Palermo Weather

Weather in Palermo - The driest city in Italy
Enjoying a southerly position at the foot of Italy Palermo has a flawless Mediterranean climate. In fact it receives less rainfall than any other Italian city. Summers are unsurprisingly hot and sunny and during the months of July and August it can feel oppressive with high humidity in the city. Winter weather in Palermo is certainly more variable yet still commands favourable temperatures with plenty of warm sunshine. For many visitors on a city break to Palermo, there is no better time to visit than in October and November when milder temperatures are much more conducive to sightseeing and with only a slight chance of a downpour. The city and beaches are much less crowded and the sea is still comfortable for bathing.

Palermo Weather - Hot and balmy summer sunshine
With average temperatures reaching 30c or more in midsummer it is little wonder that Palermo and its surrounding beaches become overrun with holidaymakers from Italy and across Europe. During these months up to 10 hours of sunshine can be enjoyed. The mercury can rise even higher during isolated heat waves and a sensible attitude and a high protection sunscreen is required. Evenings are sultry with a little relief from seasonal winds. From July until mid September rainfall is very rare and if it occurs at all is likely to be brief heavy downpours possibly with thunder. Bright cloudless skies and consistent sunshine are the order of the day with pleasant breezes blowing inland in August and September.

Weather in Palermo - Pleasant late season sunshine
As temperatures fall progressively in November and December the chance of rain increases with regular light showers and overcast skies. There is still a good chance of unbroken sunshine with weather in Palermo still reaching around 15c. The ski trails of Mount Etna are still covered with snow until early March and winter sports are a possibility. At sea level frost and freezing temperatures are a rarity. An average winter’s day will perhaps see 5 hours of clear sunshine. March brings an improvement in daytime temperatures with some fine sunny weather but also a short spell of heavy rainfall and strong winds.