Your August weather guide
HotWeather in Crete in August
Crete in August suits a holiday built around swimming and taking things slowly in the heat. Average daytime highs are 30.8°C, nights stay warm at 22.5°C, and the sea averages 25.9°C. Rain is unlikely to shape your plans, but hot afternoons may do. For a UK traveller, the main decision is not whether it will feel summery: it is whether you want sustained heat, with little cooling after sunset.
Long-term climate averages for Heraklion, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Crete, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Heraklion.
- Average daytime high
- 30.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 35°C
- Average night-time low
- 22.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 21°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +9.4°C
- London averages 21.4°C in August
- Sea temperature
- 25.9°C
- year to year: 25°C to 27°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 12.7h
- 95% of 13.3 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 1
- 5 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 60%
- Days over 25°C
- 100%
- 58% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 41.7°C
- 2002-08-12
- Record low 1991-2020
- 18.4°C
- 1997-08-25
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 6 min
- 2678 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How August compares
August is the 2nd warmest month of the year in Crete and ranks 31st of 134 destinations we compare for August - see where else is hot in August. Within Greece it is 11th of 44 (Greece in August). Against London's average high of 21.4°C in August, Crete is 9.4°C warmer by day and 9.0°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in August
The typical August day in Crete peaks at 30.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 34.6°C or more. About 100% of days top 25°C and 1 in 2 pass 30°C. Nights average 22.5°C; one night in ten drops to 20.7°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day here reached 41.7°C (2002-08-12) and the coldest night 18.4°C (1997-08-25).
Rain in August
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 1 days with 1 mm or more, 5 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest August was 2015 with 86 mm, the driest 1993 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 60%.
Sea temperature in August
The sea averages 25.9°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 25.1°C to 26.6°C. This is the warmest the sea gets here all year.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 12.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:39 and sets about 20:09 local time in mid-August. Average cloud cover is 5%.
Is August a good time to visit Crete?
Yes - it is one of the better months: hot days, little rain and long sunny days. The best months for Crete on our scoring are August, July, June; months averaging 25°C or more: May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Expect heat that needs planning around
August is a hot choice rather than a gentle step up from a British summer. Days reach 30°C on 58% of occasions, while the hottest days reach 34.6°C or more. That makes mornings a more sensible time for anything active, leaving the middle of the day for shade, rest or easy access to a swim. Pack loose, lightweight clothes, a hat and sun protection, and choose accommodation where you can cool down comfortably. Evenings remain warm on average, so do not expect sunset to bring much relief. If you prefer being active throughout the day, the heat is the main drawback.
Good swimming weather, with little rain
The sea is warm enough for swimming, making August a good fit if time in the water is central to your holiday. With about 12.7 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of scope to swim outside the hottest part of the afternoon. Shade still deserves a place in your plans: long sunny days are not an invitation to stay exposed throughout them. There is about 1 rainy day during the month, so wet weather is unlikely to dominate, though a completely dry stay is not guaranteed. Pack mainly for heat and sunshine rather than making rainwear the priority.
A little perspective
Crete through the year
August is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.2°C | 8.2°C | 16.2°C | 3.8 | 73 | 12 | 0% |
| February | 14.8°C | 8.2°C | 15.5°C | 4.6 | 71 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 17.2°C | 9.3°C | 15.6°C | 6.0 | 57 | 9 | 2% |
| April | 20.8°C | 11.8°C | 16.6°C | 7.8 | 38 | 6 | 14% |
| May | 25.3°C | 15.7°C | 19.3°C | 9.9 | 29 | 4 | 51% |
| Junebest | 29.3°C | 19.8°C | 22.8°C | 12.9 | 10 | 2 | 91% |
| Julybest | 30.9°C | 22.2°C | 25.1°C | 13.7 | 3 | 1 | 99% |
| AugustSelectedbest | 30.8°C | 22.5°C | 25.9°C | 12.7 | 5 | 1 | 100% |
| September | 28.3°C | 20.0°C | 24.9°C | 10.2 | 20 | 3 | 84% |
| October | 24.2°C | 16.8°C | 23.0°C | 6.6 | 38 | 6 | 39% |
| November | 19.5°C | 13.1°C | 20.4°C | 4.3 | 50 | 8 | 5% |
| December | 15.6°C | 10.0°C | 18.0°C | 3.5 | 70 | 11 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in August
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Crete in August FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Crete hot in August?
Crete is hot in August: the average daytime high is 30.8°C and nights average 22.5°C. About 100% of August days reach 25°C or more.
Can you swim in the sea in Crete in August?
The sea around Crete averages 25.9°C in August, which is warm enough for most people to swim comfortably. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 25°C to 27°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Crete in August?
Crete sees about 1 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 5 mm of rain in a typical August. The wettest August between 1991 and 2020 was 2015 (86 mm) and the driest was 1993 (0 mm).
How sunny is Crete in August?
Crete gets around 12.7 hours of sunshine a day in August out of 13.3 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Crete compare with the UK in August?
Crete is on average 9.4°C warmer than London by day in August (30.8°C against 21.4°C).
What is the hottest August on record in Crete?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day in Crete reached 41.7°C on 2002-08-12, and the coldest night dropped to 18.4°C on 1997-08-25.
How much hotter is Crete than London in August?
Crete's average daytime high is 30.8°C, compared with London's 21.4°C. The supplied difference is 9.4°C, a substantial jump for a UK traveller. Plan for a slower pace during the hottest part of the day rather than carrying on as you would at home.
Is the sea warm enough for comfortable swimming?
Yes. The sea averages 25.9°C in August, with a year-to-year range of 25°C to 27°C. That puts it firmly in swimming territory rather than bracing water, so August suits travellers who want warmth both in and out of the sea.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Irákleion (Heraklion). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.7 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C