Milan enjoys a temperate climate characterised by often scorching summers, fairly cold winters and significant temperature fluctuations throughout the city. The Alpine mountain range to the north results in limited wind circulation, which unfortunately leads to stagnant fog and air pollution.
Milan’s winters are cold, damp and frequently marked by fog. Temperatures rarely dip below freezing, however, and snow is quite an uncommon occurrence in the city. Visiting Milan in winter can be a wonderful idea, particularly during the festive season when the atmosphere along the city-centre streets is truly enchanting.
Summers in Milan, by contrast, are hot, often humid and sultry, with temperatures that can reach as high as 37°C. However, the summer months also bring several thunderstorms that help break the oppressive heat. The best months to explore the city are undoubtedly the shoulder seasons, when mild weather and long, sunny days make it easy to visit the various points of interest.
Milan remains a destination worth visiting at any time of year, thanks to its countless attractions and diverse events hosted throughout the city. What you should pay attention to before booking is the presence of major international events and trade fairs (such as Fashion Week, for instance), which can make Milan feel rather hectic.
The hottest months of the year in Milan are August and July, when the monthly average temperature reaches 31 °C, while the coldest months of February, December and January the thermometer drops up to -1 °C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max °C | 7 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 25 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| Min °C | -1 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 14 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
In Milan rainiest months of the year are September and July during which monthly rainfall average reaches 101 mm. On the other side, driest months are January and February when the average rainfall is reduced to 22 mm per month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mm | 36 | 22 | 41 | 87 | 72 | 73 | 101 | 64 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 42 |
| Days | 9 | 6 | 8 | 14 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 10 |
August and July are sunniest months of the year. During that months, from sunrise to sunset there are 10 total sunshine hours in Milan. In October, January, November and December sunshine hours are reduced to 3.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 3 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 3 |