Italy is set to place all 27 of its major cities under the highest level of heat alert as the nation endures its fourth, and most intense, heatwave of the summer. The health ministry announced that while 25 cities were already under a red alert on Wednesday, the remaining two will join them on Thursday. This marks the first time this year that the entire heat surveillance network, covering cities from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, has reached maximum capacity.
A red alert signifies a significant health risk to the general population due to prolonged extreme temperatures, which have already pushed mercury levels toward 40C in several regions. The cities affected include Turin, Bolzano, Milan, Genoa, Venice, Verona, Trieste, Bologna, Florence, Perugia, Rome, Naples, Ancona, Pescara, Bari, Campobasso, Reggio Calabria, Palermo, Cagliari, Catania, Messina, Brescia, Viterbo, Latina, Rieti, Frosinone, and Civitavecchia.
In response, authorities have issued strict health guidelines, urging citizens to avoid direct sunlight between 11am and 6pm, stay indoors, and consume at least 1.5 litres of water daily. The ministry also advised against consuming alcohol, coffee, fizzy drinks, and heavy meals, while emphasizing the importance of wearing light clothing and never leaving children or animals inside parked vehicles.
The extreme weather is expected to persist for at least another week. Lorenzo Giovannini, an atmospheric physicist at the University of Trento, noted that these heatwaves are notably more intense and longer than in previous years. Experts attribute this trend to the human-caused climate crisis, noting that Europe is warming at roughly double the global average rate.
The ongoing heat has exacerbated a drought in the Po valley, causing water supply issues for over 100 towns in Lombardy and Piedmont, some of which are relying on tanker trucks for drinking water. Agriculture is also suffering; crop yields are declining, and milk production has dropped by 10% as dairy cows experience heat stress. Meanwhile, major tourist hubs like Rome are attempting to mitigate the impact by offering free access to air-conditioned cultural venues and extending opening hours for monuments like the Colosseum and Pantheon to encourage evening visitation.
Move comes as fourth heatwave of summer intensifies, edging temperatures in some areas close to 40C
The drought is putting a severe strain on Italian agriculture, with farmers saying the extreme heat is affecting crop yields. The heatwaves have also accelerated grape ripening in some areas, while milk production has fallen by 10% owing to dairy cows eating less because of heat stress.
