The water of the Lake is colder than the air in summer and warmer in winter. This strongly contributes to mitigating the summer heat and harsh winter, thus rendering the Garda climate incredibly mild and temperate.
The Garda area boasts all the characteristics of a “pre-alpine zero-thermal oasis”. It is a sub-Mediterranean climate, so mild and different from the other lakes that it can be defined as the “Benaco climate”. The average winter temperature varies between 12° and 18°C and in summer between 24° and 30°C.

The Lake is swept by high-altitude mountain winds that can be quite intense. There are two major winds: the “Pelér” blows from north to south in the morning when the tepid air of the lake rises and gets air from the Valle del Sarca; while the “Ora” blows from the south in the afternoon: it is a lake wind that moves the cool air to the mountains that are warmed up by the daily sunlight. Many other secondary winds accompany these two: the powerful “Balì” or “Balinot” that blows from Passo Ballino above Riva; the “Vinessa” that comes from east and is considered an extension of the “Bora” of Trieste; the “Ander” from the north; the “Gardesana”, a chilly and strong breeze that mitigates the summer heat; the “Ponale” that comes from the Valle di Ledro, from the west, and that blows in the evening or at night - sometimes even in the morning. Several other breezes take on different names depending on the area.