During the summer of 2026, Albania was among the Southern European countries that experienced temperatures significantly higher than normal. Data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service show that the average air temperature in June, July and August was around 1 to 2.5°C above the 1991–2020 average. In some parts of the country, the anomalies were even more pronounced.
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The rise in temperatures was also reflected in the number of hot days. According to the definition used by Copernicus, a “summer day” is one on which the maximum temperature exceeds 25°C.
Across most of Albania, the number of such days was around 15 to 25 higher than the 1991–2020 average, although the differences varied from one area to another.
During the same period, the country was also among the areas that recorded “very strong heat stress.” This classification is used when the UTCI reaches between 38 and 46°C. The index does not indicate the actual air temperature, but rather the heat felt by the body, taking into account temperature, humidity, wind and solar radiation.
At the European level, the summer of 2026 was 1.17°C warmer than the 1991–2020 average. It ranked as the third-hottest summer in the ERA5 data series, after 2024 and 2022.
Summer temperatures were significantly above average across 41% of European territory, while seasonal records were recorded over 22% of the area.
As for rainfall in Albania, conditions were not uniform throughout the summer. At the beginning of the season, the map showed a mixed situation, while August stood out for significantly drier conditions. In some areas, rainfall was below or well below average.
Copernicus reports that in August, the largest rainfall and soil-moisture deficits occurred in Southeastern Europe. In a considerable part of the Balkans, soil moisture reached record-low levels.
Surface-soil moisture data also indicate a worsening situation in the Balkans at the end of the summer, while some areas of Albania shifted into categories indicating drier-than-usual conditions.
The drought indicator used in the analysis takes into account rainfall and the potential loss of water due to high temperatures, comparing conditions with the 1991–2020 period.
The report “European summer 2026: Records, extremes and context,” prepared by the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), analyzes the continent’s atmospheric and climate conditions during the summer. The document addresses temperatures, heatwaves, drought, soil moisture, river flows and wildfires.
According to the report, the summer of 2026 brought an unusual and prolonged period of heat across most of Europe, along with dry conditions, reduced river flows and increased fire activity.
