Climate and natural hazards

Sardinia has long, hot, dry summers from May to September, with peaks over 40 °C in the Campidano and Oristano areas, and mild winters on the coasts; the interior (Nuoro, Fonni, Desulo) is colder and the Gennargentu gets snow from December to March, with a small ski lift at Bruncu Spina. The north-westerly Maestrale blows hard especially in the north of the island and in the Strait of Bonifacio, affecting ferries and beaches; the Scirocco brings heat and sand. The climate data in this entry refer to the regional capital.

Seismicity, drought, fires

Sardinia is the only Italian region entirely classified in seismic zone 4 by Civil Protection: earthquakes are very rare and weak. The main hazards are different. Drought is recurrent: in 2017 and 2024 the northern reservoirs (Coghinas, Cuga) emptied and the Region suspended irrigation in the Nurra and other areas, with damage to farming and livestock, while the multi-sector reservoir system held in the south. Summer fires are the most widespread danger: in July 2021 the Montiferru fire (Cuglieri, Santu Lussurgiu) burned thousands of hectares of woodland and olive groves; every summer the Region publishes the fire danger bulletin and bans on lighting fires.

Floods and erosion

Concentrated rainfall causes flash floods: the cyclone of 18 November 2013 devastated Olbia and the Gallura with numerous victims, and on 28 November 2020 a mudflow hit Bitti; many coastal towns have districts built in risk areas. Erosion affects beaches and dunes, and the Region bans the removal of sand, shells and pebbles with fines. Air quality is good almost everywhere, with industrial hotspots at Portoscuso and Sarroch monitored by ARPAS. Sardinia has no active volcanic risk.