The National Observatory of Athens’ annual rainfall and temperature report confirms that Crete registered the highest rainfall and temperature in 2020.
Greece's largest island was hit by successive major storms and repeated waves of bad weather, which caused significant damage and problems. The lowest levels of annual rainfall during the year were on the Cyclades islands and the Dodecanese islands.
The top five locations which received the most precipitation in 2020 were:
- Asi Gonia, Chania (2,865 mm)
- Askyfou in Chania (2,650 mm)
- Setta in Evia (2,383 mm)
- Steni in Evia (2,207 mm)
- Zagora, Pilio (1,995 mm)
The lowest levels of rainfall were on the islands of:
- Salamina (286 mm)
- Naxos (277 mm)
- Nisyros (276 mm)
- Derveni in Corinth ( 275 mm)
- Ios (263 mm)
The year 2020 was also one of record-high temperatures, such as the unusual heatwave in May.
The lowest temperatures of the year were on January 5-7 and February 5-9.
The five highest temperatures recorded in 2020 were in:
- Plora, Heraklion (41.8 C on May 16)
- Kranidi in Argolida (41.8C on August 1)
- Arfara in Messinia (41.1 C on May 17 and July 31)
- Mires, Heraklion (41.1 C on May 17)
The lowest temperatures recorded were in:
- Neo Kafkaso (-14.7 C on February 9)
- Vryzes in Fokida (-14.3C on January 8)
- Kaimaktsalan (-13.3C on January 6 and -12.8C on February 6)
- Grevena (-12.6C on January 8)
Among the weather events that stood out during the year was Unusual Mediterranean cyclone ‘Ianos’.
Cyclone Ianos left floods, and caused power outages and extensive damage, as well as four deaths.
In December, torrential rainfall flooded the Acropolis.
