Italy on climate alert - 2026 marks hottest summer in 75 years
Italy has recorded its hottest summer since 1950 this year, with an average temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius, according to the National Research Council's Institute for Bioeconomy.
August was particularly extreme. The average temperature reached 25.6 degrees Celsius, about 5.2 degrees above the 1951–1980 average and 3.5 degrees above the 1991–2020 norm.
This temperature also exceeds previous records. August 2024 had an average of 24.6 degrees, while in 2017 the average temperature was 24 degrees.
Italian researchers warn that the year 2026 as a whole could end up as the hottest year ever recorded in Italy since measurements began in 1950. July and August have also set new temperature records.
The unusual heat has not been limited to just a few areas. Recurring heat waves have affected major cities such as Rome, Florence and Turin during the months of June, July and August.
The worst-hit areas have been the plains in the northwest and the regions along the Apennine mountain range. Many of these are agricultural areas, where high temperatures and drought have added pressure on agricultural production.
Italy is part of a wider European trend. Europe is the fastest-warming continent in the world, and this summer large parts of the continent faced extreme temperatures, drought and massive fires.
Scientists point out that high temperatures and prolonged periods of drought are becoming increasingly common, increasing the risk to agriculture, water resources and forests.
With temperatures breaking record after record, the summer of 2026 is shaping up to be another strong signal of climate change in Europe.
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