Venice in February

What someone else experienced previously is no indication of what you will experience in the future. You can look up historical norms, and those are usually a good indication of the range of possibilities, but weather is impossible to predict with any reliability more than a few days out. Your best plan is to be prepared for the worst, and hope for the best.

As David noted, with weather there is no way to tell more than a few days in advance.

With that caveat, I will share that I was in Venice last February. I did check historical averages before I left, but I happened to be there when "The Beast from the East" weather system moved in. It was cold, very cold, and very windy. On the coldest day, high was around freezing, wind chill a shade above 0 degrees F. I had brought layers, thermals, wool-lined pants, you name it, but the wind made it very uncomfortable.

But, hey, there wasn't any flooding! This might have been because I planned my time there around the phase of the moon--for you, there's a new moon on February 4th next year. Hopefully the other factors that lead to acqua alta--such as wind blowing in from the South--won't appear at the same time. Just be prepared, bring lots of layers, and even if there is an acqua alta it probably won't be nearly as bad as the recent one.

I have been there twice for Carnival, once in early to mid-February and once in late February. My recollection is that is was chilly and damp, with lows in the upper 30's or 40's, but not freezing. I would pack a fleece vest or sweater, a light puffer jacket, a scarf, and gloves. Maybe a hat, too, if you are so inclined. I always pack a silk or merino undershirt, as well.

I did the full costume thing last time, and I wore jeans, a merino undershirt and a turtleneck under my costume. Even early in the morning -- just before sunrise --- I never felt cold or uncomfortable. Of course, the costume was substantial. Most of the photographers out at that hour were wearing puffer jackets.

I wouldn't worry about Acqua Alta. November is usually the worst, and the event last week was exceptional. My friends, who stayed in Venice longer than I did, encountered one the week before I arrived. They said it was no big deal. It floods for a couple of hours, and then the water recedes. There is generally 24-48 hours warning (I think), and it shouldn't catch you by surprise.

Link to the tidl forecasts. It gives you the next few days, so might be handy in Feb.
http://archive.comune.venezia.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/2104

Also get the app “water on the Venice floor”. This gives a map of areas that will be seeing water.

Note that the forecast, say 80cm or 100 cm relates to a benchmark. A tide of say 75cm will see a few inches of water in the Piazza, the rest of Venice will be dry.

Every Venetian that I know has the app “chebateo” (which boat?) on their phone. It links to the vaporetto timetables.

Once went skiing in Innsbruck first of February, and took a short trip down to Venice. They had wooden sidewalks all over St. Marks Square and water was lapping up out of the canal. It was miserable.
We just about froze our tails off too.
Have you considered going elsewhere on this trip.

Note: I often check out the history of a city's weather on Wikipedia--average low degrees, average high degrees, average hrs. monthly sunshine and average inches of precipitation--month by month.

I was there the first week of February a couple of years ago for 6 nights. We had no rain and most days were cold (6 to 10 degrees) with blue skies and sunshine. Our hotel staff said we were lucky with the weather.

We didn’t wear all the layers we had taken, but you need a good coat, scarf and gloves especially early morning and at night.

Outside in February it may well be sunny some or part or much of the time and if you dressed properly you will likely be comfortable.

If you are going into the iceboxes known as churches you will likely be cold - but very scenic and beautiful.

Take plenty of 1 €uro coins to light up the paintings and sculptures.

I arrived in Venice at the beginning of an acqua alta, wheeling my spinner alongside of me. I got from the train station to the vaporetto to the campo (in the Dorsoduro) about 200 meters away. At that point the water stopped me, though I could have made it without the suitcase. I sat in a cafe for an hour or so, until the water subsided. If you are in Venice before it begins, you'll hear the sirens. They go off a couple hours before the beginning of an "event" so you have plenty of time to prepare.

It was a minor inconvenience; on the other hand, I found it a very interesting experience and gained more understanding of how this amazing city functions.

My guesthouse had several sizes of high rubber overshoes for guests as well as some umbrellas. You can buy disposable waterproof knee-high "bootees" from the same vendors that magically appear at the first drop of rain. You will need warm clothes, you feel the cold more in Venice because of the humidity, and if you are venturing to some of the outlying areas, it can be windy too.

Venice has already experienced terrible flooding in November.

In November.

What do you think the chances are that it won't be awful in February, in the middle of winter?

Those posters here who say they braved the high water and bone-chilling temperatures in the winter months in Venice generally paint a picture of misery.

I've been to Venice several times, mostly in May, once in October. I'd rather put up with the crowds in temperate weather than put up with the ridiculous climate conditions than you'll likely encounter in February.

I flew into VCE February 2013 the day or two after Carnival and a day after an Acqua Alta event. My flight arrived early but was delayed by departing flights not vacating the gates because of heavy snow. We were diverted to a remote location and it took an hour to move snow around to allow a portable stairway to be moved into place and busses to transport us to the terminal. We were the lucky ones with afternoon flights diverted and departures canceled. By the next day flights were back to normal.

Folks who arrived the day before experienced an Acqua Alta event first hand. One person had a first floor (above ground level) room. The Acqua Alta flooded the ground floor and her hotel staff set up a temporary registration desk just outside her room. But the day later when I arrived, pavements were wet and covered with soggy confetti but not flooded.

Based on my single two day expereince five plus years ago, anything weatherwise can happen in Venice in February and everything can change in a day or so.

Many thanks to all those who replied who have actually been to Venice in February and shared their experiences. Peter.S.Aus, your info will be very helpful. My hotel reservation allows for cancellation 3 days before our arrival, so I will certainly be monitoring the weather to see whether we should stay, or head early to Rome for the second half of our trip. We had been to Venice before in May, which was glorious, but our work schedule only allowed for a February stay. There is so much more that we want to see in Venice, we thought we'd give it a try. Fingers crossed for good weather (and I will watch the moon and tides!)

Follow up, in case anyone is interested in traveling to Venice in February. We were there from 6-10 of February. Had great weather. Cold and crisp in the 40’s, but clear every day. No rain. No alta aqua. It was a great time to see everything. There were plenty of tourists, but certainly not wall to wall like in the spring or summer. Had the Doges Palace to ourselves at 8:30 a.m. Lines for the return boat to/from Murano and Burano, so I can’t imagine what it would be like during tourist season.

Glad to see you report back. I was all set to do Carnivale this year - even booked a B&B last summer, but hubby didn't want to go because he thought it would be too cold (we'd be there right now...sigh). Well, it isn't colder than the -30C windchill we're having the next few days. Anyways, I'll work on him going another year...bonus - we got a new puppy a few weeks ago, so I guess the tradeoff is worth it.

We also just got back and we were in Venice from Feb. 17-20. Not only was there no aqua alta, the water levels at low tide were exceedingly low. We were out doing a rowing lesson and it was especially noticeable and commented upon by our instructor. One thing we did have though was lots and lots of heavy fog at times - like the kind of fog where you can't find your husband when you are the only two people out on a piazza at night!