ROME, ITALY / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, Italy faced its most scorching summer since 1950, with an average temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius nationwide. According to the National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy, this figure surpassed the previous record set in 2003, which had an average of 23.6 degrees Celsius across the country. The summer measurement, covering June through August, was based on temperatures recorded two metres above ground level. This result places 2026 at the peak of Italy’s 76-year temperature record series.
August was the month with the most intense heat, reaching an average of 25.6 degrees Celsius across Italy. This exceeded the August average from 1951-1980 by 5.2 degrees and was 3.5 degrees higher than the August norm from 1991-2020. The National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy highlighted that August 2026 broke previous monthly high records of 24.6 degrees in 2024 and 24.0 degrees in 2017. The climate dataset used for this analysis is ECMWF’s ERA5-Land, which provides comprehensive climate data for Italy.
Both July and August 2026 are now ranked as the hottest months on record within the dataset, as shown by the institute’s heat maps. This follows a record-breaking spring, when Italy’s national average temperature reached 12.1 degrees Celsius. The same temperature was also recorded in spring 2024, matching the seasonal record. From January through August, each month in 2026 was warmer than its counterpart in 2025, extending Italy’s elevated temperature trend across much of the year.
August Shatters Previous Temperature Records
During the first eight months of 2026, temperature anomalies were widespread across Italy. Approximately 70% of the country’s territory experienced anomalies exceeding 1 degree Celsius, while nearly 40% saw deviations over 2 degrees. The most significant anomalies appeared in the northwestern plains and regions along the Apennines, which include large agricultural zones. Elevated temperatures and drought conditions impacted certain farming areas during this period. Major cities like Rome, Florence, and Turin also faced repeated heatwaves in June, July, and August.
The record temperatures are based on ERA5-Land data from ECMWF, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. This dataset offers land-surface climate information dating back to 1950. Researchers utilized this data to compare Italy’s temperatures over the full period. Italy’s summer average of 24.3 degrees was 0.7 degrees above the 2003 record. August’s 25.6-degree reading surpassed the 2024 monthly record by 1.0 degree. All temperature figures refer to air temperature measured at two metres above the surface.
Extensive Climate Data Confirms Widespread Heatwave in Italy
Beyond Italy, the broader Mediterranean region also experienced exceptional warmth during summer 2026. A separate study linked to Italy’s National Research Council indicated that sea-surface temperatures in the Mediterranean averaged around 27 degrees Celsius in July, marking the highest July average since 1993. The analysis further revealed that 79% of the Mediterranean Sea experienced at least one strong or more intense marine heatwave during this period. These marine measurements, however, are distinct from the land-temperature records used to establish Italy’s national summer record.
The record-breaking summer in Italy coincided with a continent-wide heatwave across Europe. Climate assessments identify Europe as the fastest-warming continent in recent decades. During the 2026 summer, droughts and wildfires affected various regions. Italy’s season was characterized by months of temperatures higher than the previous year, including the hottest July and August in the historical temperature dataset. The figures confirm that summer 2026 is Italy’s hottest meteorological season since the ERA5-Land series began in 1950.