A Mediterranean climate and generous sunshine
Sicily has a Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, and winters are short and generally mild. But its position on the open sea and its volcanic and mountainous nature make it a region apart. Temperatures range from 15°C in winter to 30°C in the middle of summer. Beyond these main facts, Sicily has an extreme climatic duality between an arid interior and south, and a north and northeast particularly favored by nature. In fact, the northern and northeastern facades of Sicily are privileged areas, benefiting from generous rainfall that spreads over several months of the year, generally from the end of October to March. Winters are mild, and it rarely gets below 12°C in Palermo and below 10°C in Messina. Outside this period, the sun is generous (Catania holds the European record for sunshine). The most pleasant months are April, May and October. It is therefore easy to understand why the main occupation of summer vacationers is sunbathing, lazing around (from far niente, which means "doing nothing") and playing water games. If you decide to go on a tour of antiquity and old stones, it is essential to leave early in the morning or in the afternoon, so as not to burn under the midday sun in front of the temples.
A country that can be visited all year round
Sicily is easily visited all year round thanks to its mild weather, but the high season is concentrated in summer when it is hottest. Try to avoid this period when the weather is scorching! We advise you to visit Sicily in April, May, September and October to enjoy pleasant weather, warm sunshine and reasonable crowds. In winter, the island is quite wet and many tourist and beach sites are closed. Prefer the big cities which remain open.
The interior and the south of the island shaped by arid landscapes
A microclimate reigns in the interior of the island: an almost African weather! The heart of Sicily presents magnificent landscapes of arid steppe because of this aridity. It is due to the presence of a hot and often burning wind, the sirocco, which blows for some days from the African coasts, sometimes bringing sand from the Sahara. However, it does not manifest itself in the same way on each side of the island: to the east, it appears as a humid wind, and to the west it is a wind of 40°C, quite dry.
The Aeolian Islands, a marine climate
The climate of the archipelago is dry, with no more than 600 millimeters of water per year, and the rainy days are concentrated in winter. The temperature is mild, from 13°C on average in winter to 28°C in summer. Two winds dominate: the mistral from the northwest and the very hot sirocco from the southeast. In order to have a clear weather and to observe Stromboli erupting at night, full summer is recommended but you can ideally stay in June and September. In May and October the weather can be more capricious, it will be necessary to stay several days or to inquire about the weather forecast to know the conditions of visibility (in general 3 days).
Etna, between heatwave in summer and snow in winter
It's hard to imagine the volcanic cone burning with Etna's ashes in summer, covered with snow in winter, from November to March. And even turning into a ski resort! The magic of altitude, at 3,300 meters, translates in Sicily into a strong thermal contrast between summer and winter. The slopes of the volcano are surprisingly humid, with a microclimate that has been favourable for cultivation since ancient times. From 1,000 meters, the air becomes cooler, the rains are more abundant, crescendoing to the summit.
