Theclimate of Italy is highly diverse. In most of the inland northern and central regions, the climate ranges fromhumid subtropical tohumid continental andoceanic. The climate of thePo Valley geographical region is mostly humid subtropical, with cool winters and hot summers.^[1][2] The coastal areas ofLiguria,Tuscany and most of theSouth experience a Mediterranean climate according to theKöppen climate classification.

Between the north and south there can be a considerable difference in temperature, above all during the winter: on some winter days it can be −2 °C (28 °F) and snowing inMilan, while it is 8 °C (46.4 °F) inRome and 20 °C (68 °F) inPalermo. Temperature differences are less extreme in the summer. On 11 August 2021, an agricultural monitoring station nearSyracuse recorded 48.8 °C (119.8 °F) which constitutes the official record of thehighest temperature inEurope according to theWorld Meteorological Organization.^[3]

Italy is experiencing widespread impacts of climate change, with an increase in extreme events such as heatwaves, droughts and more frequent flooding. For example,Venice is facing increasing issues due tosea level rise.^[4][5] Italy faces many challengesadapting to climate change including the economic, social, and environmental impacts that climate change creates, and an increasingly problematic death toll from thehealth risks that come with climate change.^[6][7]

The Italian climate is influenced by the large body of water of theMediterranean Seas that surrounds Italy on every side except the north. These seas constitute a reservoir ofheat andhumidity for Italy. Within the southern temperate zone, they determine aMediterranean climate with local differences due to thegeomorphology of the territory, which tends to make its mitigating effects felt, especially inhigh pressure conditions.^[8]

In addition toMediterranean influences, the Italian climate is partly affected by thewestern currents, especially in the intermediate seasons, also by the dynamics in theAtlantic Ocean, with itscyclones that travel from west to east, driven by the zonal circulation and more generally by the reciprocal position, on asynoptic level, of theAzores anticyclone and theAfrican subtropical anticyclone [it].^[9] The cold winter airs, are in part influenced by the mountain ranges of theAlps and theApennines.^[10] The mitigating effect of the Mediterranean is added to this condition with a tendency to reinvigorate, due to the transfer of sensible heat and humidity, the weakened perturbations from the west or with the formation ofMediterranean Low [it] orMediterranean cyclogenesis.^[11]

Italy is located insouthern Europe and it is also considered a part ofwestern Europe,^[12] between latitudes35° and47° N, and longitudes6° and19° E. To the north, Italy bordersSwitzerland,France,Austria andSlovenia and is roughly delimited by theAlpine watershed, enclosing thePo Valley and theVenetian Plain. To the south, it consists of the entirety of theItalian Peninsula crossed by theApennines and the twoMediterranean islands ofSicily andSardinia, in addition tomany smaller islands. The sovereign states ofSan Marino and theVatican City areenclaves within Italy,^[13][14] whileCampione d'Italia is an Italianexclave in Switzerland.^[15]

Italy is part of theNorthern Hemisphere. The country's total area is 301,230 square kilometres (116,306 sq mi), of which 294,020 km² (113,522 sq mi) is land and 7,210 km² (2,784 sq mi) is water.^[16] Including islands, Italy has a coastline of 7,900 km (4,900 mi) on theAdriatic Sea,Ionian Sea,Tyrrhenian Sea,Ligurian Sea,Sea of Sardinia andStrait of Sicily, and borders shared with France (488 km (303 mi)), Austria (430 km (267 mi)), Slovenia (232 km (144 mi)) and Switzerland (740 km (460 mi)). San Marino (39 km (24 mi)) and Vatican City (3.2 km (2.0 mi)), both enclaves, account for the remainder.^[16]

