Your March weather guide
MildWeather in Sicily in March
Sicily in March is a good choice for mild days outdoors, but not for a reliably warm beach holiday. Average afternoon highs reach about 17°C, while nights fall to around 9°C, so layers matter more than summer clothes. The sea is about 15°C and cold for swimming. Go if you prefer walking without strong heat and can keep plans flexible around rain; choose a warmer month if swimming is central to your trip.
Long-term climate averages for Catania (east coast), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Sicily, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Catania (east coast).
- Average daytime high
- 16.8°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 20°C
- Average night-time low
- 8.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 6°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.3°C
- London averages 10.5°C in March
- Sea temperature
- 14.6°C
- year to year: 14°C to 15°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.4h
- 55% of 11.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 58 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days over 25°C
- 1%
- 0% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 30.6°C
- 2001-03-24
- Record low 1991-2020
- 1.1°C
- 2005-03-03
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 12 min
- 1936 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How March compares
March is the 9th warmest month of the year in Sicily and ranks 77th of 134 destinations we compare for March - see where else is hot in March. Within Italy it is 1st of 16 (Italy in March). Against London's average high of 10.5°C in March, Sicily is 6.3°C warmer by day and 5.6°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in March
The typical March day in Sicily peaks at 16.8°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 20.3°C or more. Roughly 1 in 125 days top 25°C and 1 in 500 pass 30°C. Nights average 8.9°C; one night in ten drops to 6.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day here reached 30.6°C (2001-03-24) and the coldest night 1.1°C (2005-03-03).
Rain in March
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 58 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest March was 2020 with 164 mm, the driest 2000 with 14 mm. Humidity averages 73%.
Sea temperature in March
The sea averages 14.6°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.0°C to 15.2°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.4°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:11 and sets about 18:07 local time in mid-March. Average cloud cover is 45%.
Is March a good time to visit Sicily?
March is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Sicily on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Comfortable afternoons, but keep a jacket handy
The daytime warmth suits travellers who want to spend time outdoors without planning everything around midday heat. A light layer may be enough during a sunny afternoon, but bring a jumper and jacket for early starts and evenings. The warmest days can reach around 20°C or more, although that is a bonus rather than the temperature to pack for. At the colder end, nights can fall to around 6°C or below. That gap between afternoon and night makes a wardrobe of adjustable layers more useful than relying on either heavy winter clothing or a suitcase packed mainly for summer.
Useful daylight, with room for wet-weather plans
March gives you enough daylight for unhurried outdoor plans, but sunshine is not guaranteed throughout the day. Around 6.4 hours of sunshine within 11.7 hours of daylight makes a flexible schedule sensible: use brighter spells for longer walks and leave space to change plans when rain arrives. With about 8 rainy days during the month, a light waterproof is a sensible addition to your bag. Rain need not rule out a March visit, but fixed outdoor plans carry a catch. For time beside the sea, think walking or sitting out when it feels warm rather than assuming you will want to swim.
A little perspective
Sicily through the year
March is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| 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% |
| MarchSelected | 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.
Keep exploring
Similar in March
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Sicily in March FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Sicily hot in March?
Sicily is mild in March: the average daytime high is 16.8°C and nights average 8.9°C. Roughly 1 in 125 March days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Sicily in March?
The sea around Sicily averages 14.6°C in March, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 14°C to 15°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Sicily in March?
Sicily sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 58 mm of rain in a typical March. The wettest March between 1991 and 2020 was 2020 (164 mm) and the driest was 2000 (14 mm).
How sunny is Sicily in March?
Sicily gets around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day in March out of 11.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Sicily compare with the UK in March?
Sicily is on average 6.3°C warmer than London by day in March (16.8°C against 10.5°C).
What is the hottest March on record in Sicily?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest March day in Sicily reached 30.6°C on 2001-03-24, and the coldest night dropped to 1.1°C on 2005-03-03.
How much warmer is Sicily than London in March?
Sicily’s average daytime high is 16.8°C, compared with 10.5°C in London, a difference of 6.3°C. That makes it a milder option for days outdoors, though cool nights mean you should still pack a jacket rather than expect summer conditions.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
For most holidaymakers, no. The average sea temperature is 14.6°C, with a year-to-year range of 14°C to 15°C. That is cold rather than merely bracing, so March is a poor fit if comfortable sea swimming is a priority.
Which months should I consider for a warmer holiday?
June, July and August are better alternatives if warmth is your main priority. March suits a different kind of trip: mild outdoor days, layers for evenings and flexibility around rain, rather than a holiday built around dependable heat.
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