Italy had its warmest summer since 1950 in 2026

Italy recorded its warmest summer since 1950 in 2026, with an average temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius, according to the Institute for Bioeconomy of the National Research Council (CNR-IBE), quoted by Reuters. The record temperatures were accompanied by drought and wildfires, especially in agricultural regions.

August 2026 was the warmest month of this year in Italy, with an average temperature of 25.6 degrees Celsius. The value was 5.2 degrees Celsius above the average for the 1951-1980 period and 3.5 degrees Celsius above the average for the 1991-2020 period, according to CNR-IBE data. The measurements were taken at a height of two meters above the ground, a standard used for monitoring air temperature. "The average of 25.6 degrees Celsius recorded in August 2026 exceeds the previous records of 24.6°C in 2024 and 24°C in August 2017,” said Lorenzo Arcidiaco, a researcher at CNR-IBE.

• 2026 could become the hottest year on record

According to the Italian researcher, the evolution of temperatures this year indicates the possibility that 2026 could end with a new record. Lorenzo Arcidiaco estimates that 2026 will likely be the hottest year recorded in Italy since 1950. Both July and August also set temperature records for these months. CNR is the largest public research institution in Italy.

• Drought and fires, additional pressure on agriculture

This summer's heat waves have affected large areas of Europe, the continent that is warming the fastest in the world. High temperatures, drought and wildfires have become increasingly important problems for several European countries. The United Kingdom has also recorded its hottest summer since meteorological measurements began. In Italy, the most affected regions have been concentrated in the north-west plains and along the Apennine Mountains. Many of these areas have important agricultural activity, and high temperatures and a lack of rainfall have put additional pressure on farms.

• Repeated heat waves in major cities

Meteorological data analysed separately indicate that several of Italy's major cities have experienced repeated heat waves during the summer. Rome, Florence and Turin were among the cities affected by high temperatures in June, July and August. The evolution of temperatures this summer thus consolidates the warming trend observed in Italy in recent decades, and CNR-IBE data indicate that 2026 could set a new annual record for average temperatures in the country.