sicily weather & climate

The climate in Sicily is known as “Mediterranean” which means that the summers are hot and dry and the winters are mild with light rainfall. In particular the Sicilian winter is renowned to be short and lasts only between December and February. The summer season can often seem long, as Spring and Autumn offer a continuation of the warm temperatures and long hours of sunlight. The warm Mediterranean climate, along with an almost total absence of frost, allows Sicily to grow an abundance of crops. Citrus and olive groves, prickly-pears, watermelons and wine-making grapes are in evidence everywhere.

There can be sharp differences in climate on the island, which is caused both by the height of the larger mountains and distance from the sea. The finest weather is usually found around the coastal perimeter, whereas inland and in the larger cities, the climate becomes very hot and humid.

The southern and western coasts are situated closest to Africa and are therefore susceptible to both higher temperatures and the “Scirocco”, which is a hot, oppressive wind that comes from the North African deserts.

Average temperatures range from 35° in the summer months to 10° during the winter. Rainfall is mainly confined to the winter months, most notably November, December and January, although it can be considered light by Northern European standards.

Spring

Spring begins early in Sicily although the weather can be quite unpredictable and it varies year to year. At this time of year, spring blossoms and early flowers make this a good time of year for those that are interested in travelling around. As Easter falls in Spring, it is also the season with the most festivals, processions and holidays.

Summer

The summer in Sicily is long and hot and its temperatures are particularly high in July and August. There are many musical events, folk celebrations and food festivals at this time of year. Be aware that August is a holiday for most of Italy and many people from the mainland visit Sicily in this period so it can get extremely busy in high season.

Autumn

Autumn begins late in Sicily as September is still sunny and warm and even October can offer warm and sunny days. In autumn there are many festivals celebrating local produce such as grapes and the theatre, classical music, opera and football all begin their season in this period.

Winter

Winter in Sicily can be quite cool and often rainy. In December Christmas is celebrated all over the island and in February there are numerous Carnival celebrations.