Island Overview
A settled, mild Friday across Crete, with cloud cover dominating but no meaningful rainfall anywhere on the island. Highs reach 24°C along both coasts, and overnight lows stay comfortably above 14°C at sea level. The season is winding down, but today reads more like a summer echo than a true autumn signal.
North vs South
The northern coast from Heraklion through Hersonissos and Malia sits under overcast or partly cloudy skies. Rethymno is the exception, with mainly clear conditions and the brightest skies on the island. UV across the north peaks at 5.2, shared between Rethymno and Chania. Chania also carries the strongest wind of the day, gusting to 24 km/h; the sea there builds to just under 1m, noticeable but manageable for most water activities.
The south and east coasts, covering Ierapetra, Makrigialos and Sitia, are also overcast but benefit from near-calm winds, with gusts below 11 km/h. Sitia records a trace of 0.1mm of rain and Makrigialos 0.3mm. Neither amount is disruptive, though worth knowing if you are planning an outdoor lunch.
Mountains
At altitude, conditions are distinctly autumnal. Psiloritis and the White Mountains above Chania will run 8 to 12 degrees cooler than the coast, likely below 12°C at the summits. Cloud at mid-elevation may reduce visibility on hiking trails. A windproof layer and proper footwear are essential above 1,000m.
Sea, Wind and UV
Sea temperatures hold at 22.3 to 22.7°C across all monitored stations, still warm for the last week of October. Waves are calm to slight, under 0.65m for most of the island, with Chania the lone exception at just below 1m. Wind is light to moderate island-wide, with the northwest seeing the most activity. UV sits in the moderate range, index 4.9 to 5.2, strongest around midday on the north coast. Sun protection around the middle of the day is still worthwhile.
Swim Verdict
Conditions are good for swimming today. The water is warm, the swell is low, and the island is essentially dry. The south coast offers the flattest sea: Ag. Nikolaos, Elounda and Ierapetra all record waves under 0.65m. The Chania coastline is more active but still suitable for confident swimmers.
Practical Tip
If your plans are flexible, the south coast is the better bet today. Ierapetra and Makrigialos combine the calmest winds on the island with the warmest sea surface temperatures at 22.6 to 22.7°C. Pack a light jacket for the evening; coastal temperatures drop back into the high teens after sunset.
