Palermo, Sicily’s vibrant capital, enjoys a classic Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. The city is known for abundant sunshine, gentle sea breezes, and pronounced seasonal changes. Palermo’s inviting weather makes it ideal for beach holidays in summer and cultural explorations in the milder spring and autumn months.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Palermo’s climate is shaped by its Mediterranean setting and surrounding mountains, resulting in hot, sunny summers and mild, rainy winters. From June to August, daytime highs typically reach 28–31°C, with July and August being the hottest and driest months. Rain is scarce in summer – July often sees just 1–2 rainy days and as little as 3–7 mm of precipitation. Humidity is moderate, and sea breezes help keep the heat comfortable. The sea temperature peaks at 26–27°C in August, perfect for swimming and water sports. Sunshine is abundant, with up to 12 hours per day in midsummer.
Winters (December–February) are mild, with average highs of 15–17°C and lows of 8–10°C. Rainfall is most frequent from October to January, with December being the wettest month (up to 90–95 mm and 11–13 rainy days). Snow is extremely rare and, when it occurs, melts quickly. Spring and autumn are transitional, with temperatures ranging from 16–25°C and moderate rainfall. These seasons are ideal for sightseeing, with blooming gardens in spring and harvest festivals in autumn. Palermo enjoys about 3,800–4,000 hours of sunshine annually, and daylight ranges from 9.5 hours in winter to nearly 15 hours in summer. Winds are generally light, though the sirocco – a hot wind from North Africa – can occasionally bring hazy, warmer conditions, especially in spring and autumn.
| Average climate data for Palermo, Italy | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 21 | 26 | 29 | 30 | 26 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 30 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 7 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 13 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 9 | 7 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 41 | 46 | 35 | 23 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 57 | 57 | 39 | 31 | 383 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 121 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 79 | 77 | 78 | 76 | 71 | 63 | 58 | 59 | 68 | 72 | 78 | 77 | 71 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 14 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 15 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 20 | 17 | 20 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 40 | 38 | 34 | 29 | 21 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 20 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 25 |
| Average UV index | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
The best time to visit Palermo is from April to June and September to October, when temperatures are warm (20–28°C), rainfall is low, and the city is lively but less crowded than in peak summer. These months offer ideal conditions for sightseeing, outdoor dining, and enjoying local festivals and beaches.
The least favourable time is from November to February, when Palermo is at its wettest and coolest. Rain is frequent, days are shorter, and some beach activities are less appealing, though the city’s cultural sites and festive events remain inviting for off-season travellers.
Palermo has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers (28–31°C), mild, wetter winters (15–17°C), and abundant sunshine. Rain falls mainly from October to January, while summers are very dry and sunny.
The best time to visit is April to June and September to October, when the weather is warm, rainfall is low, and the city is less crowded than in July and August. These months are ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Rain is most frequent from October to January, with December being the wettest month. Summer months are very dry, with July and August often seeing only 1–2 rainy days and minimal precipitation.
The sea is warmest and best for swimming from June to October, with temperatures of 23–27°C. Outside these months, the water is cooler but still swimmable for some visitors.
Winters are mild by European standards, with highs of 15–17°C and lows of 8–10°C. Snow is extremely rare, but rain and wind are common, especially in December and January.
Pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection for summer. In spring and autumn, bring layers and a rain jacket. For winter, warm, waterproof clothing is essential due to frequent rain.
Palermo occasionally experiences the sirocco, a hot wind from North Africa, especially in spring and autumn. This can bring hazy, warmer conditions for a few days.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (29.7 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is February (12.6 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 20.2 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (22.1 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (6.8 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 13.7 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (26.2 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is February (14.2 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 19.8 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is September (57.2 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is July (4.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 382.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is January (13.5 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is July (3.4 days). Over the whole year there are 120.8 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (2 mm). The months with the least snowfall are February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 3 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is July (0.1 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are March, April, September, October and November (0 days). Over the whole year there are 0.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (78.5 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is July (57.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 71.3 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is January (13.8 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (7.8 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 10.8 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is January (40.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (7.4 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 24.9 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 14.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 9.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 12 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 5.1 h). Over the whole year there are 8.5 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are July and August (UV index: 7). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February and December (UV index: 3). Over the whole year the average UV index is 4.8.
