Lightning strikes

Most people think the weather in Greece is warm and sunny, but this is partly true. 

There is indeed plenty of sunshine throughout the year, but as Greece has a unique geography,  climatic variations are such that on the same day Athenians will be taking a leisurely stroll in short sleeves while warmly dressed Thessalonians escape a storm by staying indoors.

Guide books may speak of mild winters but I speak from experience when I say that I have yet to see mild in Northern Greece. It is true that the further south you go, the better. Coastal areas do take the sting away from chilly days, but evenings are cold even in the summer months after the sun goes down (except during heatwaves). 

On average, it rains from 5 to 15 days per month depending on the month and part of the country you're staying in (1 to 16 days in Crete). In sum, the climate across Greece varies and has an element of unpredictability that makes life a little more interesting: in the summer, you look forward to cooler winter days; in the winter you can't wait to be able to keep windows open all day long.

As far as storms are concerned, they occur from time to time throughout the year, more frequently between the months of May and August. Summer storms are especially strong and sudden, but dissipate as quickly as they arrive. The areas that are affected the most are Northern/Northwestern Greece, but as summer turns to autumn, storms are carried southward and affect Western Greece, the Peloponnese and areas of the Aegean. 

(Though the page is in Greek, you might find its electrical discharge maps useful.)