Italy braces for prolonged heatwave as anticyclone settles over Mediterranean
A prolonged phase of intense heat is set to grip Italy starting Sunday, with temperatures climbing well above seasonal averages and muggy conditions spreading across the country.
Anticyclone settles over Mediterranean
A vast anticyclonic field is expanding over the Mediterranean basin, bringing a decisive shift to stable and hot weather across Italy starting Sunday 5 July. The change follows a period of unstable currents and thunderstorms that had brought temporary relief. Meteorologist Mattia Gussoni of iLMeteo.it described the development as a new and decisive hemispheric shift, with the high pressure initially drawing on both Azores and African air masses.
A new and decisive shift is underway, driven by the advance of a vast anticyclonic field over the Mediterranean basin.
Temperature surge and regional variations
Maximum temperatures will rise sharply, reaching 33–34°C in major cities of the Centre-North. The Adriatic side (Abruzzo, Molise, Puglia) and parts of the Ionian coast will see slightly lower values due to northerly winds. By midweek, subtropical air masses will dominate, pushing temperatures further above seasonal averages and bringing muggy conditions to much of the country. Inland areas of the Centre-South and Sardinia could see peaks above 35°C, with the Po Valley also experiencing intense heat.
Thunderstorm risks and yellow alerts
Despite the anticyclone, afternoon heat thunderstorms remain a risk, particularly over mountainous areas. The Civil Protection has issued a yellow weather alert for Monday 6 July, covering parts of Abruzzo, Basilicata, Marche, and Molise. These storms, triggered by intense daytime heating, may be brief but locally intense. Similar phenomena are possible on Tuesday over the Sila massif and central Apennines.
- Anticyclone arrives; sunny and hot across Italy, temperatures rising.
- Yellow alert for thunderstorms in Abruzzo, Basilicata, Marche, Molise; afternoon showers on central internal areas.
- Hot and mostly sunny; isolated thunderstorms on Sila and central internal areas.
- Subtropical air mass intensifies heat; possible instability from north-European trough later.
Week ahead: possible instability
After Tuesday 7 July, which will remain hot with isolated thunderstorms on the Sila and central internal areas, attention turns to midweek. Some models suggest a north-European trough could approach, increasing instability and bringing more widespread showers and thunderstorms, especially to the North-East and Adriatic regions. This could temporarily interrupt the heatwave, though the outlook for the following weekend remains uncertain, with alternating phases of stability and possible new disturbances.
