Sicily weather

Sicily weather averages and climate information

Average daily max (°C)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
16.0	16.0	18.6	21.9	26.8	31.6	34.9	35.0	30.7	26.1	21.1	17.1	24.6

Average relative humidity (%)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
83	81	80	77	70	64	62	66	76	81	84	84	76

Average rainfall (mm)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
61	60	52	38	12	10	5	6	55	51	67	75	492

Average daily sunshine (hrs)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
4	5	6	7	8	10	10	9	8	6	5	4	7

Average wind speed (mph)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
8.5	8.9	9.2	9.1	9.4	9.1	8.3	7.8	7.5	7.0	7.5	7.8	8.3

When is the best time to go to Sicily?

The Island’s rugged interior creates great regional variations in climate. The mountains are snow capped in winter, whilst at lower elevations the year round warmth creates perfect conditions for growing almonds and citrus fruits.

Spring is the best time to see the wildflower filled mountain meadows and almond blossom. If you prefer the heat, then the summer months are the hottest and sunniest, with August daily maximum temperatures averaging at 35 Celsius. Winter months whilst warm are also the wettest, with the darker evenings a tempting time to try out some of the renowned regional cuisine in the Island’s many restaurants.

Spring

The spring in Sicily provides a warm climate, with increasing amounts of sunshine through the day. The average high temperature in March is 18.6 Celsius, climbing to 26.8 Celsius in May. The weather can be changeable, but as the temperature climbs, the rainfall also decreases with only 12mm of rain on average falling in May.

Summer

June, July and August are the hottest and driest months in Sicily. July only has an average of 5mm rainfall so you would be unlucky to be caught in any rain. Maximum temperatures are typically in the mid 30’s Celsius in both July and August, so this may be the time to head to the coast and visit some of the many beautiful sandy beaches.

Sea breezes can ease the heat in coastal areas during the summer, but when the warm Sirocco wind blows in from the south, there can be sudden rises in temperature, with the sky sometimes reddened by dust from the North African deserts.

Autumn

Autumn often sees spells of unsettled weather, but it is still warm and with the main tourist season over, now may be the perfect time to visit some of the famous archaeological sites away from the crowds of summer. Rainfall amounts rise to an average of 67mm in November, but there is still an average of around 5 hours of sunshine each day to brighten up your time outdoors.

Winter

The weather from December to February is mild and often unsettled. It’s a great time for walking holidays, or even skiing high in the mountains. Snow can fall in abundance above 1000 metres, and cold snaps can sometimes bring snow to lower levels, especially on the north side of the Island.

Average day time temperatures are still in the range 16-17 Celsius with an average of 4-5 hours of sunlight each day, a pleasant prospect compared with the weather more commonly experienced in northern parts of Europe.

Sicily tourist information

Sicily offers many breathtaking landscapes including natural parks and nature reserves around Mount Etna, Europe’s highest active volcano and UNESCO World Heritage site. Close by in an imposing volcanic cavity is the ice cave Grotta del Gelo where you can discover the only perpetual glacier found at this latitude.

If fire and ice is not your cup of tea, then there is the famous Valley of the Temples within the archaeological area of Agrigento. There you may explore the remains of the imposing Doric temples as well as the remains from the Hellenic city, with pagan and Christian necropolises and networks of subterranean aqueducts.

For those who like more active holiday Sicily has many beautiful beaches, and there are water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing which may be practiced all year round. Trekking lovers can hike through Sicily’s natural parks, or you could chose to explore on mountain bike or horseback.

Sicily is also home to fantastic home grown produce much of which forms a core part of the Mediterranean diet.  Not only are there amazing fruits, breads and cheeses to sample, there is also full bodied Sicilian wine, ideal when partnered with the local cuisine in one of the many restaurants or bistros on the Island.