: winters are mild and relatively rainy, with sunny periods, but also waves of bad weather characterized by wind and rain, while summers are hot and sunny, a bit stuffy but tempered by the breeze.
, which blows especially in the cold half of the year, can increase the feeling of cold; in particular, the "maestrale" (north-west wind) often blows from Sardinia, but there is also the sirocco (southeast wind), which blows from Africa and can bring the desert sand.
is not abundant, in fact, it is around 500 millimeters (20 inches) per year, with a peak of 90 mm (3.5 in) in November, and a very pronounced minimum in summer, with less than 5 mm (0.2 in) from June to August. In spring, by May, there is already little rain.
, from December to February, is mild, and is characterized by sunny periods alternating with rainy periods.
It rarely gets very cold, although there can sometimes be cold, windy, and rainy days, with highs around 10 °C (50 °F).
Owing to the southern position of the island, cold waves from the continent are rare, and in any case, they do not last long. In practice, the temperature never drops below freezing: it dropped to 0.4 °C (32.7 °F) in February 1956, to 1 °C (34 °F) in January 1981, and to 0.6 °C (33 °F) in New Year's Eve 2014.
In the interior, there are elevations, which reach 836 meters (2,743 feet) in the
("Big Mountain"). While at sea level it almost never snows (the last snowfall with accumulation occurred in January 1981), it can sometimes snow at higher altitudes.
of African origin can sometimes occur: in these cases, it is possible for the temperature to reach or exceed 40 °C (104 °F).
Due to its proximity to Tunisia, the island is exposed to the wind from Africa, which can bring very high temperatures for a few days, even at night: the minimum can in fact remain around 30 °C (86 °F). On 24 July 2023, the minimum was 35 °C (95 °F). The heat records are 42.6 °C (108.7 F), set in late June 2007, and 42.9 °C (109.2), set in July 1962.
in Pantelleria is excellent in summer, when clear skies prevail, even though at times the sky can be veiled by high and stratified clouds coming from Africa. In winter, sunny periods, which can occur in this season as well, alternate with cloudy periods.
In Pantelleria, there are no beaches (except on the shores of the inland lake called "Mirror of Venus"), since the island is of volcanic origin: the coast is formed by cliffs overlooking the sea and caves, or by small bays where you can sunbathe, such as
in Pantelleria is warm enough for swimming from July to September, as usually happens in the southern Italian seas. In June, the sea is still a little cool, while in October, the water temperature is still decent, around 23 °C (73 °F).
to go to Pantelleria for a holiday at the beach, is the summer, from June to August. The sea temperature is comfortable enough from July to September, although by September, which overall is still a good month (especially in the first half), the first disturbances begin to occur (although more rarely than in peninsular Italy because of the low latitude). In June, as I said, the sea is still a little cool, while in May, it is still cold, and sometimes the air can be a bit cool for sunbathing as well (perhaps because of the wind).
April and May are ideal months for hiking, while in summer, it can sometimes be too hot for outdoor activities (especially in July and August: in June and September, the heat is usually pleasant or at least bearable, obviously, when the sirocco does not blow). In October, temperatures are mild, but the days are shorter and the weather can be rainy and windy.
The following data was collected at the airport, which is located at 200 meters (650 feet) above sea level.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
12.2 °C, with a minimum of
10.5 °C and a maximum of
13.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
2.4 °C in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
18 °C. However, it reached
24 °C in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
75 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20.4 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.6 °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
11.8 °C, with a minimum of
9.9 °C and a maximum of
13.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6 °C. However, it dropped to
2 °C in February 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
26 °C in February 2014.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 45% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
21.5 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
13.6 °C, with a minimum of
11.3 °C and a maximum of
15.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
6.5 °C. However, it dropped to
5 °C in March 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
23 °C. However, it reached
30.6 °C in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to
40 mm, distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
23.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
14.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
April is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
15.4 °C, with a minimum of
12.9 °C and a maximum of
18 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
7 °C in April 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25.5 °C. However, it reached
32 °C in April 2003.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 5 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 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
21.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
15.8 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
19 °C, with a minimum of
15.9 °C and a maximum of
22 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
12 °C. However, it dropped to
8 °C in May 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
39.4 °C in May 2006.
Precipitation amounts to
15 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 59% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
19.8 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
18.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.
June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of
22.9 °C, with a minimum of
19.7 °C and a maximum of
26.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
13.3 °C in June 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
42.6 °C in June 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only
4 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 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 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
17.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
21.5 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
July is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
25.5 °C, with a minimum of
22.5 °C and a maximum of
28.6 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
18 °C. However, it dropped to
16.2 °C in July 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37 °C. However, it reached
41.4 °C in July 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only
2 mm, distributed over 0 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
24.7 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
August, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
26.8 °C, with a minimum of
23.8 °C and a maximum of
29.8 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
20.5 °C. However, it dropped to
19 °C in August 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
41.8 °C in August 1999.
Precipitation amounts to only
4 mm, and all occurs in one day.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 74% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
16.5 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
26.2 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
September is generally a warm to hot, muggy month. The average temperature is of
23.9 °C, with a minimum of
21.4 °C and a maximum of
26.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
17 °C. However, it dropped to
12 °C in September 1992.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
32.5 °C. However, it reached
39 °C in September 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
50 mm, distributed over 3 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 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
17.2 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
25.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is warm enough for swimming.
October is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of
20.7 °C, with a minimum of
18.4 °C and a maximum of
23 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
15.5 °C. However, it dropped to
12 °C in October 2019.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28.5 °C. However, it reached
34.4 °C in October 1999.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
18 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
23.3 °C. Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.
November is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of
16.8 °C, with a minimum of
14.8 °C and a maximum of
18.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
10.5 °C. However, it dropped to
6.4 °C in November 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
24.5 °C. However, it reached
28 °C in November 1993.
Precipitation amounts to
90 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
20.7 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
20.3 °C. Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.
December is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of
13.5 °C, with a minimum of
11.8 °C and a maximum of
15.2 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
7.5 °C. However, it dropped to
0.6 °C in December 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
19 °C. However, it reached
25.4 °C in December 2009.
Precipitation amounts to
70 mm, distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 40 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
22.1 kph.
The average sea temperature is of
17.4 °C. Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.