Weather in Italy

Expats moving to Italy may expect the climate to be just as attractive as the rich local culture, but in reality, weather in Italy is highly variable and subject to inconsistency.

The country can be divided into three regions: the Alps in the far north, the Po Valley in central Italy, and the peninsula and nearby islands towards the south.

As it's an extremely mountainous region, the villages and cities in the Alps often experience long, cold winters with heavy snowfall along with rain and hail. Morning lows in winter are often well below freezing, sometimes dropping as low as -30°C (-22°F). Summers are mild with 27°C (81°F) being the average high in July, the region's hottest month. Even during this period, there may be snowfall.

The central Po Valley, which includes cities like Milan and Venice, is characterised by extremes – severe wet and foggy winters with close to freezing average temperatures of 2°C (36°F) and hot and humid summers with a few short bursts of cold spells and hailstorms. Summer temperatures can climb to 32°C (90°F).

Locations like Naples and the Vatican City further towards the south of Italy experience a moderate Mediterranean climate, with very hot, dry summers and mild winters. The warmest month in this region is in August which can bring blistering temperatures of up to 42°C (108°F). Winter lows, on the other hand, are usually around a manageable 9°C (48°F).

Spring and autumn are generally short and sweet, and these brief seasons bring the most pleasant weather in Italy.