A severe heatwave gripping Italy has forced the Italian Ministry of Health to issue red alerts across 25 cities, including Genoa, Rome, and Milan, according to reports by AGI. The extreme weather conditions, driven by persistent African air currents, have triggered continuous high-temperature warnings in regions like Liguria, where local weather networks recorded temperatures nearing 37 degrees Celsius amid exceptionally high humidity levels.
Liguria Heatwave Peaks and Humidity Levels
In Liguria, the regional meteorological observatory network (Omirl) recorded a peak temperature of 36.9 degrees Celsius in Sesta Godano (La Spezia), according to ANSA. The Italian Ministry of Health maintained a level 3 red alert—signifying emergency conditions that pose health risks to the general population, rather than solely to vulnerable groups—for multiple consecutive days. Coastal areas experienced intense discomfort due to trapped moisture; Imperia reached 85% humidity with a temperature of 28.4 degrees Celsius, while Savona recorded 74% humidity at 29.2 degrees Celsius, as reported by ANSA.
National Red Alerts and Tropical Nights
The Ministry of Health’s red alert status spans 25 major urban centers nationwide, including Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Catania, Civitavecchia, Firenze, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Milano, Napoli, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Roma, Torino, Trieste, Venezia, Verona, and Viterbo, as detailed by AGI. Citizens face dangerous “tropical nights,” where minimum temperatures stay persistently above 20 degrees Celsius, preventing indoor cooling and increasing the risk of dehydration and heatstroke.
Broader European Impact and Economic Damage
The stagnant weather pattern extends beyond Italy, fueling severe droughts and wildfires across Europe that have surpassed 3 billion euros in damages, according to an analysis by the Financial Times cited by AGI. Nearly half a million hectares burned across the continent in the initial two months of the fire season, heavily impacting Portugal, Spain, France, Greece, and Romania. Relief from the intense heat across the Italian peninsula is not anticipated until incoming cold weather perturbations arrive toward the end of the week, according to AGI.
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