So, What Would You Like to Know About the Lake Garda Climate?
The Lake Garda Climate is lovely. Balmy and Mediterranean is how I would describe the Lake Garda Weather. Often before we go, we check out the weather forecast for Lake Garda, and
it usually promises beautiful days, and with the north-south breeze gently blowing throughout the day, helping to keep you cool when it gets really hot in mid summer. This wonderful Lake Garda Climate is due to the fact that the lake itself acts like a huge solar panel, and the mountains act as an insulator, keeping the heat in.
OK...this is all great to know, but when would be the best time of year to go? Well, we prefer going in May or June, or September, but you can decide for yourself once you find out in detail all
you need to know about the Lake Garda climate. Find out in this section about daily sunshine hours, monthly air temp, and rainfall (yes...it does rain there sometimes!). We'll also tell you the pros and cons of going during the summer and during the winter.
Oh, and if you're into surfing, you'll have to take a look and find out what to expect when it comes to the winds at Lake Garda.
So...Are You Ready for the Lake Garda Climate to be revealed?
Daily Sunshine Hours
No matter what time of year we've been to Lake Garda, we always get sunshine most of the time! From
April, you can enjoy an average of six hours of sunshine a day! And if you really want a deep tan,
then go in July and have an average of ten hours a day! See our detailed
Lake Garda climate chart
for the daily sunshine hours you can expect for each month.
Monthly Air Temperature
It can get very hot in Lake Garda...even in May we've enjoyed tempertatures of over 30 degrees celsius! Thank goodness for that dependable breeze you can find in the North that helps cool things down a bit when
it gets like that! We would recommend going anytime from May through to September if you want it
warm...the temperature is guaranteed (well...almost!) to be very warm indeed during these months.
Yes, definitely beach weather! Take a look
at our
weather chart
for more precise info on the
Lake Garda climate.
Water Temperature
Now, keep in mind that the waters of Lake Garda come from melting snow and ice from the mountains,
so the water can be quite cold during the winter and spring months. It starts to warm up in May though, enough to enjoy a swim. By July and August it's really pleasant to be in...and by the way,
because it's from the mountains, the Lake is very clear and clean. Depending on where you are on
the lake, the water temperature can vary a little: The shallower and more sheltered areas in the
south are warmer, adding to the Mediterranean atmosphere. To find out about how deep the water is here go to our
water depth map.
Go to the weather chart if you want to check out the
average water temperatures.
Monthly Rainfall
The Lake Garda area tends to get the most rain in the early spring and late autumn, which is why the
vegetation is so lush there! During the summer, it's usually pretty dry...the driest months being
July and August. Our
Lake Garda climate chart
has all the rainfall details for each month, so take a look and be prepared for the Lake Garda climate!
Lake Windmaps
This is for all you windsurfers out there! The wind is the best on the North part of the Lake, and
it's very dependable making it ideal for windsurfing. The wind from the North, referred to as
Peler or Vento, flows through the valley in the early morning.
It usually lasts until
about 9am - losing it's strength as the sun heats up the mountains - so you need to get up early for
it.
The wind from the South, or the Ora, develops at noon or early afternoon and lasts until around
6PM. It's not quite as strong as the Peler, but lasts for a bit longer.
Want to know where to catch the best winds? Malcesine is the best surfing area for the early Peler
wind from the North, and Torbole / Riva is best if you want to catch the afternoon Ora wind from the South.
Make sure you check out our
Lake Garda wind maps
to get average wind speeds too.
Should you go in Summer or Winter? Here are some Pros and Cons of each that you need to
know when it comes to the Lake Garda climate.
Weather in Winter (November to April)
Pros of the Wintertime:
Ideal temperatures for doing intense sports around the lake, such as mountainbiking
Views of the Lake are crystal clear and extremely beautiful
It's not busy, so you can enjoy your own space,
During the Low season, you can get cheaper accommodation!
Cons of the Wintertime:
The lake is too cold to swim in, therefore you need a wetsuit
It can get very cold and can even snow! (Although this is very rare, and tends to occasionlly snow
higher up in the mountains)
Some places are Closed during the Low season.
You can't eat Ice Cream and people-watch out on the promenades (my favorite thing to do!)...at least I wouldn't want to during the winter!
Weather in Summer (May to October)
Pros of the Summertime:
It's great beach weather with a lovely breeze to cool you off
Water is a pleasant temperature for water sports
It's usually dry
Being the most popular time of year to go, everything is Open.
You can enjoy eating Ice Cream and people-watching out on the Promenades!
Cons of the Summertime
It can be TOO hot (for some), especially July and August
The Lake views are often hazy, because of the heat
If your Hotel or Villa doesn't have air conditioning, then you really suffer during the night!
It can be quite busy (August especially)
Storms can whip up the Lake and sometimes be quite violent
(although they don't tend to last for too long)
Click here to go from climate to the home page
