Island overview
A settled late-summer day across Crete, with no rainfall recorded at any station on the island. Temperatures range from 25°C on the central north coast to 29°C along the south and around Mirabello Bay. Skies run from clear in the south to partly cloudy across the centre and east. There is nothing unsettled in the picture today.
North coast versus south coast
The north coast runs slightly cooler and breezier. Heraklion reaches 27°C but gusts touch 28 km/h, a residual trace of the late-season meltemi. Chania and Rethymno are gentler at 13 to 18 km/h with highs of 27°C and 26°C respectively, though Rethymno carries some cloud through the afternoon. Hersonissos and Malia top out at 26°C under partial cloud, with waves reaching just over 1m.
The south coast tells a different story. Ierapetra holds a minimum of 24°C overnight, the warmest night on the island, and climbs to 29°C by afternoon. Wave heights drop to just 0.22m, sheltered by the island's mass. Makrigialos matches this with a clear sky, 29°C and waves of 0.24m. If you are choosing between coasts today, the south wins on both warmth and sea conditions.
Mountains and interior
The White Mountains above Chania and the Dikti range behind Ag. Nikolaos will run 5 to 8°C cooler than coastal stations. Trails in Samaria and Imbros gorge are comfortable in the early morning. Carry water regardless: even at altitude, the UV index tops 7 today.
Sea state, wind and UV
Sea surface temperatures sit between 26.2°C at Makrigialos and 26.8°C at Heraklion and Ierapetra, still firmly in summer territory. Waves are under 1.1m everywhere on the island and under 0.25m on the south coast. Winds are light to moderate except in Heraklion and Sitia, where gusts reach 28 and 24 km/h respectively. UV peaks at 7.4 in Rethymno, which the World Health Organization classifies as high. Meaningful exposure risk begins around 11:00 and runs until 15:00.
Swim verdict
Good to excellent island-wide. Ierapetra and Makrigialos offer the calmest water, the warmest air, and the clearest sky on the island today. The north coast is perfectly swimmable but expect a light chop, particularly around Malia and Hersonissos where waves top 1m. Elounda and Ag. Nikolaos combine warm temperatures of 29°C with relatively sheltered conditions in Mirabello Bay.
Practical tip
UV levels above 7 can cause sunburn in fair-skinned adults in under 20 minutes at peak hours, even in September when the sun feels milder than August. Apply SPF 30 or higher before leaving accommodation, reapply after each swim, and seek shade between noon and 15:00 if you are spending a full day outdoors.
