A new wave of exceptional heat has gripped Italy, prompting authorities to raise the alert to the highest level in most major cities.
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According to the Italian Ministry of Health, 25 of the country’s 27 major cities will be under a red alert by Monday. The ministry has urged residents to avoid sun exposure during the hottest part of the day and to take precautions to protect their health.
Currently, 19 cities, including Rome, Milan, Venice and Naples, are at the highest risk level due to high temperatures. The warnings do not apply only to the elderly, young children and people with chronic illnesses, as the temperatures also pose a risk to healthy people and those engaging in physical activity.
Temperatures in various parts of Italy have reached the mid-30s Celsius. Meteorologists expect the situation to continue in the coming days. Reggio Calabria and Messina are forecast to remain at the second alert level, while the rest of the country is expected to be at the highest risk level.
The official recommendation is for people to avoid being outdoors between 11:00 and 18:00, seek out cool spaces, drink plenty of fluids and avoid physical activity when temperatures are at their peak.
Experts have linked the heatwave to a subtropical anticyclone from North Africa that has intensified over the Mediterranean, bringing temperatures significantly above the seasonal average.
The effects of the extreme weather have also been felt in other European countries, where high temperatures have increased the risk of wildfires in forested areas.
In the southeastern French region of Var, around 2,500 people have left their homes after a fire that had previously been considered under control flared up again. Meanwhile, authorities announced that another major blaze in Gironde had been stabilized, allowing around 200,000 residents to return home.
Wildfires also remain a problem in Greece. Hundreds of people, mainly tourists, have been evacuated by boat from a coastal town in the Viotia region, while firefighting crews work to contain the flames.
European Union data show that more than 200,000 hectares of land have burned in Spain since the beginning of 2026. This figure is around five times higher than the average for this period, while Portugal is also facing burned areas above normal levels.
