Weather Overview for Florence

Florence is the historic capital of Italy’s region of Tuscany and the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance.

Located inland in the north of Italy, Florence sees a humid subtropical climate. This means it sees four distinct seasons with a broad temperature range. This is primarily due to the fact that its inland location means it is not tempered by the coastal winds that keep Tuscany’s coastal areas considerably milder.

The ‘tropical’ characteristics arise from the high humidity in the region caused by its location within a valley and also due to the presence of a river that flows through the city. In 1966 Arno river caused a devastating flood which resulted in the deaths of 40 people and destroyed priceless artwork and rare books.

Summers in Florence are hot and humid with an average high of 31ºC in July and August. Outside the peak months there are highs of 28ºC and 27ºC in June and September respectively. While this not extremely hot it can get uncomfortable, especially amongst the summer crowds. Night times proved some relief, usually dropping into the mid to high teens.

Rainfall is at its lowest level in June and July but heavy showers, sometimes thunderstorms, break on around five days each month. Rainfall increases in August and September when thunderstorms are more common. Sunshine levels are fantastic, reaching a peak of ten hours per day in July.

Autumn sees conditions similar to spring, though in the reverse order. Temperatures are still very warm in October which has an average high of 21ºC and an average low of 10ºC. October also sees a decent level of sunshine at five hours per day. November is much cooler and sees daytime highs averaging at 15ºC and night time lows around 6ºC. Rainfall increases throughout the season, reaching its annual peak in November. However, rain still sticks to infrequent heavy storms, as in summer, and it rarely rains for days on end.

Winters in Florence are cold and damp. January is the coldest month with an average high of 10ºC and an average low of 1ºC. December and February are only slightly warmer. Rainfall decreases as the season progresses. It snow occasionally. It is often overcast, only leaving three hours of sunshine per day for most of the season. Blustery days can make it feel much colder and you’re sure to need your coat.

Spring in Florence is beautiful as the city’s flowers start to bloom and green returns to the parks. March sees the mercury rise to an average daily temperature of 10°C. April warms up to a daily average of 14°C, and sees daily highs of 19ºC. April generally has more days of rain then March but the rainfall is lighter. May is glorious in Florence. With an average daily temperature of 17°c, falling just prior to the peak tourist season, May is a perfect time to plan a trip to Florence.