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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours
Introduction
In Lombardy we have the following types of climate:
- To the north, the cold mountain climate of the
Alps and the temperate humid climate of the
Pre-Alps.
- In the central-southern part, the semi-continental climate of the
Po Valley.
Lombardy is the most populous region of Italy and the fourth by surface area, and is located in the northwest of the country.
The Alps protect the region from cold air irruptions from the north. Occasionally, the north wind manages to climb over the ridge and appears in the Alpine and pre-Alpine valleys, but sometimes also in the plains, in the form of a warm, dry wind, the
föhn, which is able to bring clear skies and good visibility. When the föhn blows, the temperature can exceed 15 °C (59 °F) even in the middle of winter.
The
Po river flows in the southern part and marks the border with Piedmont to the west (in Lomellina) and Emilia-Romagna to the center and east. There is also a part of the region south of the Po, the Oltrepò Pavese, which reaches as far as the northern Apennines.
Alps and Prealps

In the
pre-Alpine belt, there are several
lakes, the largest of which are the lakes
Maggiore (shared with Piedmont and Switzerland),
Lugano (most of which is located in Switzerland),
Como, Iseo,
Garda (on the border with Veneto).
On the shores of the lakes, located between 200 and 300 meters (650 and 980 feet), the climate is a little milder than in the Po valley, but also more rainy. Abundant rains can occur in autumn, which can sometimes lead to the lakes overflowing, while
severe thunderstorms can break out from late April to August, especially in the afternoon and evening.
Here are the average temperatures in Como.
Como - Average temperatures (1989-2020) |
Month | Min | Max | Mean |
---|
January | 0.2 | 7.6 | 3.9 |
---|
February | 1.1 | 9.8 | 5.4 |
---|
March | 4.7 | 14.7 | 9.7 |
---|
April | 8.1 | 18.7 | 13.4 |
---|
May | 12.3 | 22.9 | 17.6 |
---|
June | 16.1 | 26.9 | 21.5 |
---|
July | 18.2 | 29.4 | 23.8 |
---|
August | 18.1 | 28.7 | 23.4 |
---|
September | 14.1 | 23.3 | 18.7 |
---|
October | 10 | 17.4 | 13.7 |
---|
November | 5 | 11.6 | 8.3 |
---|
December | 1 | 7.7 | 4.4 |
---|
Year | 9.1 | 18.3 | 13.65 |
---|
Precipitation is abundant in the western Pre-Alps, especially in the area north of Varese and Como, where it fluctuates between 1,500 and 2,000 millimeters (60-80 inches) per year.
Further north, in the
Alps, it is generally less abundant, ranging from less than 700 mm (27.5 in) per year in the north-east, in the Livigno area, to 1,500 mm (60 in) at the highest altitudes along the border with Switzerland. However, in winter there are abundant snowfalls, even though it depends on the year and the period.
To the north, where it is crossed by the Lepontine and Rhaetian Alps, Lombardy borders on Switzerland.
The highest point in the region is Punta Perrucchetti, 4,020 meters (13,189 ft) high, belonging to the Bernina massif, whose peak, at 4,050 meters, is located in Switzerland.
In
Bormio, located in the province of Sondrio, in the Upper Valtellina, at an altitude of 1,225 metres (4,020 ft), the average temperature in January is 0 °C (32 °F), while that in July is 18 °C (64.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Bormio - Average temperatures (1993-2016) |
Month | Min | Max | Mean |
---|
January | -4.5 | 4 | -0.2 |
---|
February | -3.8 | 5.7 | 0.9 |
---|
March | -0.7 | 10.1 | 4.7 |
---|
April | 2.6 | 13.6 | 8.1 |
---|
May | 6.7 | 18 | 12.4 |
---|
June | 10.2 | 22 | 16.1 |
---|
July | 11.7 | 24 | 17.8 |
---|
August | 11.4 | 23 | 17.2 |
---|
September | 8 | 18.8 | 13.4 |
---|
October | 4.2 | 13.9 | 9 |
---|
November | -0.2 | 8.2 | 4 |
---|
December | -3.7 | 4.2 | 0.2 |
---|
Year | 3.5 | 13.8 | 8.65 |
---|
High in the mountains, the climate becomes subarctic. For example, at the
Vallaccia pass, located at 2,655 meters (8,710 ft) above Livigno, the average temperature ranges from -7.5 °C (18.5 °F) in January to 8 °C (46.5 °F) in July and August.
