When to go Friuli-Venezia Giulia ?

Climate Friuli-Venezia Giulia

In Friuli Venezia Giulia, the weather conditions vary depending on whether you are on the plain, in the mountains or on the coast. The seasons are quite marked in the plains, where the winters are cold and humid and the summers are hot and sunny, but sometimes stifling. The mountainous massifs are characterized by an alpine climate and a good snow cover in winter. The Friulian coast has a Mediterranean climate: while the seaside resorts of Lignano Sabbiadoro and Grado are crowded with holidaymakers in summer, the coast remains a pleasant destination in the low season thanks to its mild climate. For this reason, the Gulf of Trieste was a popular destination for the Austro-Hungarian rulers. Trieste is a pleasant city in all seasons, but you have to beware of the bora, the capricious wind that sometimes sweeps the elegant squares of the city.

In the pianura friulana and on the hills

The climate is temperate and humid. The average annual temperatures in the lowlands vary between 13.5 and 14.5 °C. In winter, cold air masses from central Europe can cause temperatures to drop, with night-time lows reaching -10 °C. A record cold temperature was recorded in December 2009 with -18 °C in Udine! Summers are hot and rather sunny, with heat waves becoming more and more frequent: temperatures reach or exceed 35 °C. On the plains, rainfall is relatively abundant, especially in winter, when the sirocco, a mild southern wind that brings masses of humid air from the sea, blows. Udine, the second largest city in the region in terms of population, is one of the rainiest provincial capitals in Italy. It is also one of the cities in the northern plains of Italy where it snows the least.

In the mountains

The alpine climate guarantees harsh winters, with a snowfall that allows powder lovers to enjoy the ski resorts of Friuli. The altimeter level of snow is even lower than in the rest of the Alps, which means that snow can be found at a lower altitude. Precipitation is relatively high, and the southern dolomitic slopes are among the wettest areas in Italy and even in Europe. In the summer, the sunshine and mild temperatures make it possible to enjoy nature on the long-distance hiking trails, which are generally accessible from June to September. As everywhere in the mountains, one must beware of sudden thunderstorms which can be violent.

The coast

It has a Mediterranean climate and it is the coastline near Trieste that offers the mildest conditions thanks to the influence of the sea and the natural protection of the Karst plateau. This coastline has one of the driest climates in Italy. Summers are hot without being torrid and, in winter, the minimum temperatures rarely fall below zero. The average annual temperature in Trieste is 15.7°C, with January being the coldest month at 5.8°C and July being the hottest month at 24°C. The rainiest months are November and April.

The bora, a wind... that blows your hair off!

According to a Triestine saying, " la Bora nassi in Dalmazia, la se scadena a Trieste e la mori a Venezia" ("the Bora is born in Dalmatia, breaks out in Trieste and dies in Venice"). The Bora is a continental wind, cold and dry, which blows on the Adriatic Sea following a north-north-east orientation. Its name comes from the Greek boréos, "the north". From Central and Eastern Europe, the Bora winds cross the Julian Alps and the high Karst plateau to reach the coast and the Friulian plain. As it flows down the slopes towards the Adriatic Sea and through the passes, its current accelerates: in winter, its winds reach an average speed of 50 to 80 km/h, with gusts measured up to 180 km/h! In Trieste, the bora is like an old acquaintance with whom we have learned to live despite its turbulent and sometimes unpredictable temperament. When it arrives over the high plateau of the Karst, which overhangs the city by 300 to 400 meters, the bora rushes towards Trieste and sweeps it with its gusts, which accentuate the feeling of cold in winter. Fortunately, the windy episodes are short-lived: the bora usually eases off after one day... but it can sometimes rage for four to six days!