Islands are often exposed to winds and the Cyclades region is not an exclusion. The usual summer wind of the Aegean sea is called meltemi and it blows from the north to the south, as its peaks are in July and August - yes, right in the season when most travelers are on a holiday.
But the good news that this wind doesn`t blow severely all the time and may sometimes stay unnoticed. Moreover, some islands and beaches are more wind-sheltered.
How strong is the meltemi?
In some days you can feel the meltemi as light to moderate breeze and its presence is quite welcomed because the summer heat is much tolerable with air moving around. In fact, you may go to the Cyclades for a few consecutive years and never feel its full power.
But when the meltemi flies into a rage this could be unpleasant surprise for you. In such days staying at the beach is almost impossible - the wind sweeps away your towel, shakes your parasol and throws sand in your eyes. It may even overturn your frappe-full glass from the beach table!
The intensity of meltemi on the Beaufort scale can reach force up to 8, with gusts up to 10. When the Beaufort number is from 1 to 3, you can go to any beach and the wind would not disturb you. When it is 6 and above, staying at the beach is not a good idea, especially on the north coasts of the Cyclades.
Can the wind be predicted?
Unfortunately, windy weather cannot be predicted much in advance and you cannot rely on forecasts 1-2 months before your holiday. Although the peaks of meltemi are in July and August, it blows from May to September and it may be strong any time during this period.
Forecasts are very useful if you use them to check weather in the next few days. A good website for forecast in Greece is okairos.gr, it shows the power and direction of the wind per day (for the next 2 weeks) and even per hour (for the next 24 hours). According to the forecast, you can plan which beach to visit or whether to join a boat cruise. Another useful website is windy.com.
The meltemi has one peculiarity - its intensity depends on temperature differences and for this reason its strength is highest in the hottest hours of the day, fading away in the evenings. However, there may be days when it doesn`t stop at all.
It is very windy during my holiday. What to do?
Unless you are a surfer, wind of more than 5 on the Beaufort scale will be undesirable. If this happens during your holiday, there are a few things you can do:
1) Check the forecast to see what to expect in the next days - this will guide you which beach to choose depending on the wind direction.
2) Find a wind-sheltered beach. When the meltemi blows, the south beaches are more wind-sheltered, especially those located in bays or near harbors. Locals know best where to go in such weather, so do not hesitate to ask them.
3) Go sightseeing. If the wind is too strong to stay at the beach or it feels cold (in shoulder season), devote this time to explore historical sites or villages of your island. Larger islands of the Cyclades have pretty villages with traditional architecture which is worth to see.
If you plan a boat trip during your stay, check the forecast to see when the wind will fade away. Also note that boat cruises and sea trips around the islands may be cancelled when it`s too windy to sail.
Which are the windiest islands?
Any island can be affected by wind with no exclusion. But yet some of the Cyclades tend to be a bit windier than the rest of the group.
The islands of Andros, Tinos, Mykonos and Naxos are windier due to their more exposed location. It is not a coincidence that the most famous kite- and windsurf clubs of the Aegean can be found namely there, and Tinos and Mykonos compete for the nickname ”island of the winds”.
Traveling by ferry between the Cyclades in windy weather
Unlike smaller passenger boats, large conventional ferries usually run on schedule even in windy days and they are least affected by the meltemi, unless its intensity is very high. When the Beaufort number is very high, sailing to and between the Cyclades may be fully cancelled for a few days until the wind is down. Fortunately, this doesn`t often happen in the summer.
When you travel by ferry in very windy conditions, you will definitely feel the staggering of the ship. For those who suffer from seasickness this would not be a great time to be on board so we recommend you to be prepared in advance with antiemetics or alternatives to avoid nausea. You can try sea bands, ginger pills and in the worst case - dimenhydrinate. Dimenhydrinate is a medicine available in the form of chewing gums for adults in every Greek pharmacy. The product is called Travel Gum and one gum is enough to relieve the nausea effect for one trip.
Think positive!
Whatever you have read and heard about the meltemi wind, do not get into the mood that it will ruin your holiday. No wind has put off holidaymakers from going to the Cyclades all summer long and there are lots of things you can do there. Swimming and sunbathing are really impossible only in rare occasions - you can always find a more sheltered beach or go for a walk in the inner villages of the island.
Be positive and enjoy your holiday!