Located about 90 km to the north-west of Milan, Stresa is a small town in Italy located in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, which is found in the north-western part of the country. With roughly 5,000 residents, Stresa is a pleasant tourist site that is complemented by the cool weather of northern Italy due to its proximity to the Alps. The beautiful background view of the snowy Alps along the astonishing sight of Lake Maggiore in this small town make Stresa a popular holiday destination for tourists from all over the world.
Thanks to the domineering Alps,
Stresa maintains cool weather temperatures throughout the year with frosty cold
winters and cool summers. The winter weather in Stresa call for Winters that are
cold, snowy and long with temperatures reaching to as low as -6º C in the month
of January. Rain falls more prominently in
Stresa during the month of May and all throughout the spring and autumn months
with the winter months being less abundant in rainfall. From
April to May and from August until September, Stresa can reach over 12cm of
rain, while the rest of the year experiences a little over 7cm of rainfall on
average.
Snow falls in irregular patterns during the winter months, although the temperature of the town is kept at mild temperatures thanks to Lake Maggiore, which is caused due to the fact that water releases heat slower than air, maintaining Stresa and surrounding areas much warmer. July and August are the warmest months of the year in Stresa, with temperatures averaging at around 26º C. The warm weather during the summer months makes Stresa an ideal location for tourists and locals who seek adventure swimming, hiking, fishing, boating and mountain biking.
Winter
Winter is perhaps the busiest season to visit Stresa thanks to the various activities found in the small Italian town. Hiking, skiing and snowboarding are popular activities to partake in while on holiday in Stresa. The climate is somewhat warmer than that of the Alps; however, snowfall is a frequent visitor of the area, which makes Stresa an attractive spot for lovers and practitioners of winter sports.
The average temperature is 5ºC during the winter months, however temperatures can drop to as low as -6ºC. Thanks to the elevation in Stresa, temperatures can be felt as high as 5º C in December and January. Snow can be experienced up to as late as early April, making Stresa a great holiday location for spring breakers looking for some adventure in the snow in the proximity of the Alps.
Spring
During the spring months Stresa still experiences cool weather with chances of snow in the beginning of the season. During mid April temperatures start to become more mild and raise to an average of 16ºC during the day and º5C during the night. The months of May and June welcome warm temperatures that make it perfect for locals and tourists to partake in outdoor activities away from the snow such as fishing, boating and swimming.
The pleasant weather makes Stresa an attractive location during the spring thanks to its natural scenery; the warm climate and breathtaking views call for strolls around the town where beautiful gardens in Villa Pallavicino can be appreciated.
Summer
Summer is the perfect season to visit Lake Maggiore in Stresa and take a swim in its refreshing waters as temperatures reaches up to the high 20s. Lake Maggiore is the second biggest lake in Italy and it allows for breathtaking sightseeing and other outdoor activities that are complimented by the warm weather.
The warmest months during the summer are July and August with temperatures averaging in at 25ºC. To cool off from the warm temperatures, tourists can take a cable car from Stresa up to the peak of Mount Mottarone in the Alps where temperatures are significantly cooler at the top of the mountain. The beautiful panorama provides unforgettable sights for all who take the 20 minute ride up to Mount Mottarone; this is a great activity for people who seek to experience both warm and cool temperatures in Stresa.
Autumn
Just like spring, autumn provides Stresa with mild temperatures in September and October. By November, temperatures start dropping significantly to welcome winter. At this time of the year temperatures can be expected to be as high as 22ºC and as low as 2ºC
The best activities to do at this time of the year are to take a boat ride on Lake Maggiore to the Borromean Islands, which are made up of Isla Del Pescatori, Isola Madre and Isola Bella. All of these islands have very similar temperatures to that of Stresa. Isola Bella, the most popular of all three islands is just a short 10 minute boat ride away and it holds some of the most magnificent gardens that can be seen in Italy.
Rainy/Dry Season
Stresaâs climate holds an on and off rainy and dry season that is split into the four seasons of the year. Winter begins the year with a dry season, as spring holds a period of rainy season, while summer is dry again and finally autumn holds another patch of rainy season with the heaviest rainfall.
Summer is generally warm and dry during the whole season; from June until August there is an average of 8 to 10 rain days per month with an average of almost 8cm of rain for the rest of the dry season. Winter is also dry and only sees an average of 5 days of rain per month from December until March. February is the driest month of the year with only an average of 49.8 mm of rain. Dry season during the summer and winter months is the best time to experience the sight of Lake Maggioreâs pristine waters as there is no rain or snow to obstruct the enchanting views.
The rainy season is at its peak during the month of November receiving an average of 164.4 mm of rain. Spring and autumn see the most rain in the whole year with heavy loads of rain in April and May during the spring and from September until November during autumn. The rainy season is perhaps the worst time of the year to visit Stresa as the often rain makes it hard for visitors to explore the town.