Venice winter weather

Almost certainly not. But you WILL needs lots of layers and one of those layers should be a windbreaker. Venice gets a windblown wet cold. Some of the marble laden churches are like walk in fridges. Know where and how to adjust the heat in your room.

Almost certainly you will see some sun if you are there for a while.

Those great big white things in the distance are the Alps.

If you get an acqua alta (high water) it will only be in some parts of the city and your accommodation will likely have rubber boots. There are temporary walkways over the water.

There is an app which will show you the risk of acqua alta.

I arrived at VCE by air February 2013, the day after Carnival, in the middle of a snow storm. We arrived early but were an hour plus late in getting off the plane because departing flights did not push back from the gate and we were diverted to a parking apron. It took the Italians a hour of pushing snow back and forth to clear the space around our aircraft for the shuttle busses. The good news is that while it can snow in Venice, the event is unusual.

But waterproof footwear is a good idea. As Nigel notes, the extreme high tides do occur. It happened the day before my arrival one woman who arrived early reported that she had room on the first floor (above ground). Turned out that her floor was the first dry floor above water level and the hotel created a temporary reception area outside her room. So yes, waterproof shoes/boots with good traction on wet stone is a good idea.

It will be likely cold, so I wouldn’t pack flip flops and shorts.
Winter boots may be overkill though. Snow in Venice is possible, but I wouldn’t call it a likely event.

I just met a family from Venice on the #64 bus in Rome and they said and I quote, "you need high boots and you can walk in the ocean." They say the water is at flood stage now, there are walk ways built over the water in some areas but not others and this is where the high boots come in handy.

We are here in Venice now, and have not needed rubber boots. So, I don't understand what that family on bus #64 meant.

We have been here since the last week of October and we own rubber boots. We have yet to use them on this trip. There was "acqua alta" of ~125cm in November but it was in the middle of the night and the water was back down when we were out and about the next morning.

A couple years ago, I arrived by train to be greeted by acqua alta. My wheelie suitcase and I got as far as the square 200 m. from my hotel, the rest of the way was under water without a walkway. I sat it out for an hour or so in a cafe. There was another acqua alta in the middle of the night, just a few puddles remained in the morning as proof. Except in really exteme instances (you'll see photos of row boats in San Marco for example), the flooding comes and goes in 2-4 hours, not all the city floods, and wooden walkways are set up in advance so you can get most everywhere without boots.

And if Acqua Alta does occur, the street vendors usually selling masks and Venetian tchotchkes, close up their stands and start hawking below-the-knee plastic overshoes. 10 EUR.

I'm in Venice right now. There was flooding today but only in and near San Marco Square and local touts sold us pull on plastic overshoes that come up to below the knee for walking in high water. 10 euros. Also, it's been very cold (30s and 40s) and very damp. We've needed layers and layers, ( one layer of polar fleece very appreciated), gloves, scarves, hats and umbrellas. Long wool or down overcoat. Wooly socks and good warm shoes. Warm pants. It's just plain cold and damp, not the crisp cold I've known in the US Midwest. But it's Venice!!

But waterproof footwear is a good idea

Yes I agree. And you also need shoes with a good traction. The marble step can get VERY slippery when wet. One time in February they almost sent me into the harbor. Luckily I stopped about one inch from the edge, but the effort to stop gave me sore thigh muscles for a couple of days.

I went to Venice in January years ago. It was the coldest place I have ever been in my life, indoors and outdoors. It was due to the dampness included with the cold, I suppose. This was 1976 and there weren't a lot of places I entered with central heating. I have yet to return. This is said by an outdoorsy New Englander. Dress in warm clothes!

Susan are you still in the building?