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.

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.

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!

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.

Pros of the Wintertime: