Italy heatwave escalates: 16 cities under red alert as temperatures approach 39°C across Europe
Italian health authorities escalated heat alerts on Monday, placing 12 cities under the highest 'red' warning and expecting the number to rise to 15 on Tuesday and 16 on Wednesday, as a subtropical anticyclone pushes temperatures toward 39°C across the continent.
Red alert escalation in Italy
The Italian Ministry of Health raised the alert to level 3 (red) for 12 cities on Monday, 15 on Tuesday, and 16 on Wednesday, covering much of the country's main urban centres.
The cities under red alert include Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Frosinone, Milan, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Turin and Verona on Monday; Venice, Viterbo and Ancona join on Tuesday; and Latina is added on Wednesday. Perceived temperatures on Tuesday will reach 38°C in Florence, 37°C in Milan and 36°C in several other cities.Conditions of emergency (heatwave) with possible negative effects on health of healthy and active people and not only on subgroups at risk such as the elderly, very young children, and people with chronic diseases.
- Florence
- 38 °C
- Milan
- 37 °C
- Frosinone
- 36 °C
- Latina
- 36 °C
- Perugia
- 36 °C
- Verona
- 36 °C
- Viterbo
- 36 °C
European heatwave intensifies
The heatwave extends well beyond Italy. Meteorologist Mattia Gussoni of iLMeteo.it described France and Germany as the 'heart' of the European heat event.
In France, Météo-France placed 49 departments under red alert and 40 under orange alert, affecting approximately 90% of the population; temperatures in western areas could reach 43°C. Spain's Andalusian cities of Cordova and Seville are facing up to 45°C, while Germany's western and southwestern regions may see localized 40°C readings. London expects 37–38°C as the UK Met Office maintains its alert. The anticyclone, dubbed Cerberus by some meteorologists, feeds hot air from North Africa across the continent, resulting in anomalies up to 15°C above seasonal averages in France and Germany.France and Germany will be the real heart of the European heatwave, with possible peaks up to 40°C hitting metropolises such as Paris and several German cities.
Nighttime heat and health advice
After sunset the discomfort intensifies. Many urban areas will experience nights with temperatures struggling to fall below 24–25°C, preventing natural body cooling and disrupting sleep.
The Ministry of Health advised people to avoid direct sun exposure between 11:00 and 18:00, refrain from intense outdoor activity, stay in the coolest room of the house, adopt a light diet rich in fruit and vegetables, and use air conditioning properly.You cannot rely on nighttime cooling because temperatures will stay well above 20 degrees.
Thunderstorm risk and drought concerns
The intense heat also triggers afternoon heat thunderstorms, formed when superheated ground air rises and meets cooler air aloft. These short-lived but intense storms are expected over the Alps, the Apennines, and inland central-southern Italy from Tuesday through Thursday. Meanwhile, the prolonged heat compounds drought conditions in northern regions such as Piedmont.
Temperatures above 20°C have been recorded at 2,500 metres elevation in the Alps, and the zero-degree isotherm reached 4,169 metres overnight near Cameri.The snow in the mountains has practically ended a month early. Rivers are low, aquifers are low, and reservoirs have below-normal levels.
Outlook: heat through month-end and possible records
Meteorologists expect the subtropical anticyclone to strengthen further, with temperatures peaking at 41°C over the coming weekend. The heatwave is likely to persist until the end of June, raising the risk of surpassing the devastating 2003 summer heat records.
- 12 cities under red alert, heatwave begins
- 15 cities red alert, first heat thunderstorms
- 16 cities red alert, peak heat in Centre-North Italy
- Possible 41°C peaks, anticyclone strengthens
