising to 14°C in March with the mean average
temperatures being January and February 10°C, March 12.5°C. Those are the averages – the warmest days of
each month can regularly be 18°C in January, 19°C in February, and 22°C in March. The warmest temperatures recorded in the
30-year period were January 22°C, February 22°C, and March an eye-opening 31°C.
The coldest nights are usually around 2-4°C, though
it can occasionally be as low as -2°C in January. Sea temperatures are almost always below
15°C, so too cold for swimming.
Rainfall averages are 80mm
in January distributed over an average of 10 days, 70mm in February over 9
days, and 60mm in March over 8 days.
Sunshine hours averages are 3.5 hours per day in January, 5 hours in
February, and 6.5 hours in March. On
average, it’s sunny for 37% of daylight hours in January, 48% in February, and
54% in March. It
has been known to snow, and snow quite heavily in January, though most
years it doesn’t. If you visit for a
fortnight, you’re almost certain to see some rain, and there’s a reasonable
chance the rain could last for a significant portion of your visit.
IN GENERAL -
You can visit Skiathos at this time of year, but it won’t be for the weather or
the swimming.
Skiathos in April
Very mild.
The average minimum
temperature in April is 13°C, the average maximum is 17°C, with the mean average
being 15°C. Those are the averages – the
warmest day of the month can regularly be 23°C, whilst the warmest recorded in
the 30-year period was 26°C. The coldest nights are usually around 7.5°C,
though it can occasionally be as low as 5°C, so you’ll definitely need a jumper
and/or coat in the evenings. Sea
temperatures are almost always below 15°C, so it’s still too cold for swimming.
The rainfall average for
April is 40mm distributed over 7 days.
The sunshine hours average is 8.5 hours per day.
On average, it’s sunny for 65% of
daylight hours.
IN GENERAL -
April’s climate is a small, but steady improvement over the first 3 months of
the year, but whilst the odd day may feel like summer, you’re far more likely
to experience weather which feels very much like spring.
Skiathos in May
The tourist season for Brits
starts in May. That is to say, the first
direct flight to Skiathos from a UK airport, and the first package holidays
available from the big travel companies usually depart on or close to 1st
May.
Warm.
NOTE – There is usually a
fairly large difference between temperatures at the start of May when compared with
the end of the month. The average
minimum temperature in May is 18°C, the average maximum is 22°C, with the mean average
being 20°C. Those are the averages – the
warmest day of the month can regularly be 28°C, whilst the warmest recorded in
the 30-year period was 31°C. The coldest nights are usually around 12°C, though
it can occasionally be as low as 9°C, so a jumper or even coat for the evenings
is advised. Sea temperatures are usually
around 18°C, so still too cold for swimming for most, though doable for the
more hardy souls, particularly towards the end of the month.
The rainfall average for May
is 40mm distributed over 6 days, so not much better than April. The sunshine hours average is 9.5 hours per
day. On average, it’s sunny for 68% of
daylight hours.
IN GENERAL – May
sees a significant step up in temperature over April, but otherwise the average
climate across the month is another small, but steady improvement over the
previous month, and starting to feel like summer. May is certainly a time where it’s relatively
important to consider whether you’re going towards the start or end of the
month, as the averages improve fairly rapidly.
Having said that, you’ll be fairly unluck to have a fully ‘bad week’,
and extremely unlucky indeed to have a ‘bad fortnight’ if you go for the first
two weeks in May, whilst a visit during the second half of the month won’t be
too much different to June. The end of May
is a far safer bet.
Skiathos in June
Warm-to hot.
The average minimum
temperature in June is 22°C, the average maximum is 27°C, with the mean average
being 24.5°C. Those are the averages –
the warmest day of the month can regularly be 28°C, whilst the warmest recorded
in the period was 40°C. The coldest nights are usually around 17°C, though it
can occasionally be as low as 14°C, so it’s best to consider taking a light
jumper for the evenings, just in case, though you’ll get less use out of it the
later in the month you get. Sea
temperatures are usually around 22°C, so quite cool for swimming, though most
will find it bearable, particularly towards the end of the month.
The rainfall average for
June is 25mm distributed over 4 days, so a big improvement over May. Sunshine hours average 11 hours per day. On average, it’s sunny for 73% of daylight
hours. Occasionally you’ll see steady
rain in June, but more often it’s a quick, heavy thunderstorm.
IN GENERAL -
June sees a significant step up in average temperatures across the month over
May, but is otherwise just another small, but steady improvement over the
previous month. It’s drier, and there’s
steady improvement in other areas; it’s now unambiguously summer. There’s not a significant improvement between
June and July, so this is the last time of the season when the part of the
month you go shows any considerable improvement. Like May, June is a time where it’s
relatively important to consider whether you’re going towards the start or end
of the month, as the averages improve fairly rapidly. The weather at the end of June should be very
similar to July and August.
Skiathos in July &
August
There’s not a lot of
difference between July and August, with the climate being warm-to hot.
The average minimum
temperature in July-August is 24°C, the average maximum is 29°C, with the mean average
being just over 26.5°C. Those are the
averages – the warmest day of the months can regularly be 33.5°C, whilst the
warmest recorded in the 30-year period were 43°C in July and 38°C in August.
