Italy Climate

Climate of Italy

Most areas of Italy have a subtropical climate of the Mediterranean variety. It is strongly influenced by the diversity of the terrain, the course of the mountain ranges (the Alps and the Apennines) that form climatic barriers and the proximity of the African continent. The weather is also influenced by the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas lapping the coast. All these factors mean that the climate differs significantly in the northern and southern parts of the country and in the high mountain ranges.

Northern Italy

The Po plain (including Milan, Turin, Venice and Bologna) is characterized by a subtropical climate of the continental variety. The summer period is hot (about 25°C) and quite rainy. Annual precipitation reaches 700 mm - 800 mm. In the coldest months, thermometers indicate 0°C - 3°C, and there may also be frosts, snowfall and fog.

The Mediterranean coast (including Genoa, Tuscany) is characterized by a Mediterranean variety of subtropical climate, with mild winters, where the temperature oscillates around 12°C - 14°C, and hot and dry summers with temperatures reaching an average of 27°C. The water temperature in the sea during the summer months fluctuates between 21°C - 24°C.

The Adriatic coast is slightly cooler, and this is especially noticeable during the winter season, when winds from Eastern Europe bring colder air.

The Alps and the Apennines are the coldest regions of Italy, and are distinguished by a mountain climate with climatic stacking. Depending on the altitude, the weather in each area varies slightly. Summer months tend to be rainy with moderate temperatures, while winters are relatively long and cold. Summer temperatures reach about 15°C in the foothills of the Alps and drop with increasing altitude. At 2,500 meters above sea level it is already around 5°C. Rainfall fluctuates between 2,000 mm and 3,000 mm per year. In winter, thermometers indicate well below 0°C, at which time snowfall is common. In the higher parts of the mountains it happens to occur as early as mid-September, and is especially abundant in the Alps, where snow cover persists for 5-6 months of the year. The Alps, due to their altitude, are much colder and snowier than the Apennines. Snow throughout the Apennines is found at elevations above 1,500 meters above sea level.

Southern Italy

Southern Italy (Rome, Italian Riviera) is characterized by a subtropical Mediterranean climate with mild and rainy winters and hot and dry summers. Average summer air temperatures exceed 25°C, rising to around 40°C under the influence of hot winds from the African continent (sirocco). Winters are mild, with temperatures oscillating between 10°C - 15°C. Rainfall is not abundant (about 400 mm per year) and occurs during spring and autumn and winter.

Islands

Sicily has a subtropical Mediterranean climate. Summers are long and hot, with temperatures reaching 30°C - 40°C during this time. In spring and autumn you can also count on hot days and plenty of sunshine. Rain falls mainly in the autumn and winter months, with about 700 mm a year on the north coast and 300 mm - 400 mm in the rest of the island. The winter period is usually mild, with temperatures fluctuating between 11°C and 13°C. The higher parts of the mountains, such as Etna, Monti Madonie and Monti Nebrodi, have a slightly colder climate than the rest of the region. Temperatures there drop below 0°C in winter, and it often snows, which lingers on the slopes for much of the year.

Sardinia has a typical subtropical Mediterranean climate - mild and rainy in winter, hot and dry in summer. There are about 300 days of sunshine per year, and precipitation is concentrated in winter and autumn (450 mm - 600 mm per year). Typically, the northwestern part of the island is rainier than the southern part. Temperatures on the island in the warmest months reach about 30°C, while in the coldest months they range from 6°C to 10°C.