Destination guide
Sicily weather by month
June is the best starting point for a warm-weather trip to Sicily: days average 28°C, rain is infrequent and the sea is warming up. July and August suit travellers who want stronger heat and long sunny days, but average highs of 32°C make midday less comfortable for walking. May is a gentler choice for time outdoors, while September combines warm days with a sea still averaging 25°C. Winter suits mild-weather breaks rather than swimming holidays.
- Hottest month
- 32.0°CAugust
- Coolest month
- 14.2°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 26.4°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 3 h 12 minShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Sicily, month by month
A little perspective
Sicily through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.2°C | 7.5°C | 15.2°C | 5.0 | 75 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 14.6°C | 7.4°C | 14.5°C | 5.7 | 60 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 16.8°C | 8.9°C | 14.6°C | 6.4 | 58 | 8 | 1% |
| April | 19.3°C | 11.4°C | 15.6°C | 7.2 | 45 | 8 | 1% |
| May | 23.8°C | 15.3°C | 18.2°C | 8.9 | 28 | 4 | 32% |
| Junebest | 28.5°C | 19.6°C | 21.8°C | 11.4 | 19 | 3 | 88% |
| Julybest | 31.7°C | 22.4°C | 25.0°C | 13.1 | 8 | 2 | 100% |
| Augustbest | 32.0°C | 23.1°C | 26.4°C | 11.7 | 14 | 3 | 100% |
| September | 27.5°C | 20.0°C | 25.2°C | 8.1 | 52 | 7 | 81% |
| October | 23.4°C | 16.6°C | 22.6°C | 5.9 | 71 | 8 | 27% |
| November | 18.9°C | 12.6°C | 19.6°C | 5.0 | 68 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 15.4°C | 9.2°C | 16.8°C | 4.8 | 66 | 8 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Sicily
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: June, July, August, September. January is the wettest month (75 mm, about 8 rainy days) and July the driest (8 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 26.4°C and coolest in February at 14.5°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA, 3 km from Catania) takes roughly 3 h 12 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Rome.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Sicily between 1991 and 2020 reached 42.3°C on 10 July 2019; the coldest fell to -0.1°C on 8 January 2017. In August one day in ten tops 35.2°C and about 81% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to 4.7°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was October 2018 with 311 mm, against a October average of 71 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Sicily
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 07:14 | 17:04 | 9.8 h | 5.0 h |
| February | 06:50 | 17:38 | 10.8 h | 5.7 h |
| March | 06:11 | 18:07 | 11.9 h | 6.4 h |
| April | 06:25 | 19:35 | 13.2 h | 7.2 h |
| May | 05:50 | 20:02 | 14.2 h | 8.9 h |
| June | 05:38 | 20:22 | 14.7 h | 11.4 h |
| July | 05:51 | 20:21 | 14.5 h | 13.1 h |
| August | 06:16 | 19:53 | 13.6 h | 11.7 h |
| September | 06:42 | 19:08 | 12.4 h | 8.1 h |
| October | 07:08 | 18:23 | 11.3 h | 5.9 h |
| November | 06:39 | 16:49 | 10.2 h | 5.0 h |
| December | 07:07 | 16:43 | 9.6 h | 4.8 h |
Resorts in Sicily
Each resort has its own page with a 12-month table.
Aug high 28°C
Taormina
Winter: mild days, cool evenings and plans that need flexibility
December to February is better suited to being outdoors in layers than sitting by the sea. December averages 15°C by day, January drops to 14°C and February returns to 15°C, so a mild afternoon should not be mistaken for dependable warmth. Nights are cooler, with February averaging 7°C: bring a proper jacket rather than relying on a light summer layer. Rain occurs on around 7-8 days each month, making a waterproof useful without assuming every day will be wet. The sea is coldest in February at 14°C, so winter is a poor fit if comfortable swimming is the priority.
Spring: May offers the clearest shift towards summer
March and April suit travellers who prefer walking without summer heat, but they still call for flexible clothing and a rain layer. Daytime averages rise from 17°C in March to 19°C in April, while both months average 8 rain days. May feels more useful for a predominantly outdoor holiday: days reach 24°C, rain drops to 4 days and sunshine averages 9 hours. The catch is the water. Even in May, the sea averages only 18°C, so warm air does not necessarily mean comfortable swimming. Pack light clothes for afternoons, plus a jumper or jacket for evenings throughout spring.
Summer and autumn: choose between drier days and warmer water
June balances summer warmth with less intense heat: days average 28°C, the sea 22°C and rain is infrequent. July and August both average 32°C by day, so plan active time for mornings and leave room for shade at midday. July has the most sunshine; August has the warmest sea at 26°C. September keeps days at 28°C and water at 25°C, but its 7 rain days make it less dependable for dry weather than summer. October remains a reasonable choice for warmth without peak heat, with both daytime air and sea averaging 23°C, though rain needs more allowance. November shifts towards a layered-clothing break: days average 19°C and nights 13°C. Its 20°C sea may appeal to some swimmers, but it is not a reliable summer-style holiday.
A little more detail
Sicily weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Sicily?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Sicily are July, August and June. August is the hottest month (average high 32.0°C) and January the coolest (14.2°C).
How many months a year is Sicily over 25°C?
4 months in Sicily average a daytime high of 25°C or more, and 6 average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Sicily?
January is the wettest month in Sicily (75 mm on average) and July the driest (8 mm). Annual rainfall averages 564 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Sicily?
The hottest day recorded in Sicily between 1991 and 2020 reached 42.3°C on 10 July 2019; the coldest fell to -0.1°C on 8 January 2017. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
Is May or September better for a Sicily holiday?
Choose May for milder days and fewer interruptions from rain: it averages 24°C and 4 rain days. September is better for warmer swimming water, with the sea at 25°C rather than May's 18°C. The trade-off is September's higher average of 7 rain days.
Will I need a jacket in the evenings?
Bring a jacket for winter and spring, when evenings can feel quite different from afternoons. Even May nights average 15°C. Summer nights are warmer, reaching 23°C in August, while October's 17°C nights make a light layer a sensible addition again.
See also: Italy weather by month · where else is hot in August
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Catania (Catania (east coast)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C