SeasonMapCatania (Etna) weather in December
Italy
December in Catania: nice, a little rain, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.
#7 of 12 months in Catania · #386 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 82/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Catania in December
Other months in Catania
Catania's forum rates May as warm but not hot, with flowers in bloom and the tourist season not yet at its peak — daytime temperatures in the low-to-mid 70s°F with cooler nights that call for a light jacket. Regulars are honest that May weather can still be genuinely unsettled some years, with one visitor reporting an overcast, rainy stretch through most of the month, so layers and a rain option are worth packing alongside summer clothes.
Add your own note from Catania's card on the map.
Catania climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 18°C / 65°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 9°C / 49°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 17°C / 63°F | |
| Sea temperature | 17°C / 63°F | 🧊 bracing |
| Rainfall | 37 mm / 1.4 in | 🌦 some rain |
| Rainy days | 7 days | |
| Humidity | 79% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 7°C / 45°F | |
| Sunshine | 7.2 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | |
| Wind | 13 km/h / 8 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 33 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Catania in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyChristmas holidays in Italy, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Catania's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherCatania's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Catania in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Etna ash and airport closures
1 Jan – 31 DecVolcanic activityClosuresEtna produces paroxysms several times a year with no season to them, and when the ash blows south the airport shuts for hours and the cars turn grey. Check INGV before assuming a flight will go. Source ↗
- Nature
Blood orange harvest
15 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyTarocco and moro oranges come off the volcanic plain north of the city through winter, which is the argument for eating here between January and March.
- Season
Skiing on Etna
20 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallySki seasonNicolosi and Piano Provenzana run a handful of lifts on the volcano in a normal winter, an hour above a coast where the oranges are being picked.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Catania — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Catania?
Catania in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Catania?
- December in Catania: nice, a little rain, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #7 of 12 months for Catania on SeasonMap's comfort score (82/100).
- What is the weather like in Catania in December?
- In December, Catania averages a daily high of 18.2°C and a low of 9.4°C, with about 36.5 mm of rain over roughly 6.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Catania in December?
- Catania has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in December.
Other months in Catania
Warmer or cooler than Catania in December
Similar destinations in Southern Europe — December
Within 300 km: Syracuse's Santa Lucia on 13–20 Dec, and Taormina's Snow on Etna around 15 Dec – 31 Mar.