Vallaccia - Average temperatures (2003-2017) |
Month | Min | Max | Mean |
---|
January | -10.7 | -4.4 | -7.6 |
---|
February | -11 | -3.4 | -7.2 |
---|
March | -8.8 | 0.8 | -4 |
---|
April | -5.4 | 4.7 | -0.4 |
---|
May | -1.4 | 7.5 | 3 |
---|
June | 2.8 | 10.9 | 6.8 |
---|
July | 4.6 | 11.9 | 8.2 |
---|
August | 4.5 | 11.4 | 8 |
---|
September | 1.2 | 8.3 | 4.7 |
---|
October | -1.8 | 5 | 1.6 |
---|
November | -6 | 0 | -3 |
---|
December | -8.9 | -3.6 | -6.3 |
---|
Year | -3.4 | 4.1 | 0.35 |
---|
Above 3,000 meters or 6,500 ft (but locally at lower altitudes), in Lombardy, some
glaciers are found. To the north, within the Stelvio National Park, we have the Ortles-Cevedale glacier and the Forni glacier, which are connected. Further south, in the upper Val Camonica, we find the Adamello, the largest glacier in Italy, whose peak reaches 3,539 metres (11,160 ft). Then there are other minor glaciers. Glaciers are gradually retreating due to global warming.
Plain

In the flat area of Lombardy, there is a
moderately continental climate, with cold, damp winters and hot, muggy summers.
The Po valley, enclosed by mountains on three sides, is an area with little wind, where pollutants accumulate, especially in the cold period, from November to March. The Lombard plain, especially in the area around
Milan, is the most polluted area in Europe.
Precipitation is generally moderate, and increases as you go north. In the south-eastern area (see Mantua) it is a bit lower than 650 millimeters (25.5 inches) per year, while it reaches 1,100 mm (43 in) in the area close to the Pre-Alps (see
Bergamo).
Winter, from December to February, is quite cold and gray. The sky is often overcast, and fog can form (although the latter was more frequent in the past).
The average temperatures in January are 2.5/3 °C (36.5/37.5 °F) in the central-southern part (see
Lodi,
Pavia,
Cremona, Mantua), while they reach 3.5/4 °C (38.5/39 °F) in the more populated areas and close to the lakes (see Milan, Bergamo, Como).
Here are the average temperatures in Cremona.
Cremona - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
Month | Min | Max | Mean |
---|
January | -1 | 5.5 | 2.3 |
---|
February | -0.2 | 8.6 | 4.2 |
---|
March | 3.5 | 14.7 | 9.1 |
---|
April | 7.6 | 18.8 | 13.2 |
---|
May | 12.3 | 23.8 | 18.1 |
---|
June | 16.1 | 28.2 | 22.1 |
---|
July | 18 | 30.4 | 24.2 |
---|
August | 17.4 | 30 | 23.8 |
---|
September | 13.5 | 25 | 19.2 |
---|
October | 9.5 | 18.1 | 13.8 |
---|
November | 4.9 | 11 | 8 |
---|
December | 0.2 | 5.8 | 3 |
---|
Year | 8.5 | 18.4 | 13.45 |
---|
Sometimes, even in the Lombardy plain it can
snow. Snow falls more often in the western part (see the area north-west of Milan), because it is further from the Adriatic Sea and therefore cold air stagnates more easily, and in the southern part, along the Po (see Pavia, Cremona), because it is exposed to the cold wind from the northeast. The least snowy area is the eastern one (see the area around Lake Garda and Mantua). In the past, there have also been heavy snowfalls in Milan, where, however, in recent years snow is becoming rarer, both due to global warming and the urban heat island.
Every now and then,
cold air masses from Eastern Europe can bring quite intense frosts, though the temperature rarely drops below -10 °C (14 °F). In the past, however, during the most intense cold spells, such as in 1929, 1956 and 1985, temperatures of -15 °C (5 °F), and locally even -20 °C (-4 °F) were reached in the Lombardy plains.
In spring and summer, from May to August,
thunderstorms can occur, sometimes intense and accompanied by hail, especially in the northern area, near the Pre-Alps (see Milan, Bergamo,
Brescia).
Summer, from June to August, is hot and muggy, and generally sunny, at least in the morning. The coolest areas are the northernmost ones, closest to the Pre-Alps and the lakes (see
Varese, Como,
Lecco), also because thunderstorms can break out in the afternoon.
The heat is felt more, as well as in the city of Milan, in the central-southern part of the plain, where there is little wind and humidity is high. Here, the average temperature in July is 24.5/25 °C (76/77 °F).
Sometimes, an Atlantic front, able to bring cool and rainy weather, can affect this area even in summer; more often, on sunny days, thunderstorms can erupt in the afternoon or evening, especially in the northern part, the one closest to the Alps, which also includes Milan.
During
heat waves, which are becoming increasingly more frequent, the temperature can reach or exceed 35 °C (95 °F).
Best Time
The
best period to visit the cities of the Lombard plain is that of spring and early summer, and in particular, from mid-April to mid-June. September, too, is a good month. However, you have to take into account some rainy days in both periods.
Summer can be hot, although some days can be acceptable, especially in June. In summer, and sometimes in May, sudden thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening must be put into account.
You can go to the Alps either in winter, perhaps for skiing, and in summer, perhaps for trekking in the mountains and to escape the heat of the plains.
See also the
temperatures by month.