Over 35% of the Italian territory is mountainous.^[17] TheApennine Mountains form the peninsula's backbone, and theAlps form most of its northern boundary, where Italy's highest point is located onMont Blanc summit (Monte Bianco) (4,810 m or 15,780 ft). Other worldwide-known mountains in Italy include theMatterhorn (Monte Cervino),Monte Rosa,Gran Paradiso in the West Alps, andBernina,Stelvio andDolomites along the eastern side. ThePo, Italy's longest river (652 kilometres or 405 miles), flows from the Alps on the western border with France and crosses thePo Valley on its way to theAdriatic Sea. The Po Valley is the largest plain in Italy, with 46,000 km² (18,000 sq mi), and it represents over 70% of the total plain area in the country.^[17]

Conditions on the coast are different from those in the interior, particularly during winter months when the higher altitudes tend to be cold, wet, and often snowy. The coastal regions have mild winters and warm and generally dry summers, although lowland valleys can be quite hot in summer. Average winter temperatures vary from 0 °C (32 °F) on the Alps to12 °C (54 °F) in Sicily, so average summer temperatures range from 20 °C (68 °F) to over 25 °C (77 °F). Winters can vary widely across the country with lingering cold, foggy and snowy periods in the north and milder, sunnier conditions in the south. Summers can be hot and humid across the country, particularly in the south while northern and central areas can experience occasional strong thunderstorms from spring to autumn.^[18]

Lake Pranda inTuscan–Emilian Apennines in October

Nature reserve Paneveggio inTrentino in March

The east coast of theItalian Peninsula is not as wet as the west coast, but is usually colder in the winter. The east coast north ofPescara is occasionally affected by the coldbora winds in winter and spring, but the wind is less strong here than aroundTrieste. During these frosty spells from E–NE cities likeRimini,Ancona,Pescara and the entire eastern hillside of theApennines can be affected by true "blizzards". The town ofFabriano, located just around 300 m (984 ft) in elevation, can often see 50–60 cm (20–24 in) of fresh snow fall in 24 hours during these episodes.

On the coast fromRavenna toVenice andTrieste, snow falls more rarely: during cold spells from the east, the cold wind can be harsh but with bright skies. 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 toJesolo sees snow while it is raining in Trieste and surroundings, thePo River mouths and Ravenna. Rarely, the city of Trieste has seen snow blizzards with north-eastern winds. In the colder winters, theVenice Lagoon may freeze, and in the coldest ones even enough to walk on the ice sheet (December 1788).^[19] Further south, snow may occur inland but it rarely happens at sea level, though snow at sea level has been recorded as far south asSicily. Winters are generally milder in the coastal areas of the south, Sicily and Sardinia.

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. The humidity can make the northern plains particularly uncomfortable.

Spring and autumn weather can be very changeable, with sunny and warm weeks (sometimes with summer-like temperatures) suddenly broken off by cold spells or followed by rainy and cloudy weeks.

Map of the average annualsunshine duration in Italy (in hours)

  < 1,799 h

  1,800-1,999 h

  2,000-2,199 h

  2,200-2,399 h

  2,400-2,599 h

  > 2,600 h

Map of the average annualcloud cover in Italy (inokta)

  < 2,750 okta

  2,750 - 3,000 okta

  3,000 - 3,250 okta

  3,250 - 3,500 okta

  3,500 - 3,750 okta

  3,750 - 4,000 okta

  4,000 - 4,250 okta

  4,250 - 4,500 okta

  > 4,500 okta

Based on the maps onsunshine duration^[20][21] and on globalsolar irradiance^[22] in Italy, the areas with the highest values are the coasts ofSardinia, the western and southern coastal strip ofSicily, the whole ofApulia south ofBari, and the coastal strips of the southernTuscan Archipelago. All these areas have values of more than 2,600 hours of sunshine per year, with an average of more than seven hours per day.

On average, the northern and eastern coastal strip of Sicily, the innermost areas of Sardinia, the entire western peninsular coast to the south ofLivorno, including the flat and hilly areas of the hinterland, theIonian coast betweenCalabria andBasilicata, the inland areas ofLucania, theAdriatic coasts ofMolise and the whole of northernApulia, receive between 2,400 and 2,600 hours of sunshine per year (between 6.5 and seven hours per day).

