Sicily Weather and Climate

Temperatures, sea and rain month by month, with values from the north coast near Palermo.

Weather & best time to visit Sicily

The best time to visit Sicily is June–August: warm, dry days and a sea above 22 °C. Swimming stays pleasant from June–October, as the Mediterranean holds its warmth into autumn. The hottest month is August, with daytime highs around 30 °C. Spring and late autumn are milder, quieter and ideal for sightseeing and hiking.

Swimming season: the sea stays at 22 °C or warmer from June–October.

The four seasons in Sicily

Spring (March–May)

Mild and green: daytime highs climb from 16 to 23 °C, while the sea is still cool at 16–20 °C. Great for city trips, Mount Etna and hiking before the summer heat.

Summer (June–August)

Hot and dry at 27–31 °C with very little rain. The sea reaches 24–28 °C — swimming season, but also peak season with bigger crowds.

Autumn (September–October)

The sea stays warm at 23–26 °C as the air eases to a pleasant 23–27 °C. More rain, but fewer crowds — one of the best times to visit Sicily.

Winter (November–February)

Mild at 14–19 °C with occasional rain. Green landscapes, few tourists and low prices — good for culture, markets and hiking.

Sicily climate table: temperature, sea temperature & rainfall by month

Monthly averages for Sicily's north coast (Palermo area).

Month	Air max	Air min	Sea	Rain days
January	14.1 °C	8.9 °C	16.2 °C	11
February	14.3 °C	8.6 °C	15.3 °C	10
March	16.3 °C	9.9 °C	15.8 °C	11
April	18.9 °C	12.0 °C	16.7 °C	9
May	22.7 °C	15.6 °C	19.5 °C	7
June	27.2 °C	19.8 °C	24.2 °C	4
July	30.2 °C	22.6 °C	27.5 °C	2
August	30.5 °C	23.2 °C	27.8 °C	4
September	26.8 °C	20.6 °C	26.2 °C	9
October	23.3 °C	17.4 °C	23.6 °C	10
November	19.1 °C	13.8 °C	21.1 °C	11
December	15.5 °C	10.6 °C	17.8 °C	12

Data source: Open-Meteo (ERA5 reanalysis & Marine), CC-BY 4.0. Climate averages: air 1995–2024, sea temperature 2023–2025; reference point Sicily's north coast. As of 2026-06-15.

Sicily has hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. Spring and autumn differ mainly in the sea: in May the air is already warm while the water, at 19.5 °C, is still fresh; in October the sea at 23.6 °C is as warm as the air. The climate table above lists air, sea and rain days for every month. The sections below pick out the key figures and explain what they mean for planning a trip.

How warm are the air and the sea in Sicily in October, May and January?

The values come from the climate table for the north coast near Palermo (air: average 1995 to 2024; sea: 2023 to 2025). In October the daytime high is 23.3 °C, the night low 17.4 °C and the sea 23.6 °C. In May the figures are 22.7 °C by day, 15.6 °C at night and 19.5 °C in the water. In January the data show 14.1 °C by day, 8.9 °C at night and a sea temperature of 16.2 °C.

This page counts a sea of 22 °C or more as warm enough for swimming. That holds from June to October. October is still part of the swimming season, May is not. In winter the sea is coldest in February at 15.3 °C.

Do these figures apply to the whole island?

No. The table describes the north coast near Palermo. Inland and in the mountains winters are much colder, and Mount Etna has snow and a ski season. For the east, south and west coasts this page has no series of its own. The table is therefore a guide for the coast, not a promise for one particular place.

Why does the sea stay warm so long in autumn?

Water holds heat longer than air, and the data show it clearly. From November to February the sea is warmer than the daytime high of the air: 21.1 °C against 19.1 °C in November, 17.8 °C against 15.5 °C in December. In spring it is the other way round, because the sea warms more slowly. In March the sea is at 15.8 °C and the air reaches 16.3 °C. That is why October usually suits swimmers better than May, although the air is similarly warm in both months.

How big is the difference between day and night?

On average the daytime high and the night low are between 4.9 °C (December) and 7.6 °C (July) apart. Even in winter nights do not cool down much; in January the low is 8.9 °C. From June to September night temperatures run from 19.8 to 23.2 °C, so dinner outdoors works in a T-shirt. In spring and autumn pack a jacket.

How much rain falls in each season?

The table above gives rain days. The overview below adds monthly rainfall from the same dataset. The wettest month is October with 85 mm, the driest July with 7 mm.

Season	Rainfall per month	Rain days per month
Winter (December to February)	72 to 78 mm	10 to 12
Spring (March to May)	42 to 74 mm	7 to 11
Summer (June to August)	7 to 22 mm	2 to 4
Autumn (September to November)	65 to 85 mm	9 to 11

The change comes in September, when rainfall rises from 22 mm in August to 65 mm. Pack a rain jacket for an autumn trip. The sea stays warm for a long time, still 21.1 °C in November.

What is the sirocco and how does it affect a trip?

The sirocco is a warm wind from the south to southeast that carries air from North Africa to Sicily. On the north side of the island the air warms further as it descends from the mountains, which is why Palermo can pass 40 °C in a sirocco. Sicily holds the record for continental Europe: 48.8 °C on 11 August 2021 near Floridia in the province of Syracuse, confirmed by the World Meteorological Organization. Such values are exceptions. On sirocco days it pays to visit archaeological sites early in the morning and spend midday by the water.

Which season suits which plan?

Swimming: June to October, when the sea reaches at least 22 °C. Month by month: June, July, August, September, October. The best stretches of coast are collected under beaches.
Cities and ancient sites: March, April, May and November. Daytime highs of 16 to 23 °C make long sightseeing days comfortable. A selection is on the monuments page.
Hiking and nature: April, May and October. Destinations are the island's nature reserves.
Quiet off-season: December, January and February, with 14 to 15.5 °C by day and 10 to 12 rain days a month.

Vacation rentals for the chosen season are listed on sicily.vacations.

Frequently asked questions about Sicily's weather

When is the best time to visit Sicily?

The best time to visit is June–August, with warm, dry weather and a sea above 22 °C. For sun and swimming, June–October is ideal. For sightseeing and hiking, the milder spring and late autumn are best.

How warm is the sea in Sicily?

The Mediterranean around Sicily reaches 27–28 °C in midsummer and stays above 22 °C from June–October. In winter the sea cools to about 15–16 °C.

What is the hottest month in Sicily?

The hottest month is August, with average daytime highs around 30 °C. July is also very hot and especially dry.

When does it rain in Sicily?

Most rain falls from October to February, with around 10–12 rainy days per month. Summer is very dry — July sees only about 7 mm of rainfall on average.