Italy is bracing for mild weather this weekend as high pressure systems sweep across the country, providing stability but also occasional rain, particularly in certain regions. Expected precipitation includes light rain for lower Tuscany, Lazio, and parts of Sicily, especially the Ionian coast. On Saturday, light showers are likely between Northwest Italy and Liguria, with conditions gradually improving by Sunday, offering some respite and clearer skies.
Weather expert Lorenzo Tedici confirms the impending weather changes, noting, "We are expecting spring-like weather starting from tomorrow and lasting until the next weekend, with significantly warmer temperatures almost everywhere, though with some exceptions." Indeed, some rainfall is expected to linger along the coasts of Lazio and Campania. On the other hand, warmer temperatures are projected with the possibility of hitting 20 degrees Celsius on major islands such as Sicily, even as the northern parts of Italy remain slightly cooler due to morning fog. Sunday promises beautiful weather across the country with increasing temperatures.
Building on this high-pressure system, Tedici highlights the unusual warmth for this time of year. "After experiencing one of the coldest waves affecting Eastern Europe, the severe conditions are now targeting the Middle East and even Egypt, but Italy is likely to enjoy improved weather conditions as temperatures gradually rise."
Many regions will enjoy sunny spells and temperatures climbing by about 5-6 degrees Celsius, reaching up to 15-17 degrees centigrade during peak hours. On the northern front, temperatures may struggle to cross the 10-degree mark due to persistent low clouds and fog.
Despite this brief taste of spring, experts are keeping a close watch on the last week of February, as they expect increasing weather disturbances likely to usher colder conditions by the month’s end. A gradual reinforcement of Atlantic weather patterns could bring precipitation, delivering mixed conditions as temperatures fluctuate. Speculations suggest potential snowfall at higher elevations—particularly above 1,800 meters—between the end of February and early March, challenging the warmer conditions expected earlier.
Today, the 20th of February, the weather will see variances across regions. The North is predicted to experience relatively clear skies, with wandering clouds primarily across Liguria and Emilia-Romagna. The Central regions will see cloud cover with odds of light rain over Lazio transitioning to clearer skies as the day advances. Meanwhile, the South can expect inconsistent cloudiness, with minor rain showers anticipated over Campania and sunny spells elsewhere, particularly over Puglia and Calabria.
Forecasts for tomorrow, February 21st, point to stability returning to the North with predominantly sunny skies and few clouds. The Central areas will witness similar conditions, but, as the evening sets, clouds will drift back over the regions. The South is likely to witness variable clouds with possible light rain over southern Sicily. Temperatures throughout Italy are set to rise, marking the average winter spikes, but with the cold plane hovering uncertainly over the northern areas.
The patterns laid out suggest the winter chill isn’t entirely finished with Italy, as temperatures are anticipated to dip at month’s end due to incoming polar air mass. The downside of this transition is the high degree of variability, with temperature assessments remaining tentative for the latter stages of February.
Overall, the latter part of February will see weather instability with sunny intervals mixed with rain, especially impacting the northern and central regions. The early days of March are also expected to follow suit with cloudy and rainy spells, particularly impacting the Alps, with conditions possibly leading to extensive snowfall beneficial for winter sports enthusiasts.
Despite this fluctuative period, meteorologists caution those eager for spring warmth not to pack away their winter gear just yet, as conditions might oscillate between mild and wintry again especially as we approach the first week of March.