Deep-dive

Climate: Etna, ash and the airport

Beyond the Mediterranean coastal climate, the volcano matters: during eruptive phases ash falls on the city, the mayor can ban bicycles and motorbikes and the airport closes. In August 2026 Fontanarossa airspace stayed closed for about six days. In 2024 PM10 limit exceedances were isolated (SNPA).

Sections: Seasons · Rainfall · Temperatures · Air quality · Environmental hazards

Ash on the streets

When Etna emits ash and the wind pushes it towards the coast, the ash falls on the city's streets. In July 2024, after an ashfall, the mayor banned bicycles, motorbikes and e-scooters for 48 hours and imposed a 30 km/h limit on cars on all city streets, while cleaning went on at night. Those who get around on two wheels must allow for these stops, decided case by case by ordinance.

Airport

Ash also closes the airport. In August 2026, with ash from the Voragine crater driven by the winds, the operator SAC repeatedly extended the closure of the airspace for about six days: according to the press, about 700 flights were cancelled and more than 250 diverted to Comiso, Palermo and Trapani. The INGV Etna Observatory publishes notices on volcanic activity, VONA notices for aviation and an ash-dispersion simulation.

Air

According to SNPA's report on PM10 in 2024, Catania is among the areas with only isolated exceedances of the daily limit; days with desert-dust intrusions can be deducted from the count. The annual figure is in the block below.

Average temperature, January

City figurePeriod: 1991–2020Validsample unknown

Source: ISPRA – Valori climatici normali in Italia (web app SCIA, Sezione Climatologia Operativa), trentennio 1991–2020 · Stazione dell'aeroporto di Fontanarossa (comune di Catania, ~5 km a sud del centro).

10 °C

Average temperature, July

City figurePeriod: 1991–2020Validsample unknown

24.9 °C

Rainy days per year

City figurePeriod: 1991–2020Estimatesample unknown

Source: ISPRA – Valori climatici normali in Italia (web app SCIA, Sezione Climatologia Operativa), trentennio 1991–2020 · Stazione della base aerea di Sigonella, fuori dal comune (~18 km a sud-ovest del centro di Catania, Piana di Catania): l'app ISPRA non ha la serie di Fontanarossa per questo indicatore e il foglio WMO di Fontanarossa non riporta il valore. Stazione diversa da quella usata per le temperature.

51days

Days per year above the PM10 limit (50 µg/m³)

City figurePeriod: 2024Validsample unknown

Source: SNPA – La qualità dell'aria in Italia nel 2024: PM10, tabella ISQA per stazione (dati ARPA/APPA, provvisori) · Dati 2024 elaborati dalle ARPA/APPA a fine anno, provvisori: le relazioni regionali definitive possono dedurre i superamenti attribuibili a polveri desertiche. Valore limite: max 35 giorni/anno. Altre stazioni: CT - Ospedale Garibaldi (urbana traffico) 25, CT - Parco Gioeni (urbana fondo) 24 giorni.

46days