This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting our small business.
Novara sits in the western Po Valley at 162 metres above sea level, and its climate is the classic north-Italian continental type: cold, foggy winters and hot, humid summers. Every figure below comes from the Cameri weather station, 8 km west of the city centre, for the 1991 to 2020 period. Use this Novara guide alongside the monthly numbers to plan what to pack.
Novara Weather by Month: January to March
January is the coldest month, with a daily mean of 2.2°C (36°F). Daytime highs reach just 6.8°C (44°F) and nights drop to -1.9°C (29°F); the record low is -19.4°C. Expect around 41 mm of rain over 4 wet days, and thick Po Valley fog on many mornings. The one bright spot is the Festa di San Gaudenzio on 22 January, the city’s patron-saint feast listed in our Novara events guide. February warms only slightly to a mean of 3.9°C, and March reaches 8.4°C with highs of 14.4°C, though snow can still fall in early March.
Novara Weather by Month: April to June
Spring is changeable. April averages 12.2°C (54°F) but rainfall jumps to 72 mm across 7 wet days, and May is the wettest month by frequency with 93.3 mm over 7.8 days. By June the daily mean reaches 21.1°C (70°F) with highs of 26.7°C, and rain falls to 59.8 mm. This is the best stretch for walking the historic centre before the summer heat arrives, which is why our best time to visit Novara guide puts April and June first.
Novara Weather by Month: July to September
July is the hottest month, averaging 23.2°C (74°F) with daytime highs of 29.1°C (84°F); the all-time record is 38.3°C. Nights stay at 17.3°C, so a room with air conditioning matters, which our where to stay in Novara page flags for each area. August is nearly identical at 22.9°C, with 64.1 mm of rain often falling as brief thunderstorms. September cools to 18.4°C and is wetter again at 80.8 mm, but the first half is still warm enough for outdoor things to do in Novara without the August crowds.
Novara Weather by Month: October to December
October averages 13.1°C (56°F) with 87.9 mm of rain over 6.8 days. November is the wettest month of the year, with 112.2 mm of rainfall over 7.4 days and humidity peaking at 80.5%. December brings the return of cold, with a daily mean of 2.8°C (37°F), nights near -1.1°C and 49.9 mm of rain. Fog becomes frequent again from November, so allow extra time if you are driving to Malpensa airport. See our Novara travel tips for winter packing advice.
Novara Weather: Rainfall, Humidity and Fog
Novara gets 796.6 mm of rain a year across 66 wet days, less than Milan’s roughly 900 mm because the western Po Valley sits partly in the Ticino rain shadow. Rain is spread through the year but concentrates in two peaks: May (93.3 mm) and November (112.2 mm). Annual average humidity is 72.6%, highest in November (80.5%) and December (79.8%).
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain (mm) | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.8°C | -1.9°C | 41 | 3.9 |
| February | 9.4°C | -1.2°C | 46 | 3.6 |
| March | 14.4°C | 2.5°C | 47 | 4.0 |
| April | 17.9°C | 6.5°C | 72 | 7.0 |
| May | 22.3°C | 11.2°C | 93 | 7.8 |
| June | 26.7°C | 15.3°C | 60 | 5.6 |
| July | 29.1°C | 17.3°C | 44 | 4.5 |
| August | 28.7°C | 17.3°C | 64 | 5.3 |
| September | 24.1°C | 13.1°C | 81 | 5.7 |
| October | 17.9°C | 8.6°C | 88 | 6.8 |
| November | 11.6°C | 3.4°C | 112 | 7.4 |
| December | 7.2°C | -1.1°C | 50 | 4.8 |
Novara Weather: Sunshine Hours
Sunshine is generous from May to August, when Novara gets roughly 9 to 11 hours of sun a day, but drops to about 3 to 4 hours in December and January. Combined with fog, winter days can feel grey for a week at a time. If you are deciding between seasons, the Novara neighborhoods guide notes which areas hold up best in wet or foggy weather.
