Climate en Emilie-Romagne
From the Alpine massifs to the heel of the Italian Botte, the country offers a wide variety of climates, and the clichés of Mediterranean weather and warm sunshine six months of the year apply mainly to the south-central region (and only if you move away from the Apennine chain!). The climate in Emilia-Romagna is continental, with fairly marked seasons, hot summers and harsh winters. Over the course of a year, the temperature differences between highs and lows can be considerable. In spring and autumn, precipitation can be a regular feature on the regional weather menu, and a rainy mantle drenches art cities and agricultural plains, sometimes without interruption from morning to evening. Locals are quick to complain about this capricious weather: "It's raining here, as usual", a Bolognese might say in a telephone conversation... even though it's only been gray for two days!
A diversity of landscapes and climates
Although the image of Emilia-Romagna is primarily that of the vast, homogeneous Padana plain, dotted with towns and cities, the region has a wide variety of landscapes and, consequently, weather conditions that vary depending on whether you're on the plain, in the mountains or on the coast.
On the Po plain, summers can be very hot, and heatwaves are not uncommon, with temperatures that can exceed 35 degrees. The humidity that characterizes the climate of the Padana plain reinforces the impression of stifling heat. This high level of humidity, combined with the region's extensive hydrographic network, favours the development of lush green vegetation. In winter, on the other hand, temperatures plummet to as low as zero; the city of Piacenza, on the banks of the River Po, experiences temperatures as cold as Berlin! Precipitation is particularly heavy in spring and autumn, averaging 650-800 mm per year; rivers swell and sometimes burst their banks, flooding the plain and nearby housing. Emergency situations and floods have unfortunately multiplied over the last ten years in Emilia-Romagna, as in other Italian regions, and many point the finger at climate change... Finally, in all seasons, a thick fog sometimes envelops the Padana plain in its vaporous mantle, all the way to the Lido Ferrarese.
The Apennines have an oceanic climate: snow generally falls between November and March, and sometimes as late as April, making them a popular destination for powder lovers. Rainfall is relatively high, averaging between 1,500 and 2,000 mm per year. Summers are cooler and more breathable than on the plains, with occasional rainy and stormy spells.
On the coast, the climate is temperate and maritime, but not Mediterranean. Humidity is always present - beware of mosquitoes in summer! - while winters are milder and milder than inland.
The best seasons to discover the region
The most pleasant seasons to visit Emilia-Romagna are late spring and early autumn, when you can take advantage of the mild weather and the beauty of the sites without feeling the heat or complaining about the rain. While the cities can be explored at any time of year, it's best to avoid the heat waves of midsummer, as well as late autumn and the winter months of January to March, which are more prone to precipitation. In December, as the festive season approaches, streets and monuments are decked out in lights, and small Christmas markets brighten up certain squares: you can enjoy the magic of Christmas as long as you're well wrapped up! In summer, the beaches of the Adriatic coast are crowded with holidaymakers. If the crowds frighten you but you'd still like to enjoy the wide sandy strips of the Romagna lidi, you should know that the off-season can be very pleasant and sunny, and that swimming is generally possible until mid-October and beyond.
