What will the weather be like?

January is generally cold, with the freezing tramontana wind sweeping down from the north. January 29, 30 and 31 are known as the "giornate della merla" (days of the blackbird) and are supposed to be the coldest of the year. Once the Christmas holidays are over (after January 6), the tourist sights are almost deserted but you will still find a warm welcome everywhere. There are great sales of Winter clothing during the last 1-2 weeks of January.

Average High 50°               Average Low 34.5°                      Average precipitation: 2.9”

February is "corto e maledetto" - short and cursed. It can be almost as cold as January, although winter traditionally ends if the weather is good on the Feast of Candlemas (February 2).

Average High 53.6  °         Average Low 37°                   Average precipitation 2.7”

March weather is notoriously capricious: Italians say "Marzo è pazzarello" - March is crazy. It is still chilly, and often windy and rainy too. The days are getting longer, however, and March 21 officially marks the start of spring. During the last weekend of the month, the clocks go forward, giving more daylight. There begin to be more tourists, particularly if Easter falls early.

Average High 59°                Average Low 40.8°                  Average precipitation 3.2”

April the weather is a little warmer and there will be more tourists.

Average High 65.8°              Average Low 49.5   °                Average precipitation 3.1”

May is the month of roses in Italy, with weather that is warm but not too hot for sightseeing. The major sights are crowded, not only with visitors from abroad but also with Italian schoolchildren, as schools often organize trips at this time of year.

Average High 74.1°            Average Low  52.3°               Average precipitation 2.9”

June is like May, but later in the month the temperature can rise steeply, particularly in the south. June 21 is the longest day of the year. Seaside resorts begin to fill up after the schools close in the middle of the month.

Average High 81.1°             Average Low 58.5°                 Average precipitation 2.2”

July can be quite warm, even hot. The ideal gelato weather!
Average High 88°           Average Low   63°                Average precipitation 1.6”

August is much like July. Although it is no longer true that everything shuts down in August, most Italians close up shop and go to the seaside for vacation. There are great sales of Spring clothing during the last 1-2 weeks of August.

Average High 87.1°             Average Low 62.6°                Average precipitation 3”

September is a good time of year to visit Italy. The outdoor cafes are open again. Temperatures are beginning to drop and the weather is usually dry. Autumn officially begins on September 23.

Average High   79.9°           Average Low 57.6°              Average precipitation 3.1”

October is the best month of all. There are beautiful sunny autumn days. In northern Italy and at higher altitudes, however, temperatures may already be quite low, particularly at night. The evenings are closing in and during the last weekend of the month the clocks go back.

Average High 70°            Average Low 50°                 Average precipitation 3.5”

November has days that are short and often rainy, although rarely very cold.
Don’t miss tasting the roasted chestnuts that abound at this time of year.

Average High   58.8°           Average Low   41.9°                Average precipitation 4.4”

December, the cold weather returns: you can forget about sitting outside on the piazza sipping a cappuccino. It can be cold and rainy and ideal for drinking very hot thick chocolate with whipped cream.              Average High 50.7°        Average Low 36.3                 Average precipitation 3.6”