Lake Como - Closure and the Weather
 

We have been looking at the weather forecast for next month on accuweather.com and have noticed that almost everyday in virtually every location we have chosen has showers or thunderstorms! While we are hoping for light rains at maximum, in the past I've had heavy all-day thunderstorm at a outdoor festival when the forecast said low chance of showers, so I'm not getting my hopes up. Although, if anyone who lives in Italy has seen such forecasts but not as much rain, please let me know! I know it's unlikely given the location, but hopefully we can enjoy some good weather as well.

Our main problems are Como and Cinque Terre, but we've already booked accommodation, tickets, etc for Cinque Terre so I think reducing our stay and hoping for the best is the only thing we can really do.

We haven't booked anything regarding Como, and it was only meant to be a day trip in Milan, however, pretty much everyday we are in Milan bar a Wednesday there will be rains in Como (a thunderstorm). I remember reading that Lake Como is closed for maintenance on Wednesdays, but now I can't find anything. Would we be able to rearrange our plans to go on the Wednesday? We have early morning tickets for the Last Supper, but we'd be able to depart right after that.

Lake Como is closed for maintenance on Wednesdays?

LR

I have never heard of a lake being closed for maintenance but nothing surprises me anymore. It may rain, but it may not rain. If it rains, go another day. I would rather be visiting Lake Como in the rain rather that Milan on a dry day. Suggest you take rain gear and hope for the best. Even Italian weather forecasters may be wrong about the weather.

I am sorry but it is a LAKE, not a bathroom at the mall.

This is a very bad summer, relatively low temperatures and a lot of rain, mostly in the form of very strong thunderstorm. For example, July was the coldest and rainest July in Milan since 1899 (that is to say, since exact records are available).

We just returned from Italy, and stayed in Bellagio on Lake Como for 4 nights. The weather was definitely cool and wet in Bellagio at times. The days were usually partly sunny, but often we would have a shower roll in. The rain was often a downpour, but would clear up fairly quickly. We just adjusted and brought sweaters and rain gear when we went out. It's still Bellagio, even in the rain.

It was the same way in Siena and Florence. However, there was one advantage to the cooler weather at times because it made visiting museums and walking around town more comfortable than when it's 90+ degrees.

It seems a bit early to try to predict the weather for an entire month. We checked daily, and the forecast often changed. I'd suggest trying to keep your plans flexible so that you can take advantage of the nice days, and hopefully you will enjoy some good weather interspersed with the rain. I'd also recommend bringing a pair of waterproof shoes!

I've hardly ever encountered a mountain region in Europe's core where the weather can be accurately predicted a week ahead of time. And predictions a day ahead aren't infallible.

Weather around Como - or any other Alpine lake - is almost as unpredictable as in Britain. And, as in Britain, there's no such thing as bad weather - just feckless clothing decisions. Why anyone would avoid Como because it might rain a bit is beyond comprehension. Can't you afford an umbrella?

Apart from anything else, even an accurate forecast that "there'll be rain on Wednesday" rarely means there won't be any other kind of weather that day.

Hope for whatever weather you call "best" (if you're afflicted with the need to be judgemental about something so trivial). Be prepared for whatever you call "worst".

But there are a million things more important to worry about.

The forecast is only valid 5 days in advance, and this year maybe not that.

Perhaps a ferry is closed for maintenance? Strange statement.

I don;t think you should place a lot of confidence in weather reports a month out. They may be correct - or not even close.

However, if you are the type of person who would really be overfaced by rain - it would ruin your trip - then I would head for a place where it is less likely - like southern Spain.

Personally I prefer cool weather and am not bothered at all by mist, drizzle or light rain - only a true downpour will make me change plans to some thing indoors - and I've only seen this one day in more than a doze (granted almost all spring)trips to Italy (the real downpour - not the light rain).

We had chosen Thursdays because of a closure on Wednesdays, but I couldn't remember what it was specifically. I know it's strange, but that's precisely why the day stuck out in my mind when I found out we might have to revise plans. But I remember now that it was Villa Balbianello that's closed on Wednesdays and we really wanted to go there and that's why planned Lake Como for a Thursday.

Thanks asps, cybertraveler, bobthenavigator, I did see a lot of thunderstorms on the forecast, which was my main concern. I wouldn't mind rain in places like Florence, Rome, etc as we'd be indoors for most and can organize our activities based on the weather, but I don't know if Como and Cinque Terre would be as pleasant in heavy rains.

@flanneruk, it's not that there will be rain means a lack of any other weather, etc. But the forecast had specifically shown thunderstorms. And while many forecasts have said it would rain and it came and went, when it says there will be a thunderstorm, it usually lasts for a huge portion of the day.

You can take the train to Varenna from Milan--about 50 minutes. Varenna is charming, has a great garden and passeggiata and a Michelin starred restaurant for lunch, or eating on deck at 4 star small hotel if it's sunny. It is just a short ferry ride directly across the lake from Bellagio which also has knockout gardens (Villa Belzi is right there). It is more fancy and less charming than Varenna IMO.

Take good umbrellas. Do you have gortex jacket and pants?

Sorry - in the summer thunderstorms are usually passing events - very heavy rain that may last for an hour or so and then disappear. At least any thunderstorms that I've ever seen (and when hot in the summer we tend to get them). It's the mists or drizzles that tend to go on - and off - much of the day IME.

ps The day we went to Bellagio it was raining--it left the Villa Melzi almost empty and made it seem all the more romantic

If it rains, you can duck into the shops or a cafe. Bellagio and the gardens of Villa Melzi are both wonderful. We found Varenna to be less charming than Bellagio but have friends who loved it. You can get a mid lake ferry pass and visit all of the towns in a day. Have you planned how you would get to Balbianello? if you don't go by water taxi it's a long walk from Lenno. You also need to reserve a tour in advance.