Island Overview
Thursday 2 July brings clear or mainly clear skies to every corner of Crete. No rain is expected anywhere on the island. Daytime highs reach 31 to 32°C along the northern and eastern coasts at Heraklion, Ag. Nikolaos and Elounda, while Chania and Rethymno top out at 29 to 30°C and south-coast towns settle between 29 and 31°C. Overnight lows remain above 21°C island-wide, reflecting the warm sea air that now defines Cretan high summer.
North vs South
The sharpest contrast today is wind, not temperature. The northern coast is under the meltemi: Heraklion sees gusts to 26 km/h, Chania to 23 km/h and Rethymno to 21 km/h. These etesian winds typically build through the afternoon and will ruffle beach umbrellas well before midday. The south coast is a different world. Ierapetra records a maximum of 8 km/h and Makrigialos just 11 km/h, making both towns noticeably calmer and more sheltered for sunbathers and swimmers. Makrigialos is also the only spot with a partly cloudy sky today, though no rain follows.
Mountains
The White Mountains above Chania and the Psiloritis massif between Rethymno and Heraklion are cloud-free today. Hikers tackling the Samaria Gorge or the high plateau routes will find dry, sunny conditions all day. Altitude provides little relief from the UV, so start early and carry sufficient water.
Sea, Wind and UV
Sea surface temperatures range from 24.5°C at Sitia to 26.2°C at Rethymno, comfortably warm for extended swimming. Waves are small across the island: 0.44 m at Ag. Nikolaos and Elounda, up to 0.76 m at Ierapetra, with the north coast sitting at 0.6 to 0.7 m under the meltemi. The UV index peaks between 8.4 and 8.6 across all reporting stations, placing today firmly in the very high category. Unprotected skin can burn in under 20 minutes around solar noon.
Swim Verdict
Good to excellent island-wide. The flattest conditions are on the sheltered east coast at Ag. Nikolaos, Elounda and Sitia, where waves stay well under half a metre and winds are light. The south coast at Ierapetra and Makrigialos is equally calm. North-coast beaches at Heraklion and Chania carry a moderate chop from the meltemi but present no hazard for average swimmers. Sea temperature is inviting everywhere, ranging from 24.5 to 26.2°C.
Practical Tip
UV levels are very high across the entire island today. Apply broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher before leaving accommodation and reapply after every swim. The safest beach hours are before 11:00 and after 17:00. A midday break in the shade is both sensible and a reasonable excuse to order something cold at a taverna terrace.
