Does it snow in Florence Italy? Florence is a famous city in Italy known for being the birthplace of the Renaissance.
It is super well-known for its art, buildings, and overall culture. But what is the weather like there? Do they have snow in Italy?
Even though the city has nice weather most of the time, it can be rather unpredictable when it comes to making a guess about the snow.
Yes, it does snow in Florence, but it is an infrequent occurrence, as most of the precipitation is in the form of rain.
A Quick Look at the Weather in Florence
Florence has a nice, Mediterranean climate. Winters are mild and damp, while summers are hot and dry.
So, how cold does it get in Florence Italy?
- In winter, the temperature usually stays around 50F, and sometimes it rains.
- In the summer, the weather is usually warm and sunny, with temperatures around 77F.
Even though the city is known for having generally nice weather, it can sometimes get cold and rainy in the winter.
So, it is a good idea to have a jacket or umbrella with you all year round.
Here is a bit more about the average high and low temperatures in Florence:
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Low (F) | 36 | 37 | 41 | 46 | 53 | 59 | 64 | 64 | 58 | 50 | 41 | 37 |
| High (F) | 52 | 55 | 60 | 65 | 75 | 82 | 89 | 89 | 80 | 70 | 58 | 52 |
Fact: Florence gets most of its rain between October and April, and the rainiest months are November and December.
Does It Snow in Florence Italy?
Yeah, sometimes it snows in Florence, Italy, but not a lot. In Florence, the weather is usually hot in the summers and chilly with lots of rain in the winters.
Florence has a type of climate similar to what you would find around the Mediterranean Sea.
This means that the winters there are not too cold and can be a bit wet, while the summers are quite hot and dry.
Snow does not happen often, but sometimes it does, especially in nearby hills.
Fact: Florence has colder and rainier winters compared to Rome, and they might experience more snow.
How Often Does It Snow in Florence, Italy?
It hardly ever snows in Florence.
Usually, the city does not get much snow during winter, if it gets any at all. When it snows, it usually does not stick around and melts away quickly.
Sometimes, it does not snow very often, but when it does, it can make the city look really pretty, like a picture on a postcard.
Here is more about average precipitation in Florence, but it is mainly in the form of rain:
| Month | Days | Inches |
| January | 8 | 2.4 |
| February | 7 | 2.6 |
| March | 8 | 2.6 |
| April | 10 | 3.3 |
| May | 8 | 2.8 |
| June | 6 | 2.2 |
| July | 4 | 1.4 |
| August | 5 | 2.2 |
| September | 6 | 3.1 |
| October | 9 | 4.1 |
| November | 9 | 4.5 |
| December | 8 | 3.1 |
When Does It Snow in Florence Italy?
In Florence, it usually snows in January and February.
But, sometimes, it snows earlier or later than usual, and that is because the weather can change from year to year.
It is pretty normal for the city to not have any snow for a few years.
When it snows in Florence, it is usually because cold air from the mountains mixes with the city’s humid air, which makes it possible for snow to happen.
A Bit about the History of Snow in Florence
It is not often that you see snow in Florence. But they have had a few big snowstorms in the past few decades.
For instance, here is more about the total snowfall in Florence since 1948:
| Total snowfall | 139.5″ |
| Standard deviation/event | 3.0 |
| Mean snowfall (annual) | 1.9″ |
| Median snowstorm total | 1.5″ |
In 2019, there was a little bit of snow in Fiesole, a town nearby.
People were really looking forward to having a lot of snow like they did in 2010, but unfortunately, it did not happen this time.
Fact: In 2019, there was a little bit of snow in Florence, but it melted into slush right away, even though the Tuscan countryside was covered in a beautiful layer of white.
How is Winter in Florence Italy?
Because Italy has a Mediterranean climate, Florence is nice during the winter months.
Snow is not something we see very often, and if it does happen, it will not stick around for very long.
