Messina weather in December

In December, Messina sees average daytime highs of 15°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 109 mm of precipitation across 14 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 16°C in the first days to 14°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Messina's 12th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Messina's year-round climate.

Daytime high
15°
9th warmest
Overnight low
12°
4th coldest
Precipitation
109 mm
14 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
7:13 AM – 4:35 PM
Cloud cover
55%
12th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
1.96 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.1
out of 10
Air quality
Good
PM10 22.3 µg/m³ · 2019

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 16°C in the first days to 14°C by the end.

A typical December day in Messina reaches about 15°C in the afternoon and slips back to 12°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 12°C and 17°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 3°C cooler than November and about 2°C warmer than January.

10°15°20°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11613
21613
31613
41613
51612
61612
71512
81512
91512
101512
111512
121512
131512
141512
151512
161512
171511
181411
191411
201411
211411
221411
231411
241411
251411
261411
271411
281411
291411
301411
311411

Messina weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan13° / 10°9212.79.63.6
Feb13° / 10°8511.810.53.5
Mar14° / 11°7810.811.74.4
Apr17° / 13°579.8135.5
May20° / 16°305.8147.4
Jun24° / 20°213.914.68.6
Jul27° / 23°92.314.48.7
Aug27° / 23°16313.58.3
Sep25° / 21°659.412.37.4
Oct22° / 18°9210.7116.8
Nov18° / 15°8711.79.95.7
Dec15° / 12°109149.44.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 25% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 44%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15842
25743
35842
45743
55743
65743
75743
85644
95644
105644
115644
125644
135545
145545
155545
165545
175545
185644
195644
205644
215446
225446
235446
245446
255446
265545
275545
285545
295545
305644
315545

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Messina gets around 109 mm of rain and snow over 14 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 45% and peaks near 46% on the wettest days, and about 0 day brings snow.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
142
243
343
443
543
644
744
844
945
1045
1145
1246
1346
1446
1546
1645
1745
1845
1945
2045
2145
2245
2345
2445
2545
2645
2745
2845
2945
3044
3144

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 95% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
185141
286131
388111
489101
59091
69190
79280
89370
99370
109460
119460
129550
139550
149640
159640
169640
179730
189730
199730
209730
219730
229730
239820
249820
259820
269820
279820
289820
299820
309820
319820

Wind in December

Winds average 16 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of December to 9 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:01 AM to 7:20 AM, and sunset from 4:34 PM to 4:42 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.57:014:34
29.57:024:34
39.57:034:33
49.57:044:33
59.57:054:33
69.57:064:33
79.47:074:33
89.47:074:33
99.47:084:33
109.47:094:33
119.47:104:34
129.47:114:34
139.47:114:34
149.47:124:34
159.47:134:34
169.47:134:35
179.47:144:35
189.37:144:35
199.37:154:36
209.37:164:36
219.37:164:37
229.37:174:37
239.37:174:37
249.37:174:38
259.37:184:39
269.37:184:39
279.47:194:40
289.47:194:40
299.47:194:41
309.47:194:42
319.47:204:42

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 1.96 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.96 kWh/m² to a high of 7.32 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 1.96 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.1Moderate
22.1Moderate
32.0Moderate
42.0Moderate
52.0Moderate
62.0Moderate
72.0Moderate
82.0Dim
92.0Dim
102.0Dim
112.0Dim
122.0Dim
132.0Dim
142.0Dim
151.9Dim
161.9Dim
171.9Dim
181.9Dim
191.9Dim
201.9Dim
211.9Dim
221.9Dim
231.9Dim
242.0Dim
252.0Dim
262.0Dim
272.0Dim
282.0Dim
292.0Dim
302.0Moderate
312.0Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Messina

In seasonPeak

In December, Messina sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Messina's rainy season runs September–April, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Messina?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.1
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.1
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Messina for sightseeing.

What to pack for Messina in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Messina sees daytime highs around 15°C and nights near 12°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: a warm layer. About 14 days see rain.

rain geara warm layer

Sea temperature near Messina in December

The nearest coast averages about 17°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 21 km away) is warmest in August at about 27°C and coldest in February near 14°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from May 28 to Nov 12 — about 5.6 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan15Cool
Feb14Bracing
Mar15Bracing
Apr16Cool
May19Cool
Jun23Refreshing
Jul26Warm
Aug27Warm
Sep25Warm
Oct22Refreshing
Nov20Cool
Dec17Cool

UV index in Messina in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Messina peaks around July 16 at about 10 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighHighVery highHighModerateJul 16UV 10Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar6High
Apr5Moderate
May7High
Jun9Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug9Very high
Sep7High
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Messina in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Messina is worst in April — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodApr 1616 µg/m³Dec 169 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar15Moderate
Apr16Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep12Moderate
Oct11Good
Nov9Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Messina?

Messina sits at 38.2°N, 15.6°E, 3 m above sea level, in Italy. The nearest listed city is Reggio Calabria, 13 km away.

Topography around Messina

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Messina.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Messina has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 429 m around an average of 70 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,120 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,306 m.

The land around Messina is covered by water (35%), artificial surfaces (33%) and trees (25%) within 3 km, water (46%) and trees (39%) within 16 km, and water (62%) and trees (28%) within 80 km.

3 km
429 m
16 km
1,120 m
80 km
3,306 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Reggio Calabria 13 km · Milazzo 27 km · Barcellona Pozzo di Gotto 30 km · Palmi 32 km · Gioia Tauro 40 km · Taormina 44 km · Giarre 62 km · Siderno 65 km

Italy travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / F / L
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 69% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$43,309
2025
Happiness
6.6 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
97%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.6
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
5.3
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 513
Religion
Christian 81%unaffiliated 13%Muslim 5%other 1%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Messina (38.1939°, 15.5526°, elevation 3 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).