ROME, ITALY / RankWire.AI / – Italy experienced its hottest summer on record since 1950 in 2026, with an average temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius across the nation. The National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy reported that this figure surpasses the previous summer peak recorded in 2003, which had an average of 23.6 degrees Celsius. The summer analysis, covering June through August, is based on temperature measurements taken two metres above ground level. This result positions 2026 at the top of Italy’s 76-year temperature record series.
August was the peak month for heat, with an average temperature of 25.6 degrees Celsius nationwide, surpassing the 1951-1980 August average by 5.2 degrees. Additionally, it was 3.5 degrees higher than the August norm for 1991-2020. According to the Institute for Bioeconomy, August 2026 broke previous monthly records of 24.6 degrees in 2024 and 24.0 degrees in 2017. The climate dataset used for this analysis is ERA5-Land, maintained by ECMWF.
Both July and August 2026 are now ranked as the hottest months on record in the dataset, as shown by the institute’s heat maps. The record-breaking summer followed an equally remarkable spring, when Italy’s average temperature reached 12.1 degrees Celsius. That seasonal record was matched in spring 2024. From January through August, every month in 2026 was warmer than the corresponding month in 2025, extending Italy’s elevated temperature trend over much of the year.
August Sets New Temperature Milestone
Throughout the first eight months of 2026, Italy experienced widespread temperature anomalies. Approximately 70% of the country’s territory recorded anomalies exceeding 1 degree Celsius, with about 40% surpassing 2 degrees. The highest deviations appeared in the northwestern plains and along the Apennines, regions that include extensive agricultural land. During this period, higher temperatures and drought conditions impacted various farming zones. Major cities such as Rome, Florence, and Turin faced repeated heatwaves throughout June, July, and August.
These findings are based on ERA5-Land data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. This dataset provides climate information for land surfaces dating back to 1950. Researchers compared the temperature data across Italy over the full period to establish the new records. Italy’s summer average of 24.3 degrees exceeded the 2003 benchmark by 0.7 degrees, while August’s 25.6-degree reading surpassed the 2024 monthly record by 1.0 degree. The measurements reflect air temperatures measured at two metres above ground level.
Extensive Heatwave Evident in Italian Climate Data
Summer 2026 also saw significant heat across the broader Mediterranean region. A separate study associated with 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 revealed that 79% of the Mediterranean experienced at least one intense marine heatwave. These oceanic measurements are separate from the land-temperature series used to determine Italy’s national summer record.
The record summer in Italy occurred amid a continent-wide heatwave that affected much of Europe. Climate assessments highlight Europe as the fastest-warming continent in recent decades. During summer 2026, droughts and wildfires affected parts of the region. Italy’s season was marked by months of temperatures above those of the previous year, including the hottest July and August in the temperature dataset. Italy’s figures confirm 2026 as the country’s hottest meteorological summer since the ERA5-Land series began in 1950.