Italy faces record July heatwave as temperatures top 45 °C

A third African heatwave is sweeping Italy in mid‑July 2026, with peak temperatures reaching 46 °C in Sardinia and up to 45 °C in Sicily. The national alert system has issued level‑3 warnings for several regions, prompting health advisories for the elderly, children, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses. The Federation of Hospital Internists (FADOI) warned that prolonged heat above 40 °C can cause dehydration, cardiovascular stress, kidney failure and heat stroke, urging patients not to change medication without medical guidance.

Regional authorities have introduced emergency measures. Lazio’s governor Francesco Rocca extended the existing heat‑wave ordinance, halting outdoor work for gardeners, road crews, bridge inspectors and delivery personnel from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. until 15 September. Similar stop‑work rules apply in other regions, covering construction, agriculture and logistics staff. Local health officials in Oristano and Cassano Jonio have issued practical recommendations – early work shifts, ample hydration, light clothing and a dedicated hotline for isolated seniors.

The Ministry of Health’s inter‑ministerial heat‑wave cabinet reported a modest overall excess mortality of 3 % but a significant rise among the over‑85 age group, especially in Turin. Emergency call volumes have surged, with more than a thousand contacts in a single day, mainly concerning heat‑related health information.

Across the country, the heat is also threatening agriculture. Farmers in the Venetian plain and the Veneto region face severe drought, with crop yields projected to fall sharply if high temperatures persist. Coldiretti proposes a network of multifunctional reservoirs to store rainwater and generate hydro‑electricity as a long‑term adaptation measure.