by InTrieste
In an unprecedented climatic event, the freezing level in Friuli Venezia Giulia rose to an altitude of 5,263 meters (17,267 feet) on June 29, setting a new record. The measurement, taken by a weather balloon from the Rivolto meteorological station, marks the highest zero-degree Celsius elevation ever recorded in the region during the month of June since monitoring began in 1992.
Climatologist Luca Mercalli described the event as “an absolute anomaly,” noting that similar extremes are increasingly being observed in other parts of the world.
This extreme is part of a broader pattern of elevated temperatures recorded across Friuli Venezia Giulia throughout June. According to data from ARPA FVG, the regional environmental protection agency, air temperatures in the lowlands were 2.9°C (5.2°F) above the 30-year average, while Trieste, the regional capital, saw an increase of 2.3°C (4.1°F).
Sea temperatures also reached record levels, with the Adriatic Sea off the region’s coast measuring 24.2°C (75.6°F), matching the previous high set in 2018.
Andrea Cicogna, meteorologist at ARPA FVG, confirmed that the previous record for June’s freezing level stood at 4,980 meters, recorded on June 11, 2017. The new measurement surpasses that by nearly 300 meters (984 feet), highlighting a sharp upward shift in atmospheric thermal profiles.
These developments place 2025 among the hottest years in the region’s recorded history, both on land and at sea, and reflect a growing trend of temperature anomalies in Southern Europe.