Values between 2,200 and 2,400 hours of sunshine per year (between 6 and 6.5 hours per day) are recorded in the innermost areas of Sicily, in some sections of the Calabrian Ionian coast and in the corresponding inland areas, along the Adriatic coast ofAbruzzo, inLiguria,Versilia, inland areas of northern and easternTuscany, in Umbria and in the hinterland of southernLazio andCampania. All the other areas north of the imaginary oblique transversal line, drawn between the area immediately north of the city of Genoa and the border betweenMarche and Abruzzo, record annual average values that do not reach 2,200 hours, or less than six hours per day.

The highest annual average values in the network ofpyranometric stations relating to global solar irradiance are higher than 18 MJ/m² (0.46 kWh/sq ft) and concern the southern and south-eastern extremities of Sicily. Average annual values between 16 MJ/m² (0.41 kWh/sq ft) and 18 MJ/m² (0.46 kWh/sq ft) are recorded over a large part of theAosta Valley, on the western alpine extremity ofPiedmont, on the island ofPianosa, on the coastal and sublittoral areas of the middle and southern Lazio, in the south-central Apulia, Calabria, Sardinia and most of Sicily (including the islands ofUstica,Pantelleria andLampedusa).

Average annual values between 14 MJ/m² (0.36 kWh/sq ft) and 16 MJ/m² (0.41 kWh/sq ft) affect western Liguria, a large part of Tuscany and central-northern Lazio, a large part of the Marche, Abruzzo and Molise, Campania, Basilicata, northern Puglia and north-eastern Sardinia. Average annual values between 12 MJ/m² (0.31 kWh/sq ft) and 14 MJ/m² (0.36 kWh/sq ft) occur in central-eastern Piedmont, eastern Liguria,Lombardy,Trentino-Alto Adige,Veneto,Friuli-Venezia Giulia, most ofEmilia-Romagna and on the Apennine ridge betweenEmilia, Tuscany, Umbria, Marche and Lazio. Average annual values of less than 12 MJ/m² (0.31 kWh/sq ft) are recorded in an area of the Tuscan-EmilianApennines which includes the highest peaks.

Cloud cover generally tends to reach the lowest average values in the month of July, while the highest average values, according to the different climatic zones, can affect several months between late autumn and the first part of spring, with the highest average values in most of the territory recorded in November.^[23]

Lake Garda in spring

Fog inPo Valley is frequent during the winter time

In the south, summer marks a distinct dry season, characteristic of Mediterranean climates. This includes cities such asNaples,Rome,Bari, andPalermo. In the north, precipitation is more evenly distributed during the year, although the summer is usually slightly wetter. Between November and March thePo valley is often covered by fog, especially in the central zone (Pavia,Piacenza,Cremona andMantua), while the number of days with lows below 0 °C (32 °F) is usually from 60 to 90 a year, with peaks of 100–110 days in the mainly rural zones.^[24]

Snow is quite common between early December and early March in cities like Turin, Milan and Bologna, but sometimes it appears in late November or late March and even April. In the winter of 2005–2006, Milan received around 0.75–0.8 m (2 ft 5.53 in – 2 ft 7.50 in) or 75–80 cm (29.5–31.5 in) of fresh snow,Como around 1 m (3 ft 3.37 in) or 100 cm (39.4 in),Brescia 0.5 m (1 ft 7.69 in) or 50 cm (19.7 in),Trento 1.6 m (5 ft 2.99 in) or 160 cm (63.0 in),Vicenza around 0.45 m (1 ft 5.72 in) or 45 cm (17.7 in), Bologna around 0.3 m (11.81 in) or 30 cm (11.8 in), and Piacenza around 0.8 m (2 ft 7.50 in) or 80 cm (31.5 in)^[25]

Often, the largest snowfalls happen in February, sometime in January or March. In theAlps, snow falls more in autumn and spring over 1,500 m (4,921 ft), because winter is usually marked by cold and dry periods; while theApennines see many more snow falls during winter, but they are warmer and less wet in the other seasons.

