Good morning, everyone! I've researched on the internet what the average temperatures should be for Venice/Florence/Rome during for the period of May 4-15 in order to help me pack the appropriate clothes. From what I've gleaned from various sites, it looks like the average temperature is around 70 F. I'm wondering how true this really is? The reason I ask is that I also researched what the average temperature is in Atlanta, Ga (where I live) for this same time period and it's 78 F; however, I can assure you that in the last several years, temps in May can easily be much higher. If, in fact, 70 F is true to form, then I would pack somewhat differently than I would if the temps the last few years indicate a trend to more like 80 F.
First, you question cannot be answered as you want. Average temps mean little In order to have an average you have to live the extremes. Plan for a little of everything - rain, cool if not cold, and hot. For our first trip to Rome, on the advice of very knowledge people who said that Rome is always hot in June, we did not bring any warmer clothing. It was the first week of Rome and for two nights it was so cold that the sidewalk cafes did not open. We were wearing three short sleeve shirts under our rain jackets to stay warm. We return the next year, same time period, a little bit better prepared and -- of course -- it was hot. In early May I would plan for it to be chilly, rainy and plan accordingly.
May 4 - 15 in the last 10 years in Rome, the Average High Temp is 73 F but with a historical range of 60 F to 86 F; and the Average Low Temp is 55 F but with a historical range of 42 F to 71 F.Thus, the temps last 10 yrs in Rome on those dates have ranged from 42 to 86, demonstrating that Frank (1st post) is absolutely correct: historical averages don't tell you that much, can be misleading, and especially so in the case where you only have the one number.Avg temp data can be especially misleading when your data doesn't separate the averages into average high and average low. A good example of this is the one data item of an average temp of 70--that tells you little in terms of what the temps will be this year, because it mashes the daily highs and lows together.The best data you'll get will be an actual weather forecast starting about 5 days from your time in Rome, and getting more accurate every day you get closer to being there. Here's the summary of the last 10 years of weather data for May 4 - 15 in Rome, from the best weather site I've found for Europe. If you go to the link provided soon enough, you should see the data I just pulled up; if you click the link later and it's just the home page, input Rome and your dates and it will re-assemble the data for you, much more than just temps Rome May 4-15 avg weather last 10 yrs