Editing Catania (section)

==Geography==
As observed by [[Strabo]], the location of Catania at the foot of [[Mount Etna]] has been both a curse and a blessing. On the one hand, violent outbursts of the volcano throughout history have destroyed large parts of the city, while on the other hand the volcanic ashes yield fertile soil, especially suited for the growth of vines. (Strab. vi. p.&nbsp;269)

Two [[subterranean river]]s run under the city; the Amenano, which surfaces at one single point south of Piazza Duomo, and the Longane (or Lognina).<ref>Giuffrida Tino, ''Catania dalle origini alla dominazione normanna'', Catania, Bonaccorso. Excerpt here {{in lang|it}} [http://www.cataniaperte.com/cronologia/saggi/topografia_antica.pdf]</ref>

===Climate===
Catania experiences a [[hot-summer Mediterranean climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Csa'').<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=6461&cityname=Catania%2C+Sicilia%2C+Italy&units= Climate Summary from Weatherbase.com (Catania, Italy)]</ref> The city has hot summers, one of the hottest in the whole country of Italy. Temperatures of {{convert|40|°C|0}} are surpassed almost every year a couple of times.{{citation needed|date=January 2018}}

Winters are mild, with significant nighttime cooling. Precipitation is concentrated from October to March, leaving late spring and summer virtually dry. The city receives around {{convert|500|mm|abbr=off}} of rain per year, although the amount can vary greatly from year to year, from  over {{convert|1,200|mm|abbr=on}} to under {{convert|250|mm|abbr=on}}.

During winter nights, lows can occasionally reach below freezing. Highs under {{convert|10|°C|0}} may happen during winter.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ilmeteo.it/portale/archivio-meteo/Catania|title = Che tempo faceva a Catania - Archivio Meteo Catania » ILMETEO.it}}</ref> Snow, due to the presence of [[Mount Etna|Etna]] that protects the city from the northern winds, is an uncommon occurrence, but occasional snow flurries have been seen over the recent years, especially in the hilly districts. More recently, light snowfalls occurred on 9 February 2015, 6 January 2017 and 5 January 2019, but the last heavy snowfall dates back to 17 December 1988.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Catania-[[Naval Air Station Sigonella|Sigonella]], 1991-2020 normals, extremes 1960–present
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan record high C = 25.2
|Feb record high C = 26.0
|Mar record high C = 34.4
|Apr record high C = 34.4
|May record high C = 38.4
|Jun record high C = 44.2
|Jul record high C = 46.7
|Aug record high C = 45.0
|Sep record high C = 41.0
|Oct record high C = 38.0
|Nov record high C = 30.6
|Dec record high C = 27.2
|year record high C = 46.7
|Jan high C = 15.9
|Feb high C = 16.2
|Mar high C = 18.6
|Apr high C = 21.4
|May high C = 26.1
|Jun high C = 31.0
|Jul high C = 34.1
|Aug high C = 34.5
|Sep high C = 30.5
|Oct high C = 25.8
|Nov high C = 21.0
|Dec high C = 17.0
|year high C = 24.3
|Jan mean C = 10.2
|Feb mean C = 10.3
|Mar mean C = 12.4
|Apr mean C = 14.9
|May mean C = 19.2
|Jun mean C = 23.8
|Jul mean C = 26.7
|Aug mean C = 27.3
|Sep mean C = 24.1
|Oct mean C = 20.0
|Nov mean C = 15.4
|Dec mean C = 11.6
|year mean C = 18.1
|Jan low C = 4.8
|Feb low C = 4.8
|Mar low C = 6.4
|Apr low C = 8.6
|May low C = 12.3
|Jun low C = 16.6
|Jul low C = 19.4
|Aug low C = 20.3
|Sep low C = 18.2
|Oct low C = 14.6
|Nov low C = 10.0
|Dec low C = 6.5
|year low C = 11.9
|Jan record low C = -5.0
|Feb record low C = -5.6
|Mar record low C = -3.2
|Apr record low C = 0.0
|May record low C = 3.0
|Jun record low C = 8.4
|Jul record low C = 11.6
|Aug record low C = 13.8
|Sep record low C = 10.0
|Oct record low C = 4.0
|Nov record low C = -1.1
|Dec record low C = -2.2
|year record low C = -5.6
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 64.1
|Feb precipitation mm = 46.1
|Mar precipitation mm = 42.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 29.9
|May precipitation mm = 17.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 11.0
|Jul precipitation mm = 7.8
|Aug precipitation mm = 9.8
|Sep precipitation mm = 50.5
|Oct precipitation mm = 59.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 66.2
|Dec precipitation mm = 78.5
|year precipitation mm = 483.8
|unit precipitation days = 1&nbsp;mm
|Jan precipitation days = 6.3
|Feb precipitation days = 5.7
|Mar precipitation days = 5.6
|Apr precipitation days = 4.7
|May precipitation days = 2.6
|Jun precipitation days = 1.4
|Jul precipitation days = 0.7
|Aug precipitation days = 1.5
|Sep precipitation days = 4.6
|Oct precipitation days = 5.2
|Nov precipitation days = 6.2
|Dec precipitation days = 7.8
|year precipitation days = 52.1
|humidity colour = green
|Jan humidity = 75.2
|Feb humidity = 72.3
|Mar humidity = 71.4
|Apr humidity = 70.4
|May humidity = 67.2
|Jun humidity = 64.6
|Jul humidity = 63.1
|Aug humidity = 64.2
|Sep humidity = 69.4
|Oct humidity = 73.8
|Nov humidity = 76.1
|Dec humidity = 76.4
|year humidity = 70.3
| Jan dew point C =3.8
| Feb dew point C =3.3
| Mar dew point C =5.1
| Apr dew point C =7.2
| May dew point C =10.7
| Jun dew point C =13.6
| Jul dew point C =15.8
| Aug dew point C =16.6
| Sep dew point C =14.8
| Oct dew point C =12.1
| Nov dew point C =8.6
| Dec dew point C =5.4

|Jan sun = 172.1
|Feb sun = 183.4
|Mar sun = 235.3
|Apr sun = 266.1
|May sun = 318.4
|Jun sun = 381.6
|Jul sun = 368.9
|Aug sun = 359.9
|Sep sun = 278.1
|Oct sun = 211.7
|Nov sun = 172.2
|Dec sun = 182.3
|year sun = 3129.9
|source 1 = NOAA,<ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Italy/CSV/CataniaSigonella_16459.csv
|title = Catania Sigonella Climate Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = August 31, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230831025904/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/1.1/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Italy/CSV/CataniaSigonella_16459.csv
|archive-date = 2023-08-31}}</ref> (Dew Point for 1981-2010 <ref>{{cite web |title=World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1981-2010: Catania-Sigonella (WMO number: 16459) |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-VI/Italy/WMO_Normals_CliNo81-10.xls |website=ncei.noaa.gov |publisher=[[NOAA]] |access-date=28 February 2024 |format=XLS |quote= Parameter Code: 39-Dew Point Temperature}}</ref>)
|source 2 = Temperature estreme in Toscana<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://climaintoscana.altervista.org/italia/stazioni-wmo/catania-sigonella/
|language = it
|title = Catania Sigonella
|publisher = Temperature estreme in Toscana
|access-date = August 31, 2023
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230831025948/http://climaintoscana.altervista.org/italia/stazioni-wmo/catania-sigonella/
|archive-date = 2023-08-31}}</ref>}}