Both mountain chains can see up to 5–10 m (16 ft 4.85 in – 32 ft 9.70 in) or 500–1,000 cm (196.9–393.7 in) of snow in a year at 2,000 m (6,562 ft). On the highest peaks of the Alps, snow may fall even during mid summer, and glaciers are present.

Summer temperatures are often similar north to south. July temperatures are 22–24 °C (71.6–75.2 °F) north of river Po, like inMilan orVenice, and south of river Po can reach 24–25 °C (75.2–77.0 °F) 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 27 °C (80.6 °F). Generally, the hottest month is August in the south and July in the north; during these months the thermometer can reach 38–42 °C (100.4–107.6 °F) in the south and 32–35 °C (89.6–95.0 °F) in the north; Sometimes the country can be split as during winter, with rain and 20–22 °C (68.0–71.6 °F) during the day in the north, and 30–40 °C (86–104 °F) in the south; but, having a hot and dry summer does not mean that Southern Italy will not see rain from June to August.Thunderstorms, while much more common in the humid north, occasionally also occur in the south. High humidity may keep nighttime temperatures high in Italy's cities during the summer months.

The coldest month is January: the Po Valley's mean temperature is between −1–1 °C (30.2–33.8 °F), Venice 2–3 °C (35.6–37.4 °F), Trieste 6–7 °C (42.8–44.6 °F), Florence 5–6 °C (41.0–42.8 °F), Rome 7–8 °C (44.6–46.4 °F),Naples 9 °C (48.2 °F), andCagliari 12 °C (53.6 °F). Winter morning lows can occasionally reach −30 to −20 °C (−22.0 to −4.0 °F) in theAlps, −14 to −8 °C (6.8 to 17.6 °F) in the Po valley, −7 °C (19.4 °F) in Florence, −4 °C (24.8 °F) in Rome, −2 °C (28.4 °F) in Naples and 2 °C (35.6 °F) in Palermo. In cities like Rome and Milan, strongheat 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 −3 °C (26.6 °F) in Milan'sPiazza del Duomo while −8 to −9 °C (17.6 to 15.8 °F) in the metropolitan outskirts, in Turin can be just −5 °C (23.0 °F) in the city centre and −10 to −12 °C (14.0 to 10.4 °F) in the metropolitan outskirts.

It is found in some areas ofSicily,Sardinia and thePelagie Islands, for example inLampedusa.^[26][27]

It is found in all the coastal areas, excluding the north-eastern area and the area ofLiguria fromGenoa toSavona, which have aHumid subtropical climate. The winter average varies from 6 °C (42.8 °F), in the northern areas, to 11–14 °C (51.8–57.2 °F) in the southern islands. During the summer, averages are near 23 °C (73.4 °F) in the north (Liguria) and sometimes reach 26–28 °C (78.8–82.4 °F) in the south. Precipitation mostly occurs 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,Pescara.

This climate is found inland and at medium and high elevations in southern Italy, around 1,000 meters (3,281 ft). 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 3 or 5 °C (37.4 or 41.0 °F) in the winter, and between 17 and 21 °C (62.6 and 69.8 °F) in the summer. Snowfalls are more common. Main cities and towns:Ariano Irpino,Potenza,San Giovanni in Fiore,Prizzi.

A relatively "continental" and "four-season" version of the humid subtropical climate can be found in the Po and Adige valleys in the North, and sometimes 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,Genoa,Venice,Verona,Turin,Trieste,Bologna.

It can be found in altitude in the Apennines and in the alpine foothills. Summers are between 17 and 21 °C (62.6 and 69.8 °F) Main cities and towns:Aosta,Biella,Campobasso,L'Aquila,Cuneo,Sondrio,Amatrice,Belluno,Breno,Feltre.

It can be found mainly in the valleys of the Alps and to a lesser extent in the Apennines. Main cities and towns:Tarvisio,Bormio,Cortina d'Ampezzo.

