How summer temperatures in Rome have changed from 1995 to 2025
Some say that “it has always been hot in the summer,” others perceive the rise in temperatures with each passing summer. What is the truth? Over the past 30 years, looking at data from Il Meteo.it, summers in Rome have become significantly hotter, with a steady rise in average temperatures and an increase in heat waves and tropical nights.
In 1995, the average July temperature in Rome was around 28.9°C. Daily highs touched 32.9 and lows 22. In 96, temperatures in July were lower: the average was 26.6°C with a minimum of 19.9°C. Those were the days of those who carried a jacket with them in the evening, because then it cooled down. In 97 it went to an average of 27.2 °C, in 98 to 28.5 °C, in 99 to 27.4 °C, and in the 2000s to 26.4 °C.
Years 2000-2010: The average of 26 °C reflects the pattern of summer temperatures in Rome (June-July-August) during that decade, with some particularly warm years alternating with milder ones. For example, in 2008 the average temperature in July was 24 °C.
Years 2011-2021: In the following decade, the summer average rose to 27.3°C.
Years 2023-2025: In the last three years, the summer average has exceeded 28°C, with persistent heat waves and numerous days with maximum temperatures above 35°C. Red Flag Days. So far the average for the month, which has just begun, is around 31°C.
In recent years, highs of 38-40°C have been recorded during the hottest hours of July, with values even exceeding those of the famous summer of 2003. Nights with minimum temperatures above 20°C have increased significantly, making nighttime cooling in the city more difficult.
Not only are temperatures higher, but heat waves are longer and more frequent, with several consecutive days above the seasonal average. The increase is more pronounced in cities than in rural areas, due to urban density and less greenery.
At the same time, days with minimum temperatures below zero have decreased, a sign of increasingly mild weather even in winter.