ROME, ITALY / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, Italy endured its warmest summer since 1950, with an average temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius nationwide. The National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy reported that this figure surpasses the previous summer record set in 2003, which averaged 23.6 degrees Celsius across the country. The calculation for 2026 encompasses June through August, based on temperatures measured two metres above ground. This result places the summer of 2026 at the top of Italy’s 76-year temperature records.
August proved to be the peak month for heat, with an average temperature of 25.6 degrees Celsius across Italy. This exceeded the August average from 1951-1980 by 5.2 degrees and was 3.5 degrees above the August norm for 1991-2020. According to the Institute for Bioeconomy, August 2026 broke earlier monthly records of 24.6 degrees in 2024 and 24.0 degrees in 2017. ECMWF maintains ERA5-Land, the climate dataset used for the Italian temperature analysis.
Both July and August of 2026 rank as the hottest months on record in the dataset, as shown by the institute’s heat maps. This summer followed a record-breaking spring, during which Italy’s national average temperature reached 12.1 degrees Celsius. Spring 2024 matched that seasonal temperature, also setting a record. From January through August, every month in 2026 was warmer than the same month in 2025, extending the trend of elevated temperatures across most of the year.
August sets new temperature highs
Temperature anomalies impacted much of Italy during the first eight months of 2026. Around 70% of the country’s territory experienced anomalies above 1 degree Celsius, while approximately 40% saw deviations exceeding 2 degrees. The most intense anomalies were concentrated in northwestern plains and regions along the Apennines, which include large agricultural areas. During this period, higher temperatures and drought conditions affected some farming zones. Cities such as Rome, Florence, and Turin also faced multiple heatwaves in June, July, and August.
These records are based on ERA5-Land data from ECMWF, the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts. The dataset provides land-surface climate information dating back to 1950. Researchers compared temperatures across Italy over the entire period. Italy’s 24.3-degree summer average in 2026 surpassed the 2003 benchmark by 0.7 degrees. August’s 25.6-degree figure also beat the 2024 monthly record by 1.0 degree. These measurements reflect air temperatures measured at two metres above ground level.
Extensive heat across Italy reflected in climate data
The broader Mediterranean region also faced extraordinary heat during summer 2026. A separate analysis linked to Italy’s National Research Council revealed that sea-surface temperatures in the Mediterranean averaged about 27 degrees Celsius in July, marking the highest July average since 1993. The study indicated that 79% of the Mediterranean experienced at least one intense marine heatwave. It is important to note that these marine heat measurements are separate from the land-temperature data used to establish Italy’s national summer record.
Italy’s record summer occurred amid widespread heat across Europe. European climate reports recognize the continent as the fastest-warming region in recent decades. During the 2026 summer, parts of Europe suffered droughts and wildfires. Italy’s season was characterized by months with temperatures above those of the previous year, culminating in the hottest July and August in the available temperature dataset. The official figures confirm that summer 2026 was Italy’s hottest meteorological summer since the ERA5-Land series began in 1950.