Sailing season and weather in Italy
The climate is Mediterranean, with the hot dry summer and mild wet winter. The hottest region is Sicily island, the coldest is the north of the country. The high season for sailing vacation in Italy lasts from June to August. The middle one is in May and September. The weather is moderately warm with light dry winds in these months. The low season continues from October till April. You can also have sailing holidays in Italy in this time, but the weather may surprise you with showers and cool weather.
The yearly temperature on the seashore is 66°F (19°C). The north-western winds prevail, with the speed 20-25 knots by July-August. Also, get ready for morning and evening breezes.
Recently, in Ligurian sea (north to Corsica) heavy storms often happen in the late autumn. In a couple of hours devastating storm can start that cannot be predicted with any weather forecast. Be ready for this while your sailing trip in Italy.
Water temperature in sailing season
+22...+26 °
Air temperature in sailing season
+27...+31 °
Wind speed in sailing season
10 - 20 knots
Tides
The tides in Mediterranean are rather small: 12–24 inches (30–60 cm) depending on the place. But the more to the north of Italy you are, the more water can rise there (up to 1.2 meters / 4 feet in Istria and Trieste). In the southern Adriatic sea tides can be high in narrow channels and bays — especially when strong SW winds blow. The amplitudes are irregular.
In summer, Sicily has the atmospheric phenomenon like “marrubbio” or meteotsunami. In a couple of minutes sea level can rise highly and drop again causing floods and damaging to ships moored. It is almost impossible to predict such a thing.
Weather forecast for sailing in Italy
In marina you will be provided with the weather forecast for the next 24h. You can also hear weather forecast and storm warnings on radio, it is translated on Italian and English languages on 68 and 21 channels. Harbor services also get fresh weather forecast in region regularly.