Climate & environment

From Alpine climate to the Mediterranean coast: foggy, damp winters in the Po valley, long dry summers in the South, heat waves with Ministry of Health bulletins. Widespread seismic risk and recurring floods managed by the Civil Protection; worst air in the Po basin.

Italy

Mediterranean climate with dry summers, strong Maestrale winds and mild winters; snow only on the Gennargentu. The only region entirely in seismic zone 4 (minimal risk). Recurrent droughts with farm water rationing (Nurra 2024), extensive summer fires (Montiferru 2021), flash floods (November 2013 cyclone in Olbia, Bitti 2020).

Sardinia

According to the 2024 regional air-quality report, all pollutants measured in Sassari's urban zone stayed within legal limits and the situation is stable. For heat waves the Comune is piloting a network of climate shelters: parks, gardens, libraries and public buildings open to everyone.

Sassari

In the Civil Protection Department's seismic classification (May 2025) Oristano is in zone 4, the least hazardous. According to ISPRA IdroGEO (2024 report) 4,461 inhabitants, 14.3%, live in areas of medium flood hazard, together with 26.1% of businesses; landslide risk concerns 9 inhabitants.

Oristano

In the Civil Protection Department's seismic classification (May 2025) Nuoro is in zone 4, the least hazardous. According to the ISPRA IdroGEO indicators (2024 report) 1,897 inhabitants live in areas of high or very high landslide hazard, while 9 inhabitants are recorded in areas of medium flood hazard.

Nuoro

Among Italy's sunniest and least rainy regional capitals: mild winters, hot but dry summers tempered by the sea. The north-westerly Mistral blows often and hard. The Molentargius and Santa Gilla lagoons host nesting flamingos. Summer wildfires on the island; water from drought-prone reservoirs; PM10 above the limit on some days.

Cagliari

Long, very hot summers with Scirocco winds and Saharan dust, mild winters on the coasts and cold on the Nebrodi and Etna. 2024 water crisis with a national state of emergency and rationing. Etna and Stromboli active (INGV, yellow alert). Seismic zone 1–2 on the east coast (1693, 1908) and in the Belice (1968). Recurrent summer fires.

Sicily

The municipality handles weather alerts by ordinance: with orange alerts, schools, parks, gardens, markets and the cemetery have been closed and events stopped. The portal publishes the water supply rota. Temperatures and PM10 exceedance days are in the data.

Trapani

Syracuse was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake and damaged by that of 13 December 1990, which killed 18 people in Carlentini. ARPA Sicilia attributes the poor air quality perceived in the area, Syracuse included, mainly to industrial sources; residents report odours through the NOSE project. Climate data in the block.

Syracuse

After the weather events that began on 18 January 2026 the municipality opened a notice for damage compensation. Civil protection has a post at Marina di Ragusa that in summer organises sea rescue in support of the Port Authority. Temperatures and PM10 are in the data.

Ragusa

Mild rainy winters, long very hot summers: on 24 July 2023 the Astronomical Observatory measured 47 °C, a record since 1865. The 2024 drought brought a national state of emergency for Sicily and, from October 2024, water rotation in most districts. Summer wildfires on the surrounding mountains; PM10 above the limit on several days a year.

Palermo

Messina lives with seismic risk: the earthquake of 28 December 1908 (magnitude 7.1) and the tsunami destroyed the city, with about 80,000 victims in the area. On 1 October 2009 intense rain caused mudslides in the southern villages, at Giampilieri and nearby, killing 37 people. Climate data are in the block.

Messina

In the Civil Protection Department's seismic classification (May 2025) Enna is in zone 2. According to the ISPRA IdroGEO indicators (2024 report) 496 inhabitants, 1.9%, live in areas of high or very high landslide hazard, while no residents are recorded in areas of medium flood hazard.

Enna

Beyond the Mediterranean coastal climate, the volcano matters: during eruptive phases ash falls on the city, the mayor can ban bicycles and motorbikes and the airport closes. In August 2026 Fontanarossa airspace stayed closed for about six days. In 2024 PM10 limit exceedances were isolated (SNPA).

Catania

The municipality publishes civil-protection notices on its portal: for an orange alert it closed schools and cancelled outdoor events, and in 2026 it issued a fire-prevention ordinance. The ASP has a local operational plan for heatwaves.

Caltanissetta

The municipality's civil protection page publishes weather alerts, orange and yellow, and notices on wildfire and heatwave risk; it has also reported the activation of the Municipal Operations Centre by mayoral ordinance.

Agrigento

Warm Mediterranean coasts, Sila and Aspromonte with snowy winters. The whole region is in seismic zone 1 or 2, the most hazardous in Italy (earthquakes of 1783, 1905 and 1908 with tsunami). Frequent floods and landslides (Crotone 1996, Soverato 2000), summer fires (Aspromonte 2021), coastal erosion.

Calabria

The municipality's pages on its districts recall the earthquakes of 1783, 1905 and 1908, which destroyed the church of Piscopio several times, and the flood of 3 July 2006 at Vibo Marina. They are not risk maps: climate data are in the block below.

Vibo Valentia

Reggio was struck by the earthquakes of 1562 and 1783 and nearly destroyed, together with Messina, by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake and tsunami of 28 December 1908, with about 80,000 victims in the area. That disaster gave rise to Italy's seismic classification and the first anti-seismic building rules. Climate data in the block.

Reggio Calabria

The centre sits at about 300 metres on Italy's narrowest isthmus, ten kilometres from the Ionian and thirty from the Tyrrhenian: almost constant wind, rainy mild winters, hot dry summers cooler at sunset than on the coast. High seismic and summer wildfire risk; good air.

