Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Italy Places All 27 Major Cities on Highest Heat Alert
Italy is having a very hot summer, and the heat is getting even stronger.
The government is worried, so it has put all 27 of its big cities on the highest heat alert.
This means the heat is dangerous enough that even healthy people could get sick.
Experts say this is the fourth heatwave of the summer.
In some places, the temperature has reached 40 degrees Celsius, which is extremely hot.
People are being told to stay inside and drink lots of water.
They should also avoid going out in the sun between 11 in the morning and 6 in the evening.
The heat is coming from hot air over North Africa that has moved across Europe.
The weather is expected to stay this hot until the weekend.
Italy's health ministry will place all 27 major cities under the highest red heat alert on Thursday as the summer's fourth heatwave intensifies.
Messina and Reggio Calabria, previously on a lesser amber alert, are moving up to the maximum red level on Thursday.
A red alert indicates a potential health emergency, with prolonged high temperatures posing a serious risk to the entire population, including young and healthy people.
Temperatures have climbed to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some areas of Italy, with little relief expected before the weekend.
Local authorities urged residents to avoid heat and direct sunlight between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., stay indoors where possible, and drink plenty of fluids.
- Who
- Italy's health ministry, local authorities, and residents of the 27 major cities
- What
- All 27 major cities were placed under the highest red heat alert due to an intensifying heatwave
- When
- Announced Tuesday, with all cities on red alert effective Thursday during the fourth heatwave of the summer
- Where
- Italy, including Messina and Reggio Calabria in the far south
- Why
- Prolonged high temperatures of up to 40 degrees Celsius pose a serious health risk, fuelled by a North African anticyclone strengthened over the Mediterranean
- Alert level
- Red alert (highest) in all 27 major cities
- Effective date
- Thursday
- Heatwave
- Fourth of the summer
- Peak temperature
- 40°C (104°F)
- Dangerous hours
- 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Cause
- North African anticyclone over the Mediterranean
- Relief expected
- Not before the weekend
- Cities upgrading Thursday
- Messina and Reggio Calabria