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The climate in Greece is predominantly Mediterranean. However, due to the country's unique geography, Greece has a remarkable range of micro-climates and local variations. To the west of the Pindus mountain range, the climate is generally wetter and has some maritime features. The east of the Pindus mountain range is generally drier and windier in summer. The highest peak is Mount Olympus, 2,918 metres (9,573 ft). The north areas of Greece have a transitional climate between the continental and the Mediterranean climate. There are mountainous areas that have an alpine climate.
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Seasonal Climate
Although, the climate of Greece is typically Mediterranean, it depends on the location you are at.
Winter
Winter in Greece is realtively mild in coastal and low-lying regions, cool in inland and northern areas and cold in mountains and plateaus around the country, with many rainy (or snowy) days. However, different situations may occur. When Greece is reached by warm air masses from Africa, temperatures can reach even 20°C (sometimes even more) in the middle of winter, while nighttime lows may remain above 10°C. In mountainous areas teperatures remain 6/7°C lower. But when it's reached by cold weather fronts, temperatures go well below 0°C, with lows around -20°C not being rare. Greece, actually gets more snowfall, than you might expect, but it's more common in the north, central, inland and mountainous areas, while it becomes more rare in the southern and western areas and the islands.
Spring
Spring is a pleasant transitional season, with the weather being very unpredictable, and snow still being possible until early April. However in the second half of the season, temperatures arise quickly with highs around 30°C in May. Rain is more common in March.
Summer
Summer is very hot and dry. Greece, due to its position is frequently reached by heat waves from North Africa, with highs around 40°C, sometimes above that mark, being usual, especially in the southern and eastern areas. In inland and mountainous areas, heat waves are tempered by the altitude, with lows and highs around 25/26°C and 35/36°C prespectively. Rain is almost non-existent and it occurs in the form of thunderstorms.
Autumn
Autumn is a pleasant, transitional season like spring, but rain is more abudant. It isn't unusual for summer being extended into autumn, even until early October. The first snowfalls usually come in late October, but they are more rare than spring.
Due to Pindus mountain range rain shadow effect, drying the moisture of the western winds, eastern Greece gets less rainfall that western Greece does. That's why there are some places in the country that have semi-arid climate. Cold semi-arid climate is found in some parts of the plains of Thessaly and Macedonia, while hot semi arid climate is found in the Cyclades, eastern Peloponnese and Attica (including Athens Riviera).
Temperature
Τhe 48.0 °C (118.4 °F) recorded by minimum/maximum thermometers in Tatoi and Elefsina as reported by a communication of Dr. Athanasios D. Sarantopoulos is also the WMO record high temperature for Greece and Europe. Mean annual temperatures in Greece range from +10 to +19.7 °C (50.0 to 67.5 °F). However, since Greece is generally a mountainous country, real average temperatures vary considerably from region to region.
Etesians
Probably the most well known local winds in Greece are the etesians (also known as meltemia). With their name notating their annual fluctuation (έτος (étos) means year in Greek), these winds may blow from May to October, with their highest frequency being recorded in July and August. They keep temperatures and diurnal temperature fluctuations in the Aegean sea lower than the respective ones found in the Ionian sea or mainland Greece.