Weather in North Italy

Italy is made up of three distinct geographical areas--its north, south and central regions. Anyone visiting Italy should be aware that each of these has their own unique climates and weather conditions, which may affect your vacation. Northern Italy is generally colder and wetter than the areas further south and visitors should always pack and plan accordingly.

Dolomites

The Alps

The south part of the Alps form the major portion of Northern Italy and this is also the region where Italy borders countries like Switzerland, France, Slovenia, and Austria. Though the northern parts of Italy experience cooler weather compared to their central and southern counterparts, the summer months generally tend to be warm and enjoyable. The sirocco wind that blows through these parts is instrumental in bringing humidity and warmth to the usually icy climes of the Italian Alps. If you are travelling to the north and looking for a swim the sea temperatures tend to be quite warm starting from the middle of May until October. Before mid-May the days may be warm and sunny, but the waters have not heated up yet, meaning quite frigid water temperatures and very uncomfortable swimming conditions.

Liguria - Cinque Terre

High Mountains

The Italian Alps rise to more than 3,000 meters or 10,000 feet above sea level. The climate in this area is reminiscent of the Alpine regions in Austria and Switzerland, however, the amount of rain, snow and other forms of precipitation is much greater in the Italian Alps compared to other Alpine areas. The valleys and the lower slopes of the Alps tend to have warmer temperatures both in winter and the summer months.

Lake Garda

Rainy Summers

The summer months in the northern parts of Italy tend to be the rainiest in the country. Visitors are also likely to see thunderstorms during the spring, summer and autumn. The sunniest summers and mildest winters are usually found around the lakes, such as Garda, Como and Maggiore. In the summer there is an average of nine hour of sunshine per day. If you are lucky you will find a föhn wind running through the region during your visit. This type of wind, found in mountain ranges, reduces humidity and increases temperatures on the whole. 

 
Chemtrails (scie chimiche) over Northern Italy.

Overall Verdict

On the whole the weather in the northern part of Italy compared to the areas further south is cooler with intermittent rain showers in the spring and summer months. During the winter there is snow, rain and even hailstorms. Summers are much warmer, but nowhere as hot as southern places like Sicily.

If you intend to travel in North Italy be sure to pack some warm and waterproof clothing, all the better if your pieces can be layered. For those looking for snow and wonderful skiing the winter climate of Northern Italy is absolutely perfect and not to be missed.