Climate Insights for Palermo

The climate in Palermo is temperate. The average annual temperature is 18°C and approximately 635mm of precipitation falls per year. October is the wettest month, receiving around 85mm of rainfall. Palermo is in the Northern Hemisphere. Summer begins at the end of June and lasts through September. The summer months are: July, August, September. The coldest months are January, February, March, when temperatures can drop to 8°C.

Temperatures in Palermo vary considerably across the year, with a 21°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is July, when average highs reach 29°C and the mean temperature sits around 26°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 8°C and an average of 11°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 5°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between May and June, with a 5°C shift in average temperatures.

Palermo is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 635mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 53mm per month. The wettest month is October, averaging 85mm of rainfall. November and March also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is July, with just 5mm. That's 80mm less than October, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic.

Palermo is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 16km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is January, averaging 19km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in June, with average winds dropping to 13km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 6km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 18km/h in winter, 16km/h in spring, 13km/h in summer, 15km/h in autumn.

It is currently spring in Palermo, which began on March 20, 2026. Palermo is in the Northern Hemisphere, where spring begins in March, summer in June, autumn in September, and winter in December. The warmest period peaks in July at around 29°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 8°C. Summer is next, beginning on June 21, 2026 — 90 days from now.

The best time to visit Palermo is during May, June, September, October and November, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 20°C with modest rainfall averaging 61mm per month. By contrast, July can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 29°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to 8°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Palermo based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.