Athens has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate with around 400 mm (about 16 inches) of rain a year, one of the driest major European capitals, with nearly all of it concentrated in autumn and winter while summer stays reliably dry and hot. Because the ground and drainage systems see so little rain for months at a time, the first intense autumn storms can cause disproportionate flash flooding on streets and in low-lying areas around the city, a pattern that has caused serious damage and occasional loss of life in past years. Short, intense downpours are more common here than sustained, gentle rain. Because the shift from bone-dry summer to sudden autumn storms happens quickly, radar tracking during that transition is genuinely important. Greece’s National Meteorological Service operates the country’s radar network.
Rain in Athens by month
Athens gets about 433 mm (17.1 in) of rain in an average year. The wettest month is December, with 76 mm (3.0 in), and the driest is August, with 5 mm (0.2 in).
| Month | Average rain | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | 56 mm (2.2 in) | 10.2 °C (50 °F) |
| February | 44 mm (1.7 in) | 10.8 °C (51 °F) |
| March | 46 mm (1.8 in) | 13.1 °C (56 °F) |
| April | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 16.7 °C (62 °F) |
| May | 21 mm (0.8 in) | 21.8 °C (71 °F) |
| June | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 26.6 °C (80 °F) |
| July | 11 mm (0.4 in) | 29.3 °C (85 °F) |
| August | 5 mm (0.2 in) | 29.4 °C (85 °F) |
| September | 26 mm (1.0 in) | 25.0 °C (77 °F) |
| October | 39 mm (1.5 in) | 20.3 °C (69 °F) |
| November | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 15.6 °C (60 °F) |
| December | 76 mm (3.0 in) | 11.6 °C (53 °F) |
Long-term monthly averages from the National Observatory of Athens, measured at downtown Athens, 1991–2020. Source: Wikipedia climate table.
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