Weather in Italy (right now!)

Oh my! You're right!

Not sure what forecast you are looking at. You should check on www.wunderground.com.
For both Rome and Florence I see decent weather (clear or partly cloudy) except for a chance of rain on one day next week. Temperatures are nice too in the low/mid 20's degrees Celsius (68F to 81 F)

I stopped looking at the weather forecasts during my Italian trip (back this morning after 24 terrific days) because they were more often wrong than right. Wednesday in Orvieto it was pleasant, though more cloudy than sunny, and I chatted with a couple who were day-tripping from Rome. They told me they were glad they'd chosen Wednesday since it had rained all day Tuesday in Orvieto. Well, I was in Orvieto all day Tuesday and it only rained (lightly) for about 10 minutes during dinnertime.

Two years ago I didn't go to Tivoli while in Rome because the forecast was for rain all day. There was barely a cloud in the sky the whole day.

Greetings from Sorrento! I arrived here this afternoon, after two weeks in Sicily and a few days in Naples. Basically the spring weather has been terrific throughout, although there have been about three scattered days with light misty dribbles of rain, including today. But the lights of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples are glistening now, under clear skies. I have yet to break out my umbrella, although many other people have used theirs on these days. Either they are allergic to mist, or they like to show off their colorful umbrellas, while my black one is not worth writing home about, so to speak.

Thanks for the links to the fun webcams, George. And thanks Roberto, Chani, and Larry, for the positive spin on the weather in Rome, Sorrento, and Orvieto.

We've been in northern Italy (Liguria and Tuscany) since the 2nd of May. I think there was rain one day at the start of our trip, and none since then. Temps have been in the upper 60's to mid-70's, with a couple of days being partly cloudy, or overcast. Great weather for outdoor sight seeing.

Even locally we are fooled by the forecasts. I have taken an umbrella nearly every day for a week and used it twice for tiny, brief showers. Do what we do in spring (or most of the year except the height of summer): dress in layers. T-shirt, sweater or windbreaker (maybe both some days), small umbrella, daypack to carry the stuff you end up not needing. And rain seldom lasts all day here.

We just got back from 2.5 weeks, started in Venice, ended up in Umbria, then to Rome to catch our flight.

May 2-3 it rained in Venice---downpour a few times in the day/night....cooler temps the entire first week. Ended in Umbria, Perugia, etc, and it was cool, but not cold.

We were on a hiking trip and had temps mostly in the higher 60's to low 70's.

One thing I did that was VERY SMART, I added compact umbrellas to our suitcases, and I am going to do that from now on. They didn't take up much space, and we used them a LOT. You should always pack a rain coat, but having an umbrella makes walking around towns much easier. All the locals have umbrellas with them.

Take layers, a lightweight fleece jacket does wonders, doesnt' take up much room (wear it on the plane) Make sure you have good shoes that will withstand water. Our friend took a nice pair of expensive walking shoes, not water proof, and in Venice she has wet feet/socks, and needed a day for the shoes to dry out!

Weather is not predictable....so plan accordingly.

I am currently in Rome, finishing up a two week trip that took me to Lake Como, Venice, Cinque Terre and Sorrento.

First off, NEVER believe the weather forecast. Everyday it has said that the next day will be rain... Wrong.

The weather has been fairly good for the most part. A little heavy humidity here and there, and a few days of overcast skies, but in general about 65-70 during the day. It was significantly warmer in the south than up north. Capri pants and a sweater worked for me most days. Used the rain windbreaker s few days. Never used the light jacket I brought. The only day of significant rain was one day in Veranna and it was only bad for a few hrs in the afternoon.

If you want any more info, feel free to email me.

Happy travels!

In Florence today, 40% chance of rain was forecast but it didn't happen.

Just on self-guided bicycle tour Chioggia to Florence 10-17 May. It poured on Comacchio about 6 pm right after we arrived. A lot of chilly mornings, headwinds in the Po Delta area, but although we saw plenty of dark ominous clouds at times, we mostly had puffy clouds or just overcast skies in the afternoons. Looks like you should count on the small travel umbrellas (my husband got one here for 4 euro in Venice) and layers. We were so cold coming down after crossing the summit of the Apennines into Ronta, but lots of folks were in tank tops during the sunny middays in Venice, Ravenna, and Florence (yesterday). Be flexible!

Traveling by train from Sorrento to Verona as we speak, just now passing through Florence at 1:00 pm local time. I hear there is some art beyond the railway corridor, although I cannot confirm that myself. It has been sunny and bright all day long, but that is just a man on the rails anecdotal report, I am not a weather professional. (:->)))