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Port of Kithira (Greece) - Port Information (ID: 35520)
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KITHIRA.htm Kithira Greece Greece Kithira Port Information Selections Port Map Geographic Location Harbor as Haven Currents and Tides Visibility Hazardous Conditions Spring Summer Autumn Winter Protective or Mitigating Measures Moving to a new Anchorage Sortie or Remain in Port Scheduling Harbor Protection Local Hazardous Weather Conditions Wind Chill Table Heat Index Table Return To Ports List Untitled Document Geographic Location Geographic Location Coordinates: 36deg/08min N 23deg/00min E The Port of Kithira is located on the southern part of the Island ofKithira in the south central Aegean Sea. The island is situated between the southern-most part of Greece and the western end of the Island ofCrete. The Port is on the southern end of Kithira Island. Both the island and the town of Kithira are relatively small in size and population. The island dimensions are approximately 15 n mi long in the north-southdirection and 10 n mi wide at the widest point. The town is only a few city blocks in size. The terrain is hilly with maximum elevation about 1756 ft. The Port is located at the head of the small Bay of Kapsaliou. The Bay extends northward about 3/4 n mi inland with fairly high terrain ringing the northern and western sides. The Bay is open to the southeastward. A second anchorage area and even smaller harbor is locatedoff the northeast part of the Island in the Bay of Ayias Pelayias. The Strait of Elafonison, about 5 n mi wide, separates the Island from the mainland to the north. The Passage of Kithiron and Strait of Andikithiron separate the Island from Crete, about 50 n mi to the south-southeast. The Bay of Kapsaliou is open to the south with only two small offshore islands. One (name not known) is located about one n mi tothe southwest of the harbor and the other, Avgo, is located about 2 1/2 n mito the south. These two islands are the only features blocking the open sea approach. The harbor is very small with extremely limited facilities. The pier facilities, located on the northwest side of the mushroom shaped peninsula that extends into the central Bay, are well protected. A lighthouse is located on the western portion of the peninsula. The Port has no berthing for large ships. Depths at the pier are limited to 13 to 15 ft. Anchorage can be made about 1/4 n mi southeast of thelighthouse in 45 to 50 ft depths. Holding is good in a rocky bottom. Anchorage can also be made southwest of the lighthouse. This area will provide protection from southwesterly winds but is exposed tosoutheasterly winds. Depths increase to near 95 ft. Anchor dragging may occur in this area during heavy southeasterly swell and winds due to the soft mud and sand bottom. Harbor as Haven Harbor as Haven Kithira is a small coastal port with very limited facilities. U.S. Navy ship usage is limited to the anchorages. The harbor and anchorages are well protected from the regions prevailing northerly winds. However, the harbor and anchorages are exposed to southerly wind and waves. Protectionfrom southerly winds and waves can be found north of the island. Holding is considered good at the anchorage southeast of the harbor. Anchorage dragging may occur at the anchorage area southwest of thelighthouse. Currents and Tides Currents and Tides Tides are limited to a foot or less, currents are negligible. Visibility Visibility Visibility is generally good with only moderate reductions due to summer haze or winter low clouds and precipitation. Hazardous Conditions: Spring Hazardous Conditions: Spring The spring transition is prolonged with alternating periods of winter- and summer-like conditions. Migratory winter-like cyclones can be experienced well into May. The prevailing winds during non-storm periods remain northerly. The frequency, intensity, and extent of Scirocco conditions are at a maximum during spring. Sciroccos tend to develop slowly over a day ortwo, but then may persist for several days. Over Greece, Sciroccos generally bring cloudy conditions and light rain mixed with dust (RedRains). Local conditions of 22 to 33 kt winds and waves of 4 to 7 ft are typical for Scirocco events. Hazardous Conditions: Summer Hazardous Conditions: Summer Typical Mediterranean climate conditions, nearly cloud and precipitation free with mild temperatures (daily highs in upper 80's, nightly lows in mid 60's), dominate. There are no truly hazardous weather conditions during summer. The prevailing winds remain northerly in response to the development of the thermal low over southwestern Asia with relativelyhigh pressure over the Mediterranean. A thermal low pressure troughextends westward along the southern coast of Turkey from the thermal low. The intensity and position of the thermal trough determines the regional wind/weather conditions. Enhanced northerly flow of 17 to 27 kt develops over the local area when the thermal trough is most intense and/or shifted to its western most position off southwest Turkey. These events are called Meltemi in Greece and are part of the regional Etesian wind pattern which influences the Aegean Sea, Balkan Peninsula, and Asia Minorduring summer. The Etesian is, in turn, a regional aspect of the continental scale monsoonal flow of Asia. Etesian events, and therefore Meltemi events, tend to persist for several days. During these events thesoutherly local sea breeze along southward-facing coasts will counter thenortherly gradient flow resulting in deceased wind speeds during the afternoon. While no local indicators were identified during the 1990 Port Visit to Kithira, the tendency for an increase in clouds the day before and first day of Etesian events was noted, in Reiter, as a well-known fact byAegean Sea fishermen. Thunderstorm