But sometimes it can feel cold because there is a lot of moisture in the air. There will be some days with rain, but also some days with sun and clouds.
However, you will quickly notice that Paris is much colder than Florence.
If you visit Florence in winter, which is from December till February, you should expect the following weather conditions:
| Aspect | December | January | February |
| Average Temp | 7.1 °C (45 °F) | 6.7 °C (44 °F) | 7.7 °C (46 °F) |
| Min Temp | 2.8 °C (37.1 °F) | 2.2 °C (35.9 °F) | 2.6 °C (36.7 °F) |
| Max Temp | 11.5 °C (52.6 °F) | 11.2 °C (52.1 °F) | 12.7 °C (54.9 °F) |
| Coldest Nights | -4.5 °C (23.5 °F) | -5 °C (23.5 °F) | -4 °C (24.5 °F) |
| Coldest Night (Dec 2005) | -10 °C (14 °F) | -8.3 °C (17.1 °F), 2002 | -9.4 °C (15.1 °F), 1991 |
| Warmest Days | 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) | 17 °C (62.5 °F) | 18.5 °C (65.5 °F) |
| Warmest Day (Dec 2006) | 19.7 °C (67.5 °F) | 21.6 °C (70.9 °F),1995 | 23.4 °C (74.1 °F), 1991 |
| Precipitation | 80 mm (3.1 in) | 60 mm (2.4 in) | 65 mm (2.6 in) |
| Precipitation Days | 8 days | 8 days | 7 days |
| Day Length | 9 hours 0 minutes | 9 hours 25 minutes | 10 hours 30 min |
| Sunshine Hours | 3 hours | 4 hours | 5 hours |
| Sunshine Percentage | 33% | 42% | 48% |
| Humidity | Average: 76% | Average: 73% | Average: 67% |
| Average Wind Speed | 6 kph (4 mph) | 6 kph (4 mph) | 7 kph (5 mph) |
Fact: There is less sunlight in Florence during the day, especially in the middle to end of December, so you might have only about 4 hours of daylight each day.
The Best Things to Do in Florence in Winter
There are lots of things to do and see in Florence during the winter.
Here are some fun activities that many people enjoy:
| Activities | Description |
| Explore museums and art galleries | Go to the Uffizi Gallery to check out amazing artwork by Botticelli, Michelangelo, and da Vinci. |
| Explore the Visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore | Go up high to see the whole city from a great view. |
| A walk through the historic center | Check out Piazza della Signoria and Ponte Vecchio, an ancient bridge with fancy jewelry stores. |
| Explore local cafes | Get cozy with a cup of hot chocolate or a glass of wine at cute cafes. |
| Enjoy a cooking class | Discover how to cook authentic Tuscan recipes like a pro. |
| Attend performances | Have a great time watching performances at theaters like Teatro Comunale or Teatro Verdi. |
The Best Time to Visit Florence Italy
The ideal time to go to Florence, Italy, is in the spring or fall when the weather is changing.
During the months of March to May in the spring, and September to November in the autumn, the weather is usually nice and not too extreme.
This makes it a great time to go out and enjoy the city’s sights without being too hot or too cold.
The temperatures during the day usually stay between 12°C and 22°C, which is a comfortable range.
Florence is great to visit at any time, but spring and autumn are especially nice because the weather is pleasant and the city is less crowded.
Plan your visit in December if you hope to see some snow and want to engage in winter activities.
An Important Consideration
Also, you will not have to deal with the extremely hot weather during the summer, when it can get hotter than 35°C.
Many people in the area go on vacation during this time, so some stores and restaurants might be closed.
Takeaway
Does it snow in Florence Italy? Yes, it certainly does, but it is never enough to plan your trip around snow.
You might find more snow in nearby places, but Florence itself is not somewhere you would go to play in the snow.
Nevertheless, you can have a great time visiting Florence in winter as the weather is still mild and you can explore tons of other activities in the area.
