Italy: Nearly All Major Cities on Red Alert for New Heatwave

Italy is bracing for a severe heatwave, with almost all major cities placed on red alert starting Monday. The Italian Ministry of Health issued the warning, indicating the highest level of vigilance for 25 of the 27 monitored major cities. Only Reggio Calabria and Messina will escape the red alert.

Anticipated "feels like" temperatures are expected to soar, reaching up to 39°C in Naples, 38°C in Florence and Palermo, and 37°C in Rome. Northern cities like Turin, Trieste, and Venice could see highs around 36°C. This new wave of extreme heat comes shortly after a previous episode that affected Western Europe early last week and has since spread to Central Europe, where temperatures might climb as high as 41°C in the coming days.

As of Saturday, 19 major Italian cities were already under Level 3 alert, including Rome, Milan, Naples, and Florence. Four more cities, Catania, Genoa, Palermo, and Trieste, were set to join this level on Sunday, followed by Ancona and Bari on Monday. The Ministry of Health defines Level 3 alert as a situation of emergency, indicating a heatwave with potential adverse health effects not only on vulnerable individuals but also on healthy and physically active people.