Avellino province hit by severe hailstorm and heat wave, crippling crops and prompting aid calls

A violent hailstorm on 26 June 2026 swept the Avellino province of Irpinia, striking Bagnoli, Mercogliano and Monteforte Irpino. The storm destroyed hazelnut trees, chestnut coppices, vineyards and field vegetables, with losses reported at 70‑100 % of the seasonal harvest. Farmers warned that entire agrarian enterprises could be forced to close.

Local unions – Altragricoltura and Confagricoltura Avellino – have appealed to the Campania regional authorities and the national Ministry of Agriculture for an immediate declaration of a state of natural disaster. They are also demanding suspension of social‑security contributions, emergency income support and rapid damage‑assessment procedures to prevent permanent farm insolvency.

The extreme weather is part of a broader heat wave affecting Italy, prompting consumer‑price spikes in water, ice‑cream, pool admissions and other summer goods. The consumer‑rights group Codacons notes that the heat can raise household expenses by up to €600 per month. Climate NGOs such as Legambiente and political figures highlight the event as evidence of an accelerating climate crisis that deepens social inequality and threatens the nation’s agricultural output, with estimated damages exceeding €1.5 billion.

Authorities have been urged to adopt decisive adaptation measures, including water‑management reforms, support for digital irrigation, and policies to curb desertification, as the Po basin and other key farming regions also face severe drought and heat stress.