zeppole

Where are you going? Immediate Italian weather forecasts for November are for extreme amounts of rain, especially in the mediterranean coastal areas, but also for the northwest, and parts of the Adriatic.

You definitely need raingear, in particular rain shoes and a good raincoat. When you get to Italy, you might want to buy something more than a travel umbrella.

If you are driving, you should follow the weather while you are in Italy. If you don't have your own internet connection, ask your hotel to find out what the weather for your next destination before you set out in your car.

If you will have your own internet connection, this is a good website for weather forecasts, where you can enter the name of the town where you are going and see forecasts. Italian weather is very unpredictable, so long-term forecasts are much more unreliable that 24-hour forecasts.

http://www.ilmeteo.it/

suze

You can't go wrong with a traditional trench coat (with a zipout lining). Add to clothes that can be "layered". Comfortable and water-resistant shoes or boots and a travel umbrella. You're good to go. If you're still too cold upon arrival, add/buy a scarf, hat, and/or gloves.

Byrd

We are going to Italy (Orvieto, Rome, Trani, Sulmona) for two weeks leaving Nov. 15. I am taking a black lightweight parka with removable hood, and an assortment of layering things.

All my stuff fits into an 18-inch suitcase (I tried it out yesterday).

We have been in Italy in the winter, and the Italians were bundled up in big coats and seemed much colder than we were in just sweaters...and we live in Alabama!

Of course, there's no way to tell what the weather will be, but I expect we will all have great trips!

Byrd

Poconolady

Your best option is a raincoat (trench style or otherwise) that has a zip out lining. Use that with layers and you are set for any kind of weather. Gallery is a brand available at many dept stores that makes classic looking, waterproof, coats with zipout linings. I got mine at Dillards.

katver

Zeppole, we are going to Rome, Venice, and Florence with side trips to San Gimigniano, Siena, Pisa and Lucca, I read your thread on the floods, how do you think these areas will be affected?

zeppole

katver,

The places you are going were not affected by the recent floods except for some train delays. Between now and Nov 10, northern coastal Italy will experience heavy rains, some bands of which will reach toward Rome, so my original post and questions to you were about the possibility you were traveling in Liguria and needed to be particularly alert.

However, all of Italy experiences November as a rainy season, some of which can be intense enough that you might want to plan around it.

You can use an English-language website like Weather Underground to look at detailed forecasts for all the towns you've mentioned, with the possible exception of San Gimignano, for which you should use this website:

http://www.ilmeteo.it/meteo/San+Gimignano

I'm sure you already know that November is one of the months when Venice is most likely to see some local flooding. You can follow the forecasts for high tides here

http://www.veniceonline.it/HighTides/HighTides.asp

Long term forecasts are much less reliable than short term forecasts, so if you can find a way to consult the internet or ask your hotel for weather updates that is best. You might especially want to know what the weather is like in San Gimignano before setting out in the morning.

Have a great trip.

katver

Thanks for the advice!

MileHighHC

TTT - headed on a similar trip as yours leaving next Friday! I also echo the suggestions above for a knee-length water-proof trench. I've also read that rain boots are widely available for cheap in Italy so I figure I'll purchase them there if I feel I need them, rather than try to pack them.

Have a fun trip!

annhig

I've also read that rain boots are widely available for cheap in Italy so I figure I'll purchase them there if I feel I need them, rather than try to pack them. >>

I got a very nice pair of wellies from a shop [aimed at locals] in Venice on the main drag of shops along from the main station. they looked more like proper boots but being rubber were totally waterproof. DD was thrilled with her present and still wears them 5 years later. for purchases like that you definitely need to stay away from the tourist shops and look at where the locals shop.

annhig

I also have a very smart trench coat [if that's the right word] which comes down to mid calf.

it looks very smart AND is rain and windproof. because it's long, it doesn't drip onto my trousers, which is a bonus. it's lined but is reasonably light so i can get another layer underneath, and it rolls up small if i want to stuff it into a case or overhead locker.

katver

We are back! I ended up getting a down jacket. It was definitely too much for Rome during the day, but I was VERY glad to have it in Venice and Florence, both were very chilly!!, at least for my standards.. we were blessed to have NO RAIN at all during our trip (Nov 9th-22nd) except on the very last day leaving Rome to come back to the US, there was a light drizzle.
I am happy to report that we took only our carry-ons and we are now converts and will probably never take our large luggage again!!
I took 3 microfiber shirts that I bought at Sams for $12 each; these are great layering shirts, washed well in hotel bathroom sinks and dried overnight, I highly recommend them!

Dayle

katver,

So glad you had a wonderful trip! Thanks for posting this originally. It's good info to have. I've visited in March, May and Sept, but have been wondering what would be needed during the "winter" months.

Loved Venice in the fog in March! But, it wasn't that cold.

azzure

Hello katver - we were in Rome, Florence, Venice (and Paris) during your exact time frame, and were also blessed with the great weather. (I am from Seattle so what seemed chilly to you was quite comfortable to me.) I'm told it was pretty unusual, though, to have that many rainless days, so you were wise to prepare.

surfmom

We're also just back - my experience is that during the day, in the sun, it was warm, but once the sun went down (5pmish), it got chilly quickly. Also, Venice 'felt' colder due to the humidity. In Cinque Terre, we were down to tees and jeans and were warm in the full sun mid-afternoon.

We took the fleece 3-in-1's from Lands' End, Columbia, NorthFace. It was perfect. We had a small amount of drizzle a few times, but nothing noteworthy. Also, the outer shell was nice to block the wind at times. We did carry fleece gloves and they got pulled out a few times, also.