Summer 2026 was the hottest in Italy since 1950. It surpassed the summer of 2003

 The summer of 2026 has been the hottest in Italy since 1950, surpassing even 2003. Italy thus joins the ranks of countries that have broken their summer temperature records this year. 

Analysis of Copernicus ERA5-Land data shows that the average seasonal temperature was significantly above the 1991–2020 climate norm, with an anomaly of approximately +3.2°C.

The most striking aspect is not merely its top ranking in the recent series, but the margin by which it exceeds other major heatwaves of the past. 

The summer of 2003—long the benchmark for extreme heat in Italy—recorded an anomaly of around +2.45°C. 

Consequently, 2026 surpasses it by more than +0.7°C—a substantial difference, considering this figure represents the average across an entire season and the whole country.