ROME, ITALY / RankWire.AI / – In 2026, Italy recorded its highest summer temperature since 1950, with an average temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius nationwide. The National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy stated that this figure surpassed the previous summer record from 2003, which averaged 23.6 degrees Celsius across Italy. The data covers June through August and is based on temperatures measured two metres above ground. This result places the summer of 2026 at the top of Italy’s 76-year temperature record series.
August showed the most intense heat, with an average temperature of 25.6 degrees Celsius across the country, surpassing the August average from 1951-1980 by 5.2 degrees. It was also 3.5 degrees higher than the August norm for 1991-2020. According to the National Research Council’s Institute for Bioeconomy, August 2026 broke previous 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.
Both July and August 2026 rank as the hottest months on record based on the institute’s temperature maps. This followed a record-breaking spring when Italy’s national average temperature hit 12.1 degrees Celsius. The same temperature was matched in spring 2024, setting a seasonal record. From January through August, every month in 2026 was warmer than its counterpart in 2025, extending Italy’s high temperatures across much of the calendar year.
August Shatters Previous Temperature Records
Throughout the first eight months of 2026, temperature anomalies were widespread across Italy. Nearly 70% of the country’s territory experienced anomalies exceeding 1 degree Celsius, with around 40% seeing anomalies over 2 degrees. The highest concentrations appeared in northwestern plains and regions along the Apennines, which include large areas of farmland. The elevated temperatures, combined with drought conditions, impacted some agricultural zones. Major cities such as Rome, Florence, and Turin also endured multiple heatwaves during June, July, and August.
The record is based on ERA5-Land data from ECMWF. This dataset offers climate information related to land surface dating back to 1950. Researchers utilized this data to compare Italy’s temperatures over the full period. Italy’s 24.3-degree summer average was 0.7 degrees higher than the 2003 benchmark. August’s 25.6-degree figure also exceeded the 2024 monthly record by 1.0 degree. All measurements refer to air temperature measured at two metres above ground level.
Climate Data Highlights Extensive Heat Across Italy
The broader Mediterranean region also experienced significant heat during summer 2026. An independent analysis connected to Italy’s National Research Council revealed that sea-surface temperatures in the Mediterranean averaged around 27 degrees Celsius in July, marking the highest July average since 1993. The study further indicated that 79% of the Mediterranean Sea endured at least one intense marine heatwave. These marine temperature records are separate from Italy’s land-based temperature series used to establish the summer record.
Italy’s record summer occurred amid widespread heat across Europe. Recent assessments have identified the continent as the planet’s fastest-warming region in recent decades. During the summer of 2026, droughts and wildfires impacted various parts of Europe. Italy’s season was characterized by months of temperatures exceeding those of the previous year, including the hottest July and August in the available temperature dataset. The official figures confirm that summer 2026 is Italy’s hottest meteorological summer since the ERA5-Land series began in 1950.