Hi,
I am looking at the weather in rome, florence, and venice in the next 10 days, and on weather.com, a majority of these dates are listed as "scattered thunderstorms". What's does it entail in Italy? My understanding of scattered thunderstorms means that it will rain heavy for an hour or so? I am kinda bummed that weather doesn't look too good for our trip.
Look at the positive....maybe less lines, and fantastic skies for your photos. Beats 100oF and high humidity.
It means a chance of a rainstorm, but you need to look at the probability to see if that means mostly rain or mostly not rain. I wouldn't put heavy reliance of the accuracy of the 10 day forecast. The predictions in our area of Italy over the last 2 weeks have been changing day by day.
Same as the forecast this weekend in Wisconsin. "Don't change your plans but be prepared to get inside once in a while."
Don't worry too much as the weather forecast is often wrong and/or changes quickly. When we were in Venice a few years ago in late Aug., the forecast showed nothing but rain for the first few days of our trip. We were really nervous as we had reserved a costly private tour with a photographer and he and I kept texting back and forth the morning of the tour and he said the forecast wasnt good. It was pouring rain and thunder/lightning at 7 am and it didn't appear likely to let up. We postponed our tour by a few hours and lo and behold, the storm completely cleared and we were left with blue skies (and lots of humidity!). We noticed the same rainy forecast for the next few days and it ended up raining only during the night and the days were rain-free and beautiful. I've noticed the weather can change quickly there so don't give too much credence to the forecast.
I have been in central and northern Italy since May 12. Every day but two have seen some rain, but usually for an hour or so at a time during the afternoons.
Thunderstorms in Italy are just like thunderstorms where you live. Some can be big and powerful with lots of rain, hail, thunder, and lighting. Others are weaker with with a little rain and wind. It just depends. Thunderstorms know no nationality.
I was in Rome a year ago this week, with forecasts for scattered thunderstorms each day.
On the day of our arrival it was clear until mid-afternoon, when cumulonimbus clouds started to form. Around 4 pm there was an angry, violent-looking sky that was a perfect backdrop for visualizing a chariot race in Circus Maximus (here). There might have been heavier rain elsewhere, but the only precipitation we had that afternoon in the central city was a light drizzle (here). The clouds dissipated for a pleasant evening.
The next mid-day clouds again gathered (here). Just as we entered the Church of St. Peter in Chains at 3 PM, heavy rain began. By the time we finished our visit in the church and went back outside, the rain was tapering off. That was the last rain we saw for the rest of the week.
Bottom line -- storms like that tend to be hit-and-miss, and are usually not a major impediment to sightseeing. As mentioned above, they can be refreshing in hot weather, and will certainly lend drama and interest to your photos.
No way to predict how frequent/heavy those might be, and not much you can do about it. No different than at home.
Bring a hooded raincoat and/or umbrella make the best of it.
There have been a lot of tourists making the best of rain, closed museums and train lines in Paris!
Plan for rain. We were in Tuscany for a bike trip early May and it was colder than I ever remember Italy in May over the last 10 years. We had one day lost for riding because of heavy rain. Since you won't be on a bike, you don't that worry.
Do bring a good rain jacket and your own umbrella. While a hood on your jacket is nice, you just can't see out that well. Having an umbrella is ideal for walking and sightseeing in rain.
Also look to your footwear. If you don't have some waterproof shoes, you will end up with wet feet. (happened to a friend while in Venice 2 years ago - the other 3 of us had waterproof shoes, she didn't she had wet feet and socks)
While no one can predict what will be exactly where you are in your trip, do be prepared for anything. That said, this spring has been very wet and rainy in Italy. As I look at webcams...I see cities under rain almost very day. Today it's raining in Florence. For the 2 days, it was raining in Assisi. (sunny today)
On June 7 2016 yesterday we were driving in foothills north of Lucca and started to rain then turned to hail. It was a tremendous rush of water down the road. We pulled over and sat it out for 15 min and the skies opened up to a beautiful blue. We feel it's part of the adventure on the trip. I did by a umbrella and carry it in my purse. It will become a souvenir for me.
Enjoy your trip!