The coldest nights are usually around 20°C, though it can occasionally be as
low as 16-17°C, so a jumper shouldn’t be necessary for the evenings, unless you
feel the cold very easily. Sea
temperatures are usually around 25°C, which is the warmest of the year, and
good for swimming.
The rainfall average for
both July and August is 20-25mm distributed over 2 days per month, so similar
to June. Sunshine hours average is
around 12 hours per day. On average,
it’s sunny for around 83% of daylight hours in both months. The rain, if and when it comes, is usually in
the form of very quick, dramatic thunderstorms.
You’ll almost certainly not have a whole day washed out.
IN GENERAL -
July and August’s climate is a small step up over June’s average, with only sea
temperatures being a significant difference.
This is peak summer. There’s not
a significant improvement between late June and July/August, and whilst some
figures take a turn for the worse in September, that’s mainly caused by a dip
towards the end of that month. In short,
the climate on Skiathos is very similar from 1st July through to 31st
August.
Skiathos in September
The climate changes during
September, being unapologetically summer at the beginning of the month, but nudging
towards autumnal as you near the end.
The average minimum
temperature in September is 21°C, the average maximum is 26°C, with the mean average
being 23°C. Those are the averages – the
warmest day of the month can regularly be just over 30°C, whilst the warmest
recorded in the 30-year period was 36°C. The coldest nights are usually around
15°C, though it can occasionally be as low as 12°C; a light jumper is advised
for evenings, especially towards the end of the month. Sea temperatures hold up well, usually being
around 24°C, which is still good for swimming, and not far behind July-August.
The rainfall average for
September is 40mm distributed over 5 days per month. Sunshine hours average is around 9.5 hours
per day. On average, it’s sunny for 76%
of daylight hours. It can rain for
extended periods, but whilst you may possibly see most of a week cloudy and
rainy towards the end of the month, that’s relatively unusual.
IN GENERAL -
September’s climate is a step down from July and August, with only sea
temperatures holding up. Importantly,
this deterioration occurs during the month, so whether you’re going during the
first or last week or fortnight makes some difference. Having said that, you’ll be fairly unluck to
have a fully ‘bad week’, and extremely unlucky indeed to have a ‘bad fortnight’
if you go for the last two weeks in September, whilst a visit during the first
half of the month probably won’t be too much different to July/August.
Skiathos in October
The tourist season for Brits
ends after the first week of October.
That is to say, the last direct flight to a UK airport from Skiathos,
and the last package holidays available from the big travel companies usually ends
on or close to 7th October.
The climate changes during
October, from hanging on to summer at the start of the month, to being
unapologetically autumnal towards the end.
The average minimum
temperature in October is 17°C, the average maximum is 21°C, with the mean average
19°C. Those are the averages – the
warmest day of the month can regularly be 27°C, whilst the warmest recorded in
the 30-year period was 31°C. The coldest nights are usually around 12°C, though
it can occasionally be as low as 7°C; a light jumper or coat is advised for
evenings, especially towards the end of the month. Sea temperatures continue to hold up well,
usually being around 21°C, which is still just about fine for swimming,
especially at the start of the month.
The rainfall average for
October is 70mm distributed over 7 days per month. Sunshine hours average is around 7.5 hours
per day. On average, it’s sunny for 68%
of daylight hours. As with late
September, it can rain for extended periods, but whilst you may possibly see
most of a week cloudy and rainy, that’s relatively unusual.
IN GENERAL -
October’s climate is another step down from September, with only sea
temperatures holding up. And once again,
this deterioration occurs during the month, so whether you’re going during the
first or last week makes quite a difference.
Having said that, and given that the tourist season for Brits only
covers the first week of the month, you’ll be fairly unluck to have a fully
‘bad week’, and extremely unlucky indeed to have a ‘bad fortnight’ if you go
for the last week in September/first week in October.
Skiathos in November and
December
The climate changes from
autumnal to ‘mild-winter’ over these two months.
The average minimum
temperatures are 13°C in November and 9°C in December, the average maximums are
17°C in November and 13°C in December, with the mean
averages being 15.3°C in November and 11°C in December. Those are averages – the warmest day of the
month can regularly be 23°C in November and 19°C in December, whilst the
warmest recorded in the period was 27°C in November and 23°C in December. The
coldest nights are usually around 8°C in November and 3°C in December, though
it can occasionally be as low as 4°C in November and just 1°C in December; a
‘big coat’ is mandatory. Sea
temperatures hold up fairly well in November at 18.5°C, which would be doable
for some were it not for the cold air once you left the water. In December this falls further to 15.5°C,
which is a non-starter for most. It has
been known to snow, and snow quite heavily in December.
The rainfall average for
November is 65mm distributed over 10 days per month, and 95mm over 12 days in
December. Sunshine hours average is
around 5.5 hours per day in November and 3.5 in December. On average, it’s sunny for 55% of daylight
hours in November, but just 37% in December.
If you visit for a fortnight, you’re almost
certain to see some rain, and there’s a reasonable chance the rain could last
for a significant portion of your visit.
