Island Overview
September 28 brings a sharp east-west split to Crete. A belt of unsettled weather is crossing the western and central prefectures, while the Lasithi region and the southern coast stay mostly dry. Temperatures peak between 22 and 24 degrees Celsius island-wide, with overnight lows around 19 to 21 degrees. Sea surface temperatures remain warm, ranging from 24.6 degrees at Sitia to 25.7 degrees at Heraklion.
West and Centre: Rain and Storms
Rethymno is the worst affected city today. A thunderstorm is delivering 28.9 mm of rain with winds reaching 25 km/h. Chania has moderate rain showers with 22.8 mm of precipitation and lighter winds at 15 km/h. Heraklion sits on the edge of the system, catching light showers with 4.8 mm of rain and winds near 25 km/h. Hersonissos and Malia, further east along the north coast, are also getting light showers with around 8 mm each.
East and South: Dry and Partly Cloudy
Conditions improve markedly east of Heraklion. Agios Nikolaos and Elounda are partly cloudy with no rain, temperatures reaching 23.8 degrees and sea temps around 25 degrees. Sitia picks up a small 2.3 mm of showers but is otherwise manageable. On the south coast, Ierapetra and Makrigialos are fully dry with sea temperatures above 25 degrees. The trade-off is wind: gusts along the south coast reach 42 to 43 km/h today.
Mountain Areas
Heavy rainfall in the Chania and Rethymno prefectures is driven by moist maritime air rising over the White Mountains (Lefka Ori). Drivers and hikers on inland routes in the west should expect wet roads, reduced visibility and rapidly shifting conditions through the afternoon.
Sea State, Wind and UV
North and northwest waves are significant: up to 2.3 metres at Chania, and 1.86 to 1.9 metres from Rethymno through to Malia. The eastern coast is more moderate, with Agios Nikolaos at 1.46 metres and Elounda at 1.52 metres. The south coast stands apart: Ierapetra records just 0.34 metres and Makrigialos 0.48 metres. Despite partial cloud cover, UV reaches index 6.5 in Rethymno and stays above 5 across the rest of the island. Sunscreen remains necessary.
Swim Verdict
Avoid the water on the western and north-central coast today. Waves above 1.8 metres, persistent rain and a thunderstorm warning at Rethymno make conditions poor from Chania through to Malia. The south coast is the clear alternative: Ierapetra and Makrigialos offer calm water under half a metre with sea temps above 25 degrees. Agios Nikolaos and Elounda, with waves under 1.6 metres and dry skies, are acceptable for confident swimmers.
Practical Tip for Today
If you are based in the west or centre and had a beach day planned, the south coast is worth the detour. Ierapetra is roughly 90 minutes from Heraklion by road. Bring a light jacket for the mountain crossing and be prepared for strong coastal winds once you arrive.
