Many comment on how green
Corfu is compared to many 'summer' holiday destinations. Well it does rain
occasionally! Rain in Corfu is not the light drizzle accompanied by days of
low lying grey cloud that many in Europe experience! No, we often go
for many weeks, (especially during the summer), with clear blue skies.
Suddenly, it can cloud over and rain like a monsoon with huge raindrops
hitting the ground so hard, that the resulting splash soaks any part of you
that your umbrella was trying to protect! The storm will only last a short
while though often just a matter of hours.
During the last two weeks
of July and throughout August, high humidity makes these tropical storms
possible. Clouds suddenly swell and blot out the sun and within moments, the
rain hammers down. A few hours later the sun emerges!
Many enjoy the experience,
and an afternoon spent sitting inside the Taverna drinking local wine, while
waiting for the rain to stop, is no hardship. It is surprising though how
many will let 'rain' ruin their holiday. If you can plan ahead then the
possibility of rain during your holiday can be enjoyed!
Lesson 1: Come Prepared
Picture this holiday scenario:
Carry in your beach bag at all
times - for just in case: Playing cards, game boy - or better a chess set!
Thin plastic raincoat (the ones that fold tightly into a small package).
You wake up early and decide to walk down to the beach. The sky is clear,
the sun is warm and the beach quiet. You take a sun bed to the middle of the
beach and read your printed notes from this website, while your children
splash in the sea. Just before lunch a few clouds sweep over the horizon!
It starts pouring. You run
inside the Taverna for cover. You now have two choices. One: shout! "I
cannot believe it", have an argument with your partner saying "I told you we
should have gone to Spain!" Then storm off down the beach and go back to
your villa/apartment and spend a miserable day there! (This is not fiction -
this happens!) Or, you can spend the rest of the day, waiting for the storm
to stop, with family and friends and enjoy a long lazy lunch in a nearby
Taverna.
Lesson 2: Enjoy the experience
Carry in your beach bag at all
times - for just in case: Playing cards, game boy - or better a chess set!
Thin plastic raincoat (the ones that fold tightly into a small package). 
After a couple of hours and a drunken lunch with friends (often at these times you will get to meet people
on the other tables who are similarly 'trapped'), do not worry the sun will return.
If you came by car, it might be
better to leave it there. The roads can be very slippery after rain - and
especially when mixed with local wine! Incidentally, if you did not bring
money for a long lunch - having just planned for something lighter, you will
find that many Taverna owners are very accommodating - avrio, avrio - or pay
tomorrow!
|
Many people simply refuse to leave the beach - notice the person still on the
sun bed! - now there is spirit!
The sea can often become rough requiring the boats on the jetty out of the
water.
If it becomes really bad, some retreat inside - it has been known for us to
light the fire!
Others
just camp
outside!
Rainfall in Corfu
Month
|
Avg.
|
Avg.
|
|
High
|
Precip.
|
January
|
14° C
|
13 cm
|
February
|
14° C
|
14 cm
|
March
|
16° C
|
10 cm
|
April
|
19° C
|
6 cm
|
May
|
24° C
|
4 cm
|
June
|
28° C
|
1 cm
|
July
|
31° C
|
1 cm
|
August
|
31° C
|
2 cm
|
September
|
28° C
|
7 cm
|
October
|
23° C
|
15 cm
|
November
|
19° C
|
18 cm
|
December
|
15° C
|
18 cm
|
|
