Italian health authorities have placed the vast majority of the country's major cities under the highest level of heat warning. As a new heatwave intensifies, 19 cities are currently at red alert, a number expected to rise to 25 out of 27 by Monday.
The extreme weather, driven by a subtropical anticyclone originating in North Africa, has pushed temperatures into the mid-30s Celsius. Officials have cautioned that the heat poses a significant risk to the entire population, extending beyond vulnerable groups such as the elderly and those with chronic health conditions. Residents are advised to remain indoors, stay hydrated, and avoid direct sun exposure between 11:00 and 18:00.
Only Reggio Calabria and Messina are currently projected to remain at the second-highest amber alert level. This surge in temperatures coincides with a broader pattern of climate-driven heat across Europe, which the Copernicus Climate Change Service identifies as the fastest-warming continent globally.
The intense conditions have exacerbated wildfire risks across Southern Europe. While some blazes in France have been brought under control, allowing residents to return home, other nations continue to struggle. In Greece, tourists have been evacuated by sea due to encroaching fires, and both Spain and Portugal have reported significantly higher-than-average land loss to wildfires this year.
Source: BBC News
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