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
, 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).
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).
, 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.
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.
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.
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.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.3 °C, with a minimum of
4.8 °C and a maximum of
15.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.5 °C in January 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
20 °C. However, it reached
23.6 °C in January 2004.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, 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 of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
10.6 °C, with a minimum of
4.8 °C and a maximum of
16.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
0 °C. However, it dropped to
-4 °C in February 2008.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
25.1 °C in February 1995.
Precipitation amounts to
55 mm, 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 of
12.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.3 °C, with a minimum of
6.4 °C and a maximum of
18.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.1 °C in March 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
34.4 °C in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, 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 of
13.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
14.7 °C, with a minimum of
8.8 °C and a maximum of
20.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
1.5 °C in April 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
26 °C. However, it reached
32.1 °C in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, 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 of
13.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.9 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
18.6 °C, with a minimum of
12.4 °C and a maximum of
24.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
4.6 °C in May 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
31 °C. However, it reached
38.5 °C in May 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, 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 of
12.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
22.8 °C, with a minimum of
16.5 °C and a maximum of
29 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12.5 °C. However, it dropped to
9.6 °C in June 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36 °C. However, it reached
44.5 °C in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only
5 mm, 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 of
12.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
22.4 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
25.5 °C, with a minimum of
19.1 °C and a maximum of
31.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12.1 °C in July 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
39 °C. However, it reached
45.3 °C in July 1998.
Precipitation amounts to only
5 mm, 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 of
12 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
26.1 °C, with a minimum of
20 °C and a maximum of
32.3 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
14.2 °C in August 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
38 °C. However, it reached
43.4 °C in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, 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 of
11.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
23.4 °C, with a minimum of
17.8 °C and a maximum of
29.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
13 °C. However, it dropped to
10.9 °C in September 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
35.5 °C. However, it reached
40.7 °C in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to
45 mm, 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 of
11.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19.7 °C, with a minimum of
14.3 °C and a maximum of
25 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
9 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in October 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30.5 °C. However, it reached
38.6 °C in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
105 mm, 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 of
11.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.3 °C, with a minimum of
9.9 °C and a maximum of
20.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
4 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.6 °C in November 1995.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
30.1 °C in November 2005.
Precipitation amounts to
65 mm, 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 of
11.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
11.8 °C, with a minimum of
6.6 °C and a maximum of
17 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
1 °C. However, it dropped to
-2 °C in December 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in December 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
85 mm, 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 of
12.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.