Rome: Summer 2026 was the hottest in Italy since 1950, surpassing the previous record set in 2003, according to an analysis by the Institute for Bioeconomy of Italy's National Research Council, financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore reported Monday.

According to Anadolu Agency, the average temperature of 24.3 degrees Celsius (75.7F) recorded in summer 2026 exceeds the previous record of 23.6 degrees Celsius (74.5F) set in 2003, stated Lorenzo Arcidiaco, a researcher at the institute. This analysis was based on temperature data recorded since 1950 in the ERA5-Land database of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts.

August was notably the hottest on record, with an average temperature of 25.6C (78.1F), surpassing previous records of 24.6C (76.3F) in 2024 and 24C (75.2F) in 2017, Arcidiaco highlighted. The data suggest that 2026 could end as Italy's hottest year since 1950, considering that July and August were the hottest months consecutively for the first time.

Spring also experienced a record average temperature of 12.1C (53.8F), equalling the level seen in 2024, which was the hottest year since 1950. From January through August, about 70% of Italy's territory experienced temperature anomalies of more than 1C (1.8F), while around 40% saw anomalies exceeding 2C (3.6F), as reported by the institute.

The regions most affected were lowland areas in northwestern Italy and the Apennine regions. The institute reported that much of the affected land is cultivated, with higher temperatures and drought in some areas rendering the agricultural sector particularly vulnerable.

Rome, Florence, and Turin were notably impacted by heat waves in June, July, and August, with maximum temperatures exceeding the 90th percentile for at least six consecutive days.