Europe heat wave puts all major Italian cities on red alert as Austria sets heat record
The red alert covers every monitored city as temperatures near 40 C and forecasters warn the heat will last through next week.
- On Monday, the Italian Health Ministry issued red alerts for a record 25 major cities as the country's fourth heatwave of the summer peaked with temperatures exceeding 40C in parts of the country.
- Experts attributed the extreme conditions to an African anticyclone and continued warming of the Mediterranean Sea, where surface temperatures have reached or exceeded 30C across much of the basin.
- Drought conditions in the Po basin continue to worsen, with more than 100 municipalities in Piedmont and Lombardy facing water shortages, while authorities placed Sicily and Emilia-Romagna under orange alerts for wildfire risks.
- "All this excess heat will fuel atmospheric instability," said meteorologist Lorenzo Tedici, warning of strong afternoon thunderstorms across the Alps and Apennines as the heatwave continues at least until August 8 and 9.
- Forecasters expect the heatwave to persist through the week, though Tedici noted Italy must wait until at least mid-August for the real turning point to end the summer's hottest phase.
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On Thursday, August 6, 27 Italian cities, including Palermo, Rome, Florence, and Turin, were placed on red alert for extreme heat. This extremely difficult weather has persisted since the end of May in many regions. However, workers such as those in agriculture and construction, as well as delivery drivers and couriers, are insufficiently protected against its harmful effects due to a lack of national legislation.
Italy adopted this Thursday the unprecedented measure of putting all its major cities at the highest level of health alert due to high temperatures. Meanwhile, Hungary turned off the lighting of some of its most emblematic buildings to save energy in the midst of an intense heat wave that continues to hit much of Europe.
Italy puts all major cities on red alert as Europe heat wave worsens
A fierce European heat wave put all major Italian cities on red alert and pushed Austria to a record 41.2 degrees Celsius. The extreme conditions are straining power, transport and rivers while raising wildfire and health risks.
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