Climate
Naxos makes for one of the most pleasant vacation sites, with mild winters and cool summers. Much of this has to do decisively with the “Meltemi” winds, the northerly winds
that blow across the island, modulating the heat and providing a refreshing breeze during the summer months. It’s noteworthy also that the presence of the sun gives Naxos the distinction of being ranked, with regard to sunlight, among the top areas of Greece.
Naxos Island is ranked as having the most sunlight among the areas of Greece, at a median annual reading of 2,700 hours. The longest durations occur during June, and the shortest in January. Conversely, the annual median cloudiness reading is about 3, while the number of cloud-covered days is exceptionally small. Most cloudiness occurs during the winter months.
More specifically, Naxos possesses a “Mediterranean” climate, referring to the existence of two features of discernible seasons: summer (dry and hot); and winter (mild and damp). According to scientists, the climate of Naxos is classified as “temperate with dry summers”, with summers taking on the effects of stable barometric pressure of the Azores; and winters being influenced by the cyclonic storms of northern Europe.
As a result, the temperature fluctuates little during the year, with a median annual temperature of 18 degrees Celsius (18ο C). The median temperature in August is about 25ο C, while all summer long the weather is relatively cool, a fact owed to the presence of the sea. Contrarily, winters are rather mild, as some of the higher temperatures are observed on Helladic soil (median temperature in January: 12 ο C). Furthermore, the Fall season, with a median temperature of 19ο C, is recorded as a hotter season with respect to Spring (having a median temperature of about 16ο C).
Rains are concentrated to just a few days a year, while the phenomenon of dry spells occurs quite often, even during the winter period. Also, Naxos is one of the more windy areas of Greece, with northerly winds prevailing.
It should be noted that the climate of Naxos and its geographical location have contributed to the fertility of its soil, a fact that has made Naxos self-sufficient in every season. More particularly, the breezes that prevail over the island – as a result of high air humidity – constitutes a decisive factor in the fructification of the area. Nevertheless, only a small amount of rainwater is retained by the ground and contributes to vegetation. This happens because the greater amount of rain falls in the form of intense rainstorms, a phenomenon contributing to soil erosion.
More specifically, the median annual humidity hovers around 72%, while it fluctuates considerably during the year. The highest humidity recordings are observed during November and December, and the lowest in June.
Only a little rain falls on Naxos, a fact also attested to by the median annual rainfall mark, namely 360 mm, among the lowest in Helladic soil. The more rainy months are the winter months; the drier, July and August. Snow is rare on the island (median annual figure is only 1 to 2 days), appearing in January or February.
In summer, the Meltemi winds phenomenon, i.e., northerly winds of medium intensity (4-5 Beaufort), occurs frequently. Conversely, in winter, southerly and southeasterly (“sirocco”) winds are observed, in addition to the “prevailing” northerlies. On a frequency scale, moderate winds take first place (46%), followed by weak (22%) and strong (19%). Finally, the phenomenon of dead calm (stillness) rarely occurs during the year (just 8%)