Live wind forecast in Beaufort for 39 Greek ferry ports, with the risk of cancellations and sailing bans today, tomorrow and the day after.
Sun 1 Nov: No sailing-ban-level winds forecast at the 39 ports we track.
Mon 2 Nov: Strong winds (7 Bf), fast boats may be cancelled: Paxos, Kyllini.
Updated Sun 1 Nov, 15:22 (Athens time) · refreshed every 30 minutes
Athens has three ferry ports. Piraeus is large and well protected, while Rafina and Lavrio face the open Aegean and are usually the first to see departures suspended in strong north winds.
The Saronic Gulf is relatively sheltered, so conventional ferries to Aegina and Poros usually keep running. Hydrofoils and fast catamarans — the main link to Hydra and Spetses — are more sensitive to wind and swell and are cancelled first.
The Cyclades sit in the open central Aegean and take the full force of the meltemi — the dry northerly that blows mostly in July and August — and of winter northerlies. High-speed catamarans are usually the first sailings cancelled; large conventional ferries keep going in winds that stop smaller craft.
| Port | Now | Sun 1 Nov | Mon 2 Nov | Tue 3 Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mykonos | 3 Bf W | 4 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Santorini (Athinios) | 4 Bf SW | 4 Bf | 4 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Paros (Parikia) | 2 Bf S | 4 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Naxos | 2 Bf SW | 3 Bf | 4 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Ios | 3 Bf W | 5 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Milos (Adamas) | 4 Bf SW | 5 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Sifnos (Kamares) | 4 Bf SW | 5 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Folegandros | 4 Bf W | 5 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Syros (Ermoupoli) | 3 Bf SW | 4 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
| Tinos | 2 Bf SW | 4 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
The large overnight ferries between Piraeus and Crete are rarely cancelled, though the crossing can be rough in strong northerlies. Fast links from Heraklion to Santorini and the Cyclades are more weather-sensitive.
| Port | Now | Sun 1 Nov | Mon 2 Nov | Tue 3 Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heraklion | 4 Bf SW | 4 Bf | 5 Bf | 4 Bf |
| Chania (Souda) | 1 Bf NE | 2 Bf | 3 Bf | 5 Bf |
The Dodecanese are exposed to the summer meltemi. Large conventional ferries on the Piraeus line generally sail, while the inter-island high-speed catamarans are cancelled more readily in strong winds.
The North-East Aegean has some of the longest crossings in Greece, served mostly by conventional ferries. Strong northerlies can still bring delays and occasional cancellations, especially on the open legs to Limnos.
| Port | Now | Sun 1 Nov | Mon 2 Nov | Tue 3 Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chios | 4 Bf S | 4 Bf | 4 Bf | 5 Bf |
| Lesvos (Mytilene) | 3 Bf S | 3 Bf | 4 Bf | 5 Bf |
| Samos (Vathy) | 5 Bf SE | 5 Bf | 5 Bf | 5 Bf |
| Limnos (Myrina) | 4 Bf S | 4 Bf | 5 Bf | 6 Bf |
The Ionian is calmer than the Aegean in summer — the meltemi is much weaker here — but autumn and winter southerly storms can stop sailings. The short crossings (Igoumenitsa–Corfu, Kyllini–Zakynthos) are among the most reliable in Greece.
Many sailings to Skiathos and Skopelos from Volos and Agios Konstantinos are high-speed vessels, which are sensitive to wind; conventional ferries continue in rougher conditions.
| Port | Now | Sun 1 Nov | Mon 2 Nov | Tue 3 Nov |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volos | 2 Bf SE | 2 Bf | 2 Bf | 3 Bf |
| Agios Konstantinos | 2 Bf E | 2 Bf | 3 Bf | 3 Bf |
| Skiathos | 4 Bf N | 4 Bf | 4 Bf | 5 Bf |
| Skopelos | 3 Bf N | 4 Bf | 4 Bf | 5 Bf |
A sailing ban is an order from the local port authority — part of the Hellenic Coast Guard — that stops ships leaving port because the weather makes the trip unsafe. Bans are decided per port and per vessel type, so fast boats can be stopped while large ferries still sail. They are typically issued when winds reach 8 Beaufort or more.
There is no single number. Large conventional ferries generally sail up to around 7 Beaufort and sailing bans usually come at 8. High-speed catamarans and hydrofoils are certified for lower limits and are often cancelled at 6–7 Beaufort.
Yes. Under EU passenger rights (Regulation 1177/2010) a cancelled sailing lets you choose between a refund of the ticket and the next available sailing at no extra cost. When the cause is weather that endangers safe sailing, the operator does not owe extra compensation or a hotel — so keep a buffer day before any flight.
The meltemi is the strong, dry north wind that blows across the Aegean mainly in July and August, often reaching 6–7 Beaufort. It is the main cause of summer ferry cancellations, especially for high-speed boats in the Cyclades and Dodecanese.
Wind values come from MET Norway's forecast model for a point at each harbour and are refreshed every 30 minutes. Conditions in open straits — such as the Kafireas Strait off Rafina — can be stronger than at the harbour. Treat the levels as an early warning and confirm with your ferry company before you travel.
Levels use the strongest sustained wind forecast for each day at the harbour. Gusts and open-sea winds in straits can be stronger.
Check live schedules, see which sailings are running and book e-tickets with our partner Ferryhopper.
See live schedulesYou are entitled to a refund or free rebooking on the next sailing. Read what to do and what you are owed.
Your rights if your ferry is cancelled →Wind data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). This is a forecast-based estimate — only the port authority (Hellenic Coast Guard) and your ferry company can confirm whether a sailing departs. Hellenic Coast Guard