ROME, ITALY / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, Italy recorded its hottest summer since 1950, with an average temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius. The National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy reported that this figure surpassed the previous summer record from 2003, which averaged 23.6 degrees across the country. The calculation for 2026 covers June through August, based on temperatures measured two metres above ground, placing this summer at the top of Italy’s 76-year temperature record series.
August proved to be the hottest month, with an average of 25.6 degrees Celsius, surpassing the 1951-1980 August average by 5.2 degrees. It also exceeded the 1991-2020 August norm by 3.5 degrees. The National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy noted that August 2026 broke previous records of 24.6 degrees in 2024 and 24.0 degrees in 2017. The climate dataset used for Italy’s temperature analysis is ECMWF’s ERA5-Land.
Both July and August 2026 are now recognized as the hottest on record in the dataset, according to the institute’s heat maps. This follows a record-breaking spring when Italy’s national average temperature reached 12.1 degrees Celsius, matching the seasonal record set in spring 2024. Every month from January through August 2026 was warmer than the same month in 2025, extending Italy’s elevated temperature trend across much of the year.
August Sets New Temperature Benchmarks
Temperature anomalies affected much of Italy during the first eight months of 2026. About 70% of the country’s territory experienced anomalies above 1 degree Celsius, with approximately 40% exceeding 2 degrees. The highest anomalies appeared in northwestern plains and regions along the Apennines, including large agricultural areas. Drought and higher temperatures impacted some farms, while cities like Rome, Florence, and Turin faced recurrent heatwaves in June, July, and August.
These records are based on ERA5-Land data from ECMWF, which provides land-surface climate information dating back to 1950. Researchers analyzed this data to compare Italy’s temperature trends over the full period. The 24.3-degree summer average in Italy exceeded the 2003 benchmark by 0.7 degrees. Additionally, August’s 25.6-degree figure surpassed the 2024 monthly record by 1.0 degree. These measurements refer to air temperature at two metres above ground level.
Widespread Heat Extends Across the Mediterranean
The Mediterranean region also faced unprecedented heatwaves in summer 2026. An independent analysis linked to Italy’s National Research Council revealed that sea-surface temperatures in the Mediterranean averaged approximately 27 degrees Celsius in July, marking the highest July average since 1993. The study found that 79% of the Mediterranean experienced at least one intense marine heatwave, though these marine conditions are separate from the land-based temperature record used to establish Italy’s national summer peak.
Italy’s record heat emerged amidst broader European summer extremes. European climate assessments identify the continent as the fastest-warming region globally in recent decades. The summer of 2026 also saw droughts and wildfires across parts of Europe. Italy experienced months of above-average temperatures, culminating in the hottest July and August on record within the ERA5-Land series beginning in 1950. The summer of 2026 is now recognized as Italy’s most extreme meteorological season since reliable records began.