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Average weather, temperature, rainfall, sunshine hours

The climate of Messina is
Mediterranean, with mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.
The city is located in the north-east of Sicily and overlooks the strait of the same name, which separates it from Calabria. To the west are the northernmost hills belonging to the Peloritani Mountains.
Due to the location in a strait with two mountain ranges behind it, the temperatures are very mild, in particular, night lows are very high. Furthermore, the rains are quite abundant, at least compared to other Sicilian cities, since they amount to 850 millimeters (33.5 inches) a year.
Winter, from December to February, is mild, and is characterized by sunny periods alternating with rainy periods.
Occasionally, there can be intense rains concentrated in time, which can produce floods, and this can also happen in autumn.
Sometimes, at night and in the early morning, in conditions of light flow of warm air,
fog can occur on the Strait of Messina. The phenomenon, called "Lupa" ("she-wolf") by locals, occurs more often between the end of winter and spring, but sometimes also in summer.
It rarely gets very cold, although there can sometimes be cold, windy, and rainy days, with highs around 7/8 °C (45/46 °F).
Snow in Messina is rare, but due to its position in the north-east of Sicily and close to the Italian peninsula, snowfalls are slightly more frequent than in the rest of the region (at least at sea level). However, snow rarely accumulates on the ground, moreover, it occurs with temperatures above freezing and therefore tends to melt quickly. In January 1999 and at the end of December 2014, even the beach was covered with snow.
The temperature almost never drops below freezing. In March 1949 it dropped to -0.2 °C (31.6 °F).
Summer, from June to August, is hot and sunny, with very rare rains.
It is true that the city is located on the coast, but it is closed between the two sides of the Strait, so 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), also due to a fohn effect of the wind coming down from the mountains. In these cases, however, at least the humidity decreases.
Best Time
To visit Messina, 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.
Messina - Climate data
In Messina, the
average temperature of the coldest month (February) is of
12.4 °C, that of the warmest month (August) is of
28 °C. Here are the average temperatures.
Messina - Average temperatures (1991-2020) |
Month | Min | Max | Mean |
---|
January | 10.1 | 14.8 | 12.4 |
---|
February | 9.7 | 15 | 12.4 |
---|
March | 11.2 | 16.9 | 14 |
---|
April | 13.3 | 19.4 | 16.4 |
---|
May | 17 | 23.6 | 20.3 |
---|
June | 21 | 27.8 | 24.4 |
---|
July | 24 | 30.9 | 27.4 |
---|
August | 24.7 | 31.4 | 28 |
---|
September | 21.4 | 27.7 | 24.5 |
---|
October | 18.2 | 23.9 | 21.1 |
---|
November | 14.6 | 19.8 | 17.2 |
---|
December | 11.4 | 16.2 | 13.8 |
---|
Year | 16.4 | 22.3 | 19.35 |
---|
Precipitation amounts to
850 millimeters per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from
15 millimeters in the driest month (June) to
120 millimeters in the wettest one (November). Here is the average precipitation.
Messina - Average precipitationMonth | Days |
---|
January | 105 | 11 |
---|
February | 100 | 10 |
---|
March | 85 | 9 |
---|
April | 70 | 9 |
---|
May | 35 | 4 |
---|
June | 15 | 2 |
---|
July | 20 | 2 |
---|
August | 25 | 3 |
---|
September | 65 | 6 |
---|
October | 115 | 9 |
---|
November | 120 | 11 |
---|
December | 105 | 11 |
---|
Year | 850 | 87 |
---|
The
sea temperature ranges from
14.5 °C in February, March to
26.5 °C in August. Here are the average sea temperatures.
Messina - Sea temperatureMonth |
---|
January | 1515 |
---|
February | 14.5 |
---|
March | 14.5 |
---|
April | 15.5 |
---|
May | 18.5 |
---|
June | 22.5 |
---|
July | 25.5 |
---|
August | 26.5 |
---|
September | 25 |
---|
October | 22.5 |
---|
November | 19.5"> |
---|
December | 16.5 |
---|
Year | 19.8 |
---|
There are on average around 2490
sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.
Messina - Sunshine hoursMonth | Average | Total |
---|
January | 3.5 | 115 |
---|
February | 4.5 | 130 |
---|
March | 5.5 | 170 |
---|
April | 7 | 205 |
---|
May | 8.5 | 255 |
---|
June | 10 | 295 |
---|
July | 10.5 | 330 |
---|
August | 10 | 305 |
---|
September | 8 | 240 |
---|
October | 6 | 190 |
---|
November | 4.5 | 140 |
---|
December | 3.5 | 110 |
---|
Year | 6.8 | 2490 |
---|
Messina - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.4 °C, with a minimum of
10.1 °C and a maximum of
14.8 °C.

On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
5 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in January 1999.

On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18.5 °C. However, it reached
21.6 °C in January 1995.

Precipitation amounts to
105 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes.

There are on average 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 37% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
10 kph.

The average sea temperature is of
15.1 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
February, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C, with a minimum of 9.7 °C and a maximum of 15 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C. However, it dropped to 1.2 °C in February 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19 °C. However, it reached 24.2 °C in February 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 10.6 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 14.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14 °C, with a minimum of 11.2 °C and a maximum of 16.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C. However, it dropped to 3 °C in March 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21.5 °C. However, it reached 32 °C in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 10.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 14.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 16.4 °C, with a minimum of 13.3 °C and a maximum of 19.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C. However, it dropped to 6 °C in April 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C. However, it reached 29.6 °C in April 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 11.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 15.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.3 °C, with a minimum of 17 °C and a maximum of 23.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C. However, it dropped to 11 °C in May 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C. However, it reached 33.6 °C in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm, distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 20 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 11.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 18.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 24.4 °C, with a minimum of 21 °C and a maximum of 27.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17 °C. However, it dropped to 12.4 °C in June 2006.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C. However, it reached 43.4 °C in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 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 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 10.6 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, muggy month. The average temperature is of 27.4 °C, with a minimum of 24 °C and a maximum of 30.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 20 °C. However, it dropped to 16.6 °C in July 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C. However, it reached 41.6 °C in July 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 30 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 10.6 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 very hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 28 °C, with a minimum of 24.7 °C and a maximum of 31.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 21 °C. However, it dropped to 18.4 °C in August 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35.5 °C. However, it reached 41.8 °C in August 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 26.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is pleasantly warm and allows long swims.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of 24.5 °C, with a minimum of 21.4 °C and a maximum of 27.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 17.5 °C. However, it dropped to 13 °C in September 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C. However, it reached 37.8 °C in September 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 8.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 25.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 21.1 °C, with a minimum of 18.2 °C and a maximum of 23.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C. However, it dropped to 8.8 °C in October 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28.5 °C. However, it reached 36.4 °C in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 17.2 °C, with a minimum of 14.6 °C and a maximum of 19.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C. However, it dropped to 6.4 °C in November 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24.5 °C. However, it reached 29.4 °C in November 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 120 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes.
There are on average 4.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 46% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.8 °C, with a minimum of 11.4 °C and a maximum of 16.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C. However, it dropped to 0.8 °C in December 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20.5 °C. However, it reached 28 °C in December 1995.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm, distributed over 11 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 3.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 38% of the time.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of 9.9 kph.
The average sea temperature is of 16.6 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.