Wind from the north
- Pink BeachShelter score 96 of 100
- ElafonisiShelter score 96 of 100
Sheltered beaches in Elafonisi today
Which side of Elafonisi is sheltered from today's wind? 3 beaches ranked live, updated every 2 hours.
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At a glance
Elafonisi beaches at a glance
- 3
- Mapped beaches
- 2
- Sandy beaches
- 2
- Secluded beaches
Most beaches face south (2). Wind from that side reaches them first; wind from the opposite side leaves them sheltered.
Shelter by wind direction
Which beaches are sheltered in each wind?
Wind direction decides everything. These are the Elafonisi beaches that stay most sheltered, and the ones that get roughest, in a strong wind (6 Bft) from each direction. It is computed from how much open sea lies upwind of each beach.
Wind from the east
- Pink BeachShelter score 84 of 100
- ElafonisiShelter score 71 of 100
Wind from the south
Every beach is fairly exposed to this wind.
Roughest
Wind from the west
- Pink BeachShelter score 94 of 100
- ElafonisiShelter score 94 of 100
Sea temperature
Sea temperature in Elafonisi, month by month
The average temperature of the sea near the beaches of Elafonisi, from 30 years of satellite measurements (NOAA, 1991–2020).
Warm-water seasonJul – Oct≥ 22 °C
Warmest month25 °CAugust
Coldest month16 °CFebruary
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16° | 16° | 16° | 17° | 19° | 22° | 24° | 25° | 25° | 23° | 21° | 18° |
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from July to October, and warmest in August, at about 25 °C.
Sea temperature: NOAA OISST v2.1, average of 1991–2020 (public domain). Close to the shore the water can be a degree or two warmer or cooler.
Best time to go
When to go to Elafonisi
In the swimming season (May to October) the least windy month on Elafonisi is June, with an average wind of 16 km/h. The windiest is August, at 18 km/h. The wind is usually lighter in the morning and builds up in the afternoon, so go early on windy days.
- Sea temperature
Elafonisi: wind and weather month by month
Average conditions for every month near Elafonisi, from 25 years of satellite-based weather data (2001–2025). Wind is the average at 10 m height; the sea close to the shore can differ.
| Month | Wind | Temp | Sea | Rain (mm/day) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 23 km/h W | 12° | 16 °C | 3.0 |
| February | 23 km/h NW | 12° | 16 °C | 2.8 |
| March | 21 km/h NW | 13° | 16 °C | 1.6 |
| April | 19 km/h NW | 15° | 17 °C | 0.9 |
| May | 16 km/h NW | 19° | 19 °C | 0.5 |
| June | 16 km/h NW | 23° | 22 °C | 0.2 |
| July | 18 km/h N | 26° | 24 °C | 0.1 |
| August | 18 km/h N | 26° | 25 °C | 0.2 |
| September | 17 km/h N | 24° | 25 °C | 0.7 |
| October | 18 km/h N | 20° | 23 °C | 1.7 |
| November | 19 km/h NW | 17° | 21 °C | 2.5 |
| December | 22 km/h NW | 14° | 18 °C | 3.1 |
Historical data: NASA POWER, CC BY 4.0.
Elafonisi: November through the years
Average conditions for November near Elafonisi, from 25 years of satellite-based weather data (2001–2025).
On average 19 km/h and 17° in November. Least windy year on record: 2019 · windiest: 2018.
Show all 25 years
| Year | Wind | Temp | Rain (mm/day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 18 km/h SW | 18° | 1.6 |
| 2024 | 21 km/h N | 17° | 1.5 |
| 2023 | 21 km/h W | 19° | 1.1 |
| 2022 | 19 km/h NW | 17° | 2.1 |
| 2021 | 19 km/h NE | 18° | 1.3 |
| 2020 | 21 km/h N | 16° | 1.8 |
| 2019 | 16 km/h SW | 19° | 3.0 |
| 2018 | 22 km/h N | 17° | 3.0 |
| 2017 | 18 km/h W | 16° | 2.2 |
| 2016 | 18 km/h W | 17° | 2.3 |
| 2015 | 19 km/h NW | 17° | 1.3 |
| 2014 | 17 km/h N | 17° | 1.5 |
| 2013 | 20 km/h SW | 18° | 1.9 |
| 2012 | 21 km/h N | 18° | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 20 km/h NE | 14° | 2.0 |
| 2010 | 17 km/h S | 18° | 1.4 |
| 2009 | 20 km/h W | 17° | 2.0 |
| 2008 | 18 km/h W | 17° | 2.1 |
| 2007 | 20 km/h W | 16° | 2.5 |
| 2006 | 17 km/h NW | 15° | 3.5 |
| 2005 | 21 km/h W | 15° | 3.5 |
| 2004 | 21 km/h NW | 17° | 4.8 |
| 2003 | 17 km/h NE | 17° | 4.5 |
| 2002 | 17 km/h SW | 17° | 3.6 |
| 2001 | 20 km/h W | 16° | 5.5 |
Every beach
Beaches on Elafonisi
3 beaches mapped. The most sheltered first, then every other beach with a name; each one opens its own page.
Which side of Elafonisi is sheltered in a north wind?
In a strong north wind the beaches of Elafonisi facing south stay most sheltered: Elafonisi, Pink Beach, and Beach near Elafonisi Beach. Beaches facing north are exposed to it.
How do you know which beaches are sheltered?
For every beach we measured how much open sea lies in each of 16 compass directions, using OpenStreetMap coastlines. Waves build over open water, so a beach with land close by in the direction the wind comes from is sheltered. Today's wind forecast from MET Norway is then applied, and the result is refreshed every 2 hours.
Are the forecasts reliable?
They are estimates. The model does not include swell from distant storms, and local gusts can be stronger than forecast. Always follow lifeguard flags and local warnings.
Which wind direction matters on Elafonisi?
The direction more than the strength. A beach is rough when the wind blows from the open sea towards it and flat when land lies upwind, so on a windy day one side of Elafonisi can be flat while the other has waves. That is why this page lists the most sheltered and the roughest beaches for each wind direction, and the live ranking above applies today's forecast.
When is the sea flattest on Elafonisi?
In the swimming season (May to October) the least windy month on Elafonisi is June, with an average wind of 16 km/h. The windiest is August, at 18 km/h. The wind is usually lighter in the morning and builds up in the afternoon, so go early on windy days.
How warm is the sea in Elafonisi?
The sea is 22 °C or warmer from July to October, and warmest in August, at about 25 °C.
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