Weather and climate in Catania (Sicily)

The climate of Catania is Mediterranean, with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is located on the eastern coast of Sicily, the one exposed on the Ionian Sea. A short distance from the city, to the northwest is Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe with its 3,357 metres (11,014 feet).
Winter, from December to February, is mild, and is characterized by sunny periods alternating with rainy periods.
Occasionally, in conditions of persistent easterly wind, there can be intense rains concentrated in time, which can produce floods, and this can also happen in autumn.
It rarely gets very cold, however, sometimes there can be cold, windy and rainy days, with highs around 8/10 °C (46/50 °F).
Snow in Catania is extremely rare, not only because it is located on the coast, but also because it is protected by Etna to the north. The last moderate snowfall occurred in February 1905. Subsequently, snowfalls with light accumulation occurred in February 1956, January 1979, and December 1988.
At night, however, the temperature drops by several degrees, and in cold periods there may be light frosts. At Fontanarossa airport, the cold record is -4 °C (25 °F).



Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, with very rare rains. The sea breeze tempers the heat in the afternoon, but brings humid air. In the plain west of Catania, where the breeze arrives with more difficulty, temperatures are even higher: at Sigonella airport, the average high in August is 34.7 °C (94.5 °F).
There can be hot and sultry periods, especially from late July to late August, when the sea is warmer.
Furthermore, heatwaves of African origin can sometimes occur: in these cases, it is possible for the temperature to reach or exceed 40 °C (104 °F). On some occasions, the temperature reached 44/45 °C (111/113 °F), and in July 1962 even 46 °C (115 °F): these are among the highest values ever recorded in Italy.

Best Time

To visit Catania, you can choose the periods from mid-April to mid-May and from mid-September to mid-October, since in summer it can get very hot. It must be said that in both periods there may be rainy days.
The best months for a beach holiday are July and August. In June, the days are longer and the weather is often good, but the sea is still a bit cool. You can still go in September, in fact the sea is still quite warm, but the days get shorter and the first waves of bad weather can occur, especially in the second half of the month.

Catania - Climate data

The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 10.3 °C (50.6 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 26.1 °C (79.0 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 550 millimeters (21.7 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 5 mm (0.2 in) in the driest months (June, July) to 105 mm (4.1 in) in the wettest one (October). Here is the average precipitation.
The sea temperature ranges from 15 °C (59 °F) in February, March to 27 °C (81 °F) in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
There are on average around 2785 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Catania - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.3 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.7 °F) and a maximum of 15.8 °C (60.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) in January 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (68.5 °F). However, it reached 23.6 °C (74.5 °F) in January 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15.5 °C (60 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 4.8 °C (40.6 °F) and a maximum of 16.3 °C (61.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -4 °C (24.8 °F) in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 25.1 °C (77.2 °F) in February 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (58.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.3 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.4 °C (43.6 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (34.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.1 °C (28.2 °F) in March 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 34.4 °C (93.9 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 15 °C (59 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.7 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 8.8 °C (47.9 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to 1.5 °C (34.7 °F) in April 1997.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (79 °F). However, it reached 32.1 °C (89.8 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 16 °C (60.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.6 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 12.4 °C (54.4 °F) and a maximum of 24.7 °C (76.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 4.6 °C (40.3 °F) in May 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 38.5 °C (101.3 °F) in May 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 22.8 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 16.5 °C (61.7 °F) and a maximum of 29 °C (84.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). However, it dropped to 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) in June 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 40 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.5 °C (78 °F), with a minimum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F) and a maximum of 31.8 °C (89.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it dropped to 12.1 °C (53.8 °F) in July 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 39 °C (102 °F). However, it reached 45.3 °C (113.5 °F) in July 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 79% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25.5 °C (78 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 26.1 °C (79 °F), with a minimum of 20 °C (68 °F) and a maximum of 32.3 °C (90.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it dropped to 14.2 °C (57.6 °F) in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (100 °F). However, it reached 43.4 °C (110.1 °F) in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 78% of the time.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 27 °C (80 °F). Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.

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September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 23.4 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 17.8 °C (64 °F) and a maximum of 29.1 °C (84.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10.9 °C (51.6 °F) in September 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 40.7 °C (105.3 °F) in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 25.5 °C (78 °F). Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.

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October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 19.7 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 14.3 °C (57.8 °F) and a maximum of 25 °C (77.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in October 1996.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23 °C (73.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 15.3 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 9.9 °C (49.9 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in November 1995.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 30.1 °C (86.2 °F) in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 57% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.8 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) and a maximum of 17 °C (62.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -2 °C (28.4 °F) in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 28 °C (82.4 °F) in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 17 °C (63 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.