This climate is found in the Alps, around 1,200 meters (3,937 ft) in the western side, or around 1,000 m (3,281 ft) in the eastern side. It is marked by low winter averages (between −7 and −3 °C or 19.4 and 26.6 °F) and mild summers, with temperatures averaging from 13 to 18 °C (55.4 to 64.4 °F). 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.

It is found at lower altitudes on the slopes ofMount Etna,Sicily, for example inLinguaglossa.

It is found at higher altitudes on the slopes ofMount Etna,Sicily, for example inNicolosi.

In the alpine valley around 1,600–1,800 meters (5,249–5,906 ft). The winters are very cold, averages between −12 and −5 °C (10.4 and 23.0 °F), and summers are cool, usually around 12 °C (53.6 °F). Main towns and villages in this area:Livigno,Chamois,Misurina,Predoi,Rhêmes-Notre-Dame.

Above the tree line in the Alps. All the months with average below 10 °C (50 °F).

Villages with this climate:Cervinia,Trepalle.

The record low temperature in Italy is −49.6 °C (−57.3 °F), recorded on 10 February 2013 in theAlps on the Pale di San Martino plateau, inTrentino-Alto Adige,^[67] while near sea level is −24.8 °C (−12.6 °F), recorded on 12 January 1985 at San Pietro Capofiume,frazione ofMolinella, inEmilia-Romagna.^[68] The lowest temperature record for an inhabited place is −37.4 °C (−35.3 °F), recorded on 15 February 2012 inRocca di Mezzo,Abruzzo, in theApennines.^[69]

The maximum snow depth was recorded in March 1951 in the Alps at the meteorological station of Lake D'Avino, inPiedmont, with a value of 1,125 cm (443 in).^[70] The maximum snowfall in 24 hours is 181 cm (71 in), recorded in the Apennines in the village of Roccacaramanico,frazione ofSant'Eufemia a Maiella (Majella massif),Abruzzo, on 15 January 1951.^[71]

The village of Musi,frazione of the municipality ofLusevera,Friuli-Venezia Giulia, with an annual average precipitation of 3,313 mm (130.4 in) (with a record of 5,406 mm (212.8 in) in 2014) is the wettest place in Italy.^[72] The maximum rainfall in 24 hours was recorded inBolzaneto, a quarter ofGenoa,Liguria, on 10 September 1970 with a value of 948 mm (37.3 in).^[73] However, there are many daily rainfall records around Italy exceeding 500 mm (20 in).^[74][75]

In the south,Sicily has experienced highs of 46 °C (114.8 °F) in some hot summers.^[76] On 25 June 2007 47.0 °C (116.6 °F) were recorded inFoggia,Apulia, and on 10 August 1999, 48.5 °C (119.3 °F) were recorded inCatenanuova in Sicily.^[77][78] The latter is not official, and generally considered dubious. On 11 August 2021, an agricultural monitoring station nearSyracuse, Sicily recorded 48.8 °C (119.8 °F) which constitutes the official record of thehighest temperature inEurope according to theWorld Meteorological Organization.^[3]

Italy, like other parts of the globe, has been subject in the past toclimate changes on a planetary scale (for exampleglaciations andinterglacial periods,Little Ice Age). Contemporary climate change (global warming) has also had numerous effects on Italy. In particular, compared to the 1960s and 1970s, from the mid-1980s onwards there was a recorded increase in the average temperature.^[79][80]

Italy is particularly at risk as it is in a transition area betweenNorth Africa andContinental Europe. Experts have highlighted the risk ofdesertification in the southern regions. Partial confirmation of many concerns was obtained starting from the 2010s with an acceleration of thewater cycle, an increase in alluvial phenomena, and thetropicalization of theMediterranean Sea.^[81][82][83]

• Climate of Ancient Rome
• Climate change in Italy
• Geography of Italy

• Average climatic data of cities in Italy

• Climate of Italy
• Climate by country

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