Zante’s climate is typically Mediterranean, meaning weather is pleasant year round. Summers are long hot and dry, while winters are mild and when most of the rainfall occurs. During spring and autumn the temperature is very desirable and rainfall is moderate. Zante enjoys 3000 hours of sunshine a year – the main reason it is such a popular holiday destination.
Summer :
Summer is what Zante is famous for. The sun is out, temperatures are hot and rain rarely troubles the island. The summer heat begins to build from the end of May as average daily highs climb into the mid-20s. By July daytime temperatures are often in excess of 30°C. July and August are the peak summer months. Things begin to cool after August, although September is still a hot month. During the peak of summer it rarely falls below 20°C at night time.
What would otherwise be uncomfortably hot summer temperatures are made pleasant by the cooling ‘meltemi’ winds that blow from the north and north-west. The wind is strongest in July and August when it is needed the most.
From mid-May to mid-September there is very little rainfall on the island. Especially in July and August, you are unlikely to see any rain at all.
The hot dry summer weather, together with gusting sea breezes, does make Zante susceptible to forest fires, as happened in summer 2006.
Autumn:
Early autumn is a desirable time to visit Zante. The summer crowds have dispersed and the island still enjoys good weather, with daytime temperatures in the 20s. As autumn rolls on the weather becomes cooler and November sees highs in the high teens and lows in the low teens. A sunny November day can still be pleasant and warm.
The chances of rain increase throughout the autumn period. By mid-October the island sees a decent amount of rainfall – around 150mm a month. November is a wet month, with only December seeing more rainfall on average.
Winter:
Winter can be summed up as mild and wet – rather like an English spring. It’s when most of the rain falls on the island, and this period is responsible for the lush green landscape you see on the island. December is the wettest month of the year with around 170mm of rain. Zante in winter is mild and never cold. January is the coolest month with averages ranging between 10 and 15°C. The mercury only rarely drops into single figures.
Strong storms can sometimes hit the island in winter where fierce winds are accompanied by torrential rain. These may make for a miserable couple of days but are usually over fast and are part and parcel of the life of a Greek island.
Spring:
Spring sees the temperature rising and rainfall decreasing. By late March daytime highs are once again nearing 20°C on sunny days, April is warmer still and May sees the beginning of the summer weather. Evenings in early spring can still be cool, at around 10°C, and require a light jacket. Rainfall is still likely in March which averages around 100mm for the month, but the wet days are ever decreasing as summer approaches.
