Island Overview
Friday 4 July is a warm, dry day across all of Crete with no rainfall recorded or forecast at any station. Temperatures range from 28°C along parts of the north coast to just above 32°C in the east and south. A light northerly breeze, the first reliable sign of the seasonal meltemi, is keeping humidity low and conditions more comfortable than the raw figures suggest.
North Coast vs South Coast
The contrast between the two coasts is clear today. Chania sits under overcast skies with a high of 29°C and nights that drop back to 24°C. Rethymno, Hersonissos and Malia follow a similar pattern: partly cloudy, highs in the upper 20s, and genuinely pleasant evenings. The south coast is a different story. Ierapetra reaches 32°C with a minimum of nearly 28°C overnight, and Makrigialos matches it at 32°C with a 27°C low. For residents in the south, this means another warm night and an early swim before the heat builds.
East Crete Leads on Temperature
Ag. Nikolaos and Elounda top the island today at 32.5°C and 32.6°C under mainly clear skies. Sitia comes in at 30°C with partial cloud. The Gulf of Mirabello is calm, with sea temperatures between 25.4 and 25.8°C and wave heights below half a metre throughout the day.
Mountain Conditions
The White Mountains above Chania and the Psiloritis range above Rethymno run 8 to 12°C cooler than the coast at altitude. Morning hours are the window for gorge walks and ridge hikes before the midday heat builds. No weather risks are forecast in the ranges today.
Sea, Wind and UV
Sea temperatures are uniformly warm at 25 to 26°C across all monitored stations. Most coastlines are flat, with wave heights of 0.2 to 0.5 metres. The south coast sees more swell: Ierapetra at 0.82 metres and Makrigialos at 0.80 metres. These are not alarming levels for swimmers but kayakers and paddleboarders should factor in the chop. Wind peaks range from 13 to 17 km/h island-wide, with north-facing beaches breezier in the afternoon. UV peaks between 8.15 and 8.65 across all locations, placing today firmly in the high category on the WHO scale.
Swim Verdict
Good to excellent everywhere. Water is warm, currents are light, and no beach advisories are in effect. East Crete's sheltered bays offer the flattest conditions today. The south coast is fully swimmable but expect some chop, particularly at Ierapetra and Makrigialos.
Practical Tip
With UV above 8, sunburn is possible in under 20 minutes without protection. Apply SPF 50 before leaving your accommodation, not on the beach, and reapply after every swim. Peak UV runs from 11:00 to 15:00. This applies even in Chania: overcast skies filter heat, not UV.