Catanzaro

In the Civil Protection Department's seismic classification (May 2025) Crotone is in zone 2. According to the ISPRA IdroGEO indicators (2024 report) 18,731 inhabitants, 31.8%, live in areas of medium flood hazard, while 440 inhabitants (0.7%) are in areas of high or very high landslide hazard.

Crotone

In the seismic classification updated in May 2025 Cosenza is in zone 1, the most hazardous. According to ISPRA (2024 report) 5,770 residents, 8.3%, live in areas of medium flood hazard and 484 in areas of high or very high landslide hazard. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 are in the data.

Cosenza

Potenza has cold, snowy winters; the Metaponto and Maratea coasts have a Mediterranean climate. Most of the province of Potenza is in seismic zone 1 (earthquakes of 1857 and 1980). Widespread landslides and badlands, water crisis in Potenza in 2024 due to the Camastra reservoir, summer fires on the Pollino and in the Metapontino.

Basilicata

Temperate mountain climate: cold snowy winters, pleasant summers with cool nights, rain and fog from autumn to spring. High seismic risk (earthquakes of 1857 and 1980). Good air for most of the year, with some PM10 exceedances in the heating months.

Potenza

Matera's municipal civil protection plan publishes maps on seismic vulnerability, flood-prone areas, landslides and hydrogeological risk, flood scenarios for the failure of three dams, interface fires, an industrial plant with an external emergency plan and a snow plan. Temperatures and PM10 exceedance days are in the data.

Matera

Dry Mediterranean climate with long, hot summers and Scirocco winds; water almost entirely imported from Basilicata and Campania through the Acquedotto Pugliese, with recurrent droughts around Foggia. Seismic zone 1–2 in the Gargano and Capitanata, 4 in the Salento. Summer fires, Xylella in the olive groves, industrial pollution in Taranto.

Apulia

The Environment section of the Comune di Trani shows the adhesion to the Covenant of Mayors for climate and energy (council resolution no. 61 of 29 July 2022) and the test reports on the landfill's monitoring wells. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 are in the data.

Trani

For the Tamburi district the Region approved in 2012 an air-quality plan for PM10 and benzo(a)pyrene. ARPA Puglia announces «wind day» events, to which the Comune has tied ordinances: in 2017 the closure of the district's schools, since 2018 management measures for the steelworks. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 exceedances are in the data.

Taranto

The Comune di Lecce announces weather alerts and the related closures, such as those of schools, the cemetery and the city parks. The municipal portal also links a weather station, "Idume ponte". Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 are in the data.

Lecce

In the city, ARPA Puglia's regional network measures air quality at the via Rosati background station (PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide and benzene); ozone is measured at other stations in the province. ARPA Puglia publishes a monthly bulletin for the province. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 exceedances are in the data.

Foggia

In the seismic classification updated in May 2025 Brindisi is in zone 4, the least hazardous. According to ISPRA (2024 report) 1,740 residents, about 2%, live in areas of medium flood hazard and 8 in areas of high or very high landslide hazard. The municipality publishes its civil-protection plan. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 are in the data.

Brindisi

The Comune publishes an environmental monitoring programme: a groundwater and soil plan, air monitoring with a mobile laboratory under an agreement with ARPA, an agreement with CNR IRSA on groundwater remediation, and a strategic noise map. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 are in the data.

Barletta

Adriatic Mediterranean climate: mild windy winters, long hot humid summers, rain concentrated from October to March. The Scirocco brings heat peaks; heavy autumn rain can flood the areas crossed by the lame (dry riverbeds). Air quality is average: few days above the PM10 limit.

Bari

The Comune di Andria home page links to an air-quality monitoring widget; the page consulted shows no anti-smog or heat ordinances. Temperatures, rain days and days over the PM10 limit are in the data.

Andria

Mediterranean climate on the coast, cooler and snowy in Irpinia and Sannio. Campania has two inhabited active volcanoes: Vesuvius (red zone of 25 municipalities) and the Campi Flegrei, in a bradyseismic crisis since 2023 with earthquakes up to magnitude 4.6. Seismic zone 1 in Irpinia (1980 earthquake). Landslides and floods (Sarno 1998, Ischia 2022).

Campania

ARPAC, Campania's environmental agency, runs the regional air-quality network and has carried out dedicated monitoring in Salerno's Fratte district, with a mobile laboratory and annual reports since 2022. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 exceedances are in the data.

Salerno

Mild Mediterranean climate, with rainy winters and hot humid summers. Naples lies between two active volcanoes monitored by INGV: Vesuvius, dormant since 1944, and the Campi Flegrei, in a bradyseism phase with ground uplift and frequent earthquakes since 2023, at yellow alert level. Parts of the city fall within the red zones of the evacuation plans.

Naples

Besides the climate data below, two specific risks matter in Giugliano: part of the municipality lies in the red zone of the Campi Flegrei, a volcano at yellow alert level and, since October 2025, in the second-level attention phase; the Area vasta di Giugliano, with its landfills, is a site of national interest awaiting remediation.

Giugliano in Campania

In the seismic classification of the Civil Protection Department (updated May 2025) Caserta is in zone 2. According to ISPRA IdroGEO about 20.6% of the municipal territory has high or very high landslide hazard. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 exceedance days are in the data.

Caserta

In the seismic classification of the Civil Protection Department (updated May 2025) Benevento is in zone 1, the most hazardous. According to ISPRA IdroGEO about 7.4% of the municipal territory has medium flood hazard; landslides weigh less. Temperatures, rainfall and PM10 exceedance days are in the data.

Benevento