Weather and climate in Parma (Emilia Romagna)

In Parma, there is a semi-continental climate. Winters are quite cold and damp, while summers are hot and muggy.
The city is located in the western part of the Emilia-Romagna region, where the climate has the characteristics of the Po valley, more than the eastern part, which is influenced by the Adriatic Sea.
The daily average temperature ranges from 3 °C (37 °F) in January to 25 °C (77 °F) in July. Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation in Parma is moderate, given that it amounts to 770 millimeters (35.5 inches) per year. The rains are fairly well distributed throughout the year, although there are two maxima in spring and autumn, and two relative minima in winter and summer. Summer is the season when the rains are rarer; in this season and in late spring, they can occur in the form of thunderstorm (but much less than in Milan). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is cold, humid and dull. Temperatures can remain around freezing even during the day, especially in December and January, and the sky remains overcast for long periods.
Fog, which in the past was frequent, has become rarer in recent decades, and lately, it only occurs in periods dominated by an Atlantic high pressure system.
Snow in Parma generally falls at least once every year, and sometimes can be abundant. Generally, during the most abundant snowfalls, snow depth reaches 30/35 centimeters (12/14 inches), though it reached 80 cm (31.5 in) in February 1929 and 55 cm (21.5 in) in January 1985. Snow can fall both during cold spells, with the wind blowing from the north-east (as happens in Bologna), and with the wind blowing from the south at high altitude (as happens in Milan).
On average, around 30 cm (12 in) of snow falls per year. In the snowiest years (1962-63, 1985-86, 2009-10), the total amount of snow fell reached one meter (40 in).
During the most intense cold spells, which in the last few decades have become rarer, nighttime lows can drop to around -15/-20 °C (-4/5 °F). In January 1985, the temperature dropped to -18 °C (-0.5 °F) at the university observatory and to -23.4 °C (-10 °F) south of the city (Panocchia). On other occasions, it dropped to -18 °C (-0.5 °F) in February 1956, to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) in January 1963, and to -15 °C (5 °F) in February 2012.



Summer, from June to August, is hot and muggy, and generally sunny.
In hot weather, the temperature can exceed 35 (95 °F). At the university, the temperature reached 40.4 °C (104.7 °F) in August 2023, 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) in July 1983 and 39 °C (102 °F) in late June 2019.
Weak wind and high humidity make the heat unpleasant, even though, just before midnight, a slight breeze starts to blow from the Apennines, which are not far away.
The wind from the Ligurian Sea, the "Marino", manages in fact to reach the city more easily in spring and autumn, while in winter and summer, the wind is generally weak or absent.

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The amount of sunshine in Parma is not good from mid-October to February, when the sun rarely shines, and even when it comes out, it is often weak and veiled in a mist. The sun, on the other hand, is not lacking in the spring, and is very frequent in summer, except for the rare rainy days or when sunny days are interrupted by afternoon thunderstorms. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best times to visit Parma are spring and early summer, particularly from mid-April to mid-June. September is also a good month. However, some rainy days must be taken into account in both periods.
Summer can be very hot, although it can give some acceptable days, especially in June. You have to take into account, in summer and sometimes in May, some afternoon or evening thunderstorms.

Parma - Weather by month

Based on the period 2004-2020

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January, the coldest month of the year, is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 2.9 °C (37 °F), with a minimum of -0.4 °C (31.3 °F) and a maximum of 6.2 °C (43.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22.5 °F). However, it dropped to -9 °C (15.8 °F) in January 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 23 °C (73.4 °F) in January 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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February is generally a quite cold month. The average temperature is of 4.7 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 0.7 °C (33.2 °F) and a maximum of 8.8 °C (47.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -15 °C (5 °F) in February 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 20 °C (68 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 39% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.2 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 4.2 °C (39.5 °F) and a maximum of 14.2 °C (57.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -11 °C (12.2 °F) in March 2005.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 22 °C (71.5 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in March 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 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 47% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.9 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 8.7 °C (47.6 °F) and a maximum of 19.1 °C (66.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (36.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in April 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in April 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 53% of the time.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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May is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 18.2 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 13 °C (55.5 °F) and a maximum of 23.5 °C (74.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 5 °C (41 °F) in May 2017.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in May 2009.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 56% of the time.
The average humidity is 62%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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June is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 22.7 °C (73 °F), with a minimum of 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) and a maximum of 28.1 °C (82.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 9 °C (48.2 °F) in June 2006.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34 °C (93 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 30 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 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 59%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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July, the hottest month of the year, is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 25.1 °C (77 °F), with a minimum of 19.4 °C (66.8 °F) and a maximum of 30.8 °C (87.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in July 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (95.5 °F). However, it reached 37 °C (98.6 °F) in July 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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August is generally a warm to hot month. The average temperature is of 24.3 °C (76 °F), with a minimum of 18.6 °C (65.4 °F) and a maximum of 30.1 °C (86.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). However, it dropped to 10 °C (50 °F) in August 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 35 °C (94.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in August 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 9.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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September is generally a warm month. The average temperature is of 20.1 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 15 °C (58.9 °F) and a maximum of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 7 °C (44.6 °F) in September 2008.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 32 °C (89.6 °F) in September 2006.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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October is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 10.6 °C (51 °F) and a maximum of 18.6 °C (65.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in October 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87.8 °F) in October 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 95 mm (3.7 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 52% of the time.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (4 mph).

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 8.9 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 5.7 °C (42.2 °F) and a maximum of 12 °C (53.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -3 °C (26.6 °F) in November 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 20 °C (68 °F) in November 2004.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 32% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).

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December is generally a cold month. The average temperature is of 3.6 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of 0.5 °C (33 °F) and a maximum of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21 °F). However, it dropped to -12 °C (10.4 °F) in December 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13.5 °C (56 °F). However, it reached 16 °C (60.8 °F) in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 55 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 29% of the time.
The average humidity is 89%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 6 kph (4 mph).