activity tends to occur over Greece onthe day before and the first day of an Etesian during May-June and September-October periods. During July and August the clouds are typically limited to scattered altocumulus on the day preceding the onset of strong Etesian conditions. Hazardous Conditions: Autumn Hazardous Conditions: Autumn The most hazardous aspect of weather in autumn, as elsewhere in theMediterranean, is the rapidity with which the winter-type pattern is established. On average, over the northern Mediterranean, the winter pattern is established around the end of the third week of October. Whilethe first storms are not likely to be as intense as some later in thewinter, the marked change from the summer Mediterranean weather can catchpeople unaware and unprepared. A migratory cyclone approaching from the west is the most likely early season event. Hazardous Conditions: Winter Hazardous Conditions: Winter The prevailing winds of the region are northerly. During Bora events the local winds may reach 41 to 47 kt but the Port is protected by the terrain to the north. During strong Bora events early morningtemperatures may be near zero with only limited warming during the day. The worst conditions at the Port occur when migratory cyclones approach from the west, resulting in southerly flow over the region. Winds reach 34 to 47 kt and waves 10 to 13 ft. While the harbor is protected, theanchorages are fully exposed. Anchorages north of the Island provide someprotection from southerly winds. A second cause of southerly winds are Sciroccos that approach from the south or southwest after forming over North Africa. Due to the dustcarried by these systems 'Red Rain' may be experienced. Sciroccos tend topersist for several days; intensity and duration increase from latewinter into early spring. Occasional thunderstorms are experienced with passing frontal systemswhich are generally associated with migratory lows. Restrictions tovisibility are limited to precipitation and low cloud effects. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Moving to a New Anchorage Protective/Mitigating Measures: Moving to a New Anchorage According to the Port Visit (1990) comments the conditions are never so bad as to require departing the area. However, the anchorage in the Bayof Ayias Pelayias off the northeast coast of Kithira Island is protected from southerly and westerly winds and to a lesser extent fromsoutheasterlies. The anchorage southeast of the lighthouse offers some protection from southeasterly winds while the anchorage southwest of the lighthouse is less exposed to southwesterly flow. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Sortie/Remain in Port Protective/Mitigating Measures: Sortie/Remain in Port Small boat operations outside of the harbor are likely to be curtailed during strong southerly wind events. The general squally, gusty nature ofthe winds for this area will require extra precautions. During strongsoutherly winds the non-alignment of local wind and waves, due to squalls, with the southerly swell will result in additional hazards to alongside operations. Protective/Mitigating Measures: Scheduling Protective/Mitigating Measures: Scheduling During summer the southerly sea breeze may cancel out the regional northerly gradient winds. Lightest wind conditions will then occur duringthe afternoon and early evening. No other local forcings of synoptic scale conditions were noted in the references. Harbor Protection Harbor Protection The harbor and anchorages are protected by terrain from the prevailing regional northerly winds. The anchorages are exposed to southerly winds and waves. Under strong southeasterly wind conditions anchor dragging mayoccur in areas south and southwest of the lighthouse. The most hazardous conditions are caused by migratory cyclones passing through the area. Winds may shift from the prevailing northerly to easterly, then abruptly to southeasterly with increasing speeds andfinally southwesterly as a cyclone approaches and passes the area. Wind speeds are likely to be increasing throughout this shifting sequence.Low clouds, rain and reduced visibility normally accompany the strong southerly wind events. While strong northerly winds occur over this region throughout the year,the terrain of the Island provides protection to the harbor and anchorageareas. During strong wind conditions gusty, squally weather is likelyover the Bay due to the turbulent flow caused by the surrounding steep terrain. Along south-facing coastlines, such as at the Port of Kithira, the summer sea breeze may offset the prevailing northerly winds resultingin light wind conditions during afternoon and evening periods. The harbor is protected from all wave action. The anchorages are exposed to southerly waves. Winter migratory cyclonic storms result in waves of 10-13 ft with both short period ( Local Hazardous Weather Conditions Local Hazardous Weather Conditions No local indicators were noted during the Port Visit of 1990. Reiter reported that increasing cloudiness over the Balkan Peninsula and Aegean Sea on the day preceding the establishment of an Etesian wind period was a well known fact by local fishermen. During the periods of May-June and September-October thunderstorms and lightning frequently occur on the daypreceding the outbreak of the Etesian as well as on the first day of the Etesian. During July and August, when the most stable atmospheric conditions exist over the Mediterranean, altocumulus are typically noted on the day preceding the onset of the Etesian. Another regional indicator is a deck of altocumulus approaching from the southwest in advance of a Scirocco. The Port of Kithira is located on the southern part of the Island of Kithira in the south central Aegean Sea. The island is situated between the south Port of Kithira (Greece) - Port Information