Italy's fourth heatwave pushes all major cities into red alert

Italy's health ministry placed all 27 major cities under the highest (red) heat alert on Thursday as the fourth heatwave of the summer intensifies, with temperatures reaching up to 40 °C in parts of the country. The red alert, the first time this year that every monitored city has reached this level, urges residents to avoid outdoor exposure between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., stay indoors where possible and drink plenty of fluids.

In Rome, meteorologist Lorenzo Tedici warned that temperatures of 36‑37 °C will persist until at least 14 August, with only a slight drop expected after Ferragosto. The city’s “Il Grande Freddo” programme, extended to 14 August, offers free access to air‑conditioned cinemas, libraries and cultural venues, serving tens of thousands of citizens.

Local authorities in Messina and other municipalities have issued specific guidance and opened cooling spaces, while the health ministry’s warning highlights the risk to vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children and people with chronic illnesses. The heatwave is driven by a North‑African anticyclone that has strengthened over the Mediterranean, and it has already caused several heat‑related deaths, including agricultural workers, while threatening agriculture and infrastructure.