Climate of Italy
Italy has a variety of climate systems. The inland northern areas of Italy have a relatively cool, mid-latitude version of the Humid subtropical climate, while the coastal areas of Liguria and the peninsula south of Florence generally fit the Mediterranean climate profile.
Between the north and south there can be a considerable difference in temperature, above all during the winter: in some winter days it can be and snowing in Milan, while it is in Rome and in Palermo. Temperature differences are less extreme in the summer.
The east coast of the Italian peninsula is not as wet as the west coast, but is usually colder in the winter. The east coast north of Pescara is occasionally affected by the cold bora winds in winter and spring, but the wind is less strong here than around Trieste. During these frosty spells from E–NE cities like Rimini, Ancona, Pescara and the entire eastern hillside of the Apennines can be affected by true "blizzards". The town of Fabriano, located just around in elevation, can often see of fresh snow fall in 24 hours during these episodes.
On the coast from Ravenna to Venice and Trieste, snow falls more rarely: during cold spells from the east, the cold can be harsh but with bright skies; while during the snowfalls that affect Northern Italy, the Adriatic coast can see a milder Sirocco wind which makes snow turn to rain—the mild effects of this wind often disappear just a few kilometres inside the plain, and sometimes the coast from Venice to Grado sees snow while it is raining in Trieste, the Po River mouths and Ravenna. Rarely, the city of Trieste may see snow blizzards with north-eastern winds; in the colder winters, the Venice Lagoon may freeze, and in the coldest ones even enough to walk on the ice sheet.
during summer.
Summer is usually more stable, although the northern regions often have thunderstorms in the afternoon/night hours and some grey and rainy days. So, while south of Florence the summer is typically dry and sunny, in the north it tends to be more humid and cloudy. Spring and autumn weather can be very changeable, with sunny and warm weeks suddenly broken off by cold spells or followed by rainy and cloudy weeks. in autumn.
In the north, precipitation is more evenly distributed during the year, although the summer is usually slightly wetter. Between November and March the Po valley is often covered by fog, especially in the central zone, while the number of days with lows below is usually from 60 to 90 a year, with peaks of 100–110 days in the mainly rural zones. Snow is quite common between early December and early March in cities like Turin, Milan and Bologna, but sometime it appears in late November or late March and even April. In the winter of 2005–2006, Milan received around or of fresh snow, Como around or, Brescia or, Trento or, Vicenza around or, Bologna around or, and Piacenza around or
Summer temperatures are often similar north to south. July temperatures are north of river Po, like in Milan or Venice, and south of river Po can reach like in Bologna, with fewer thunderstorms; on the coasts of Central and Southern Italy, and in the near plains, mean temperatures goes from 23 °C to. Generally, the hottest month is August in the south and July in the north; during these months the thermometer can reach in the south and in the north; Sometimes the country can be split as during winter, with rain and during the day in the north, and in the south; but, having a hot and dry summer does not mean that Southern Italy will not see rain from June to August.
The coldest month is January: the Po valley's mean temperature is between, Venice, Trieste, Florence, Rome, Naples, and Cagliari. Winter morning lows can occasionally reach in the Alps, in the Po valley, in Florence, in Rome, in Naples and in Palermo. In cities like Rome and Milan, strong heat islands can exist, so that inside the urban area, winters can be milder and summers more sultry.
On some winter mornings it can be just in Milan's Piazza del Duomo while in the metropolitan outskirts, in Turin can be just in the city centre and in the metropolitan outskirts.
Often, the largest snowfalls happen in February, sometime in January or March; in the Alps, snow falls more in autumn and spring over, because winter is usually marked by cold and dry periods; while the Apennines see many more snow falls during winter, but they are warmer and less wet in the other seasons.
Both the mountain chains can see up to or of snow in a year at ; on the highest peaks of the Alps, snow may fall even during mid summer, and glaciers are present.
The record low is in the Alps, and near sea level, while in the south cities like Catania, Foggia, Lecce or Alghero have experienced highs of in some hot summers.
Climates found in Italy
Hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Csa)
It is found in all the coastal areas, excluding the north-eastern area, which fits a Humid subtropical climate. The winter average vary from, in the northern areas, to in the southern islands. During the summer, averages near in the north, and sometimes reaching in the south. Precipitations mostly during the winter. Snowfalls are rare and usually very light in the north, and almost never happen in the south. Summers are dry and hot. Main cities: Cagliari, Palermo, Naples, Rome, Genoa, Pescara.Warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Csb)
This climate is found inland and at medium and high elevations in southern Italy, around. It is similar to the usual Mediterranean climate: the summers are dry and the winters wetter, but the temperatures are lower in both seasons – around in the winter, and between in the summer. Snowfalls are more common. Main cities and towns: Potenza, Prizzi.Humid subtropical climate (Cfa)
A relatively "continental" and "four-season" version of the humid subtropical Cfa climate can be found in the Po and Adige valleys in the North, and sometime in low inland Central and Southern Italy. It is marked by hot and wet summers, while winters are moderately cold. The precipitation is higher and there is no dry season. Average temperatures are around 1 °C to 3 °C in January, and more than 22 °C in July and August. Main cities: Milan, Venice, Verona, Turin, Bologna.Transition between Cfa and Csa climates
Some parts of Italy have a climate which cannot be precisely defined as either Cfa or Csa, presenting elements from both. This indeed allows cultivations not seen in the Padana Plain, like olive trees, while keeping those characteristics which are not typical of Mediterranean climates. This can be found both in some lake and hill resorts of Northern Italy and in some area like inner Tuscany. Florence is a good example of this transition climate:Oceanic climate (Cfb)
It can be found in altitude in the Apennines and in the alpine foothills. Summers are between Main cities and towns: Aosta, Campobasso, L'Aquila, Cuneo, Sondrio, Amatrice – mild.Belluno, Breno, Feltre – severe.
Humid continental climate (Dfb)
This climate is found in the Alps, around in the western side, or around in the eastern side. It is marked by low winter averages and mild summers, with temperatures averaging from. Snow is usual from early November until March or early April. Main towns: Brusson, Gressoney-Saint-Jean, Aprica, Vermiglio, Mazzin, Santo Stefano di Cadore, Asiago, Claut, Resia.Subartic climate (Dfc)
In the alpine valley around. The winters are very cold, averages between, and summers are cool, usually around. Main towns and villages in this area: Livigno, Chamois, Misurina, Predoi, Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.Tundra climate (ET)
Above the tree line in the Alps. All the months with average below.Villages with this climate: Cervinia, Sestriere, Trepalle.