Extreme heatwave: Italy prepares for Thursday's peak
Italy is currently facing one of the most intense heatwaves of the summer. Weather forecasts indicate that the situation will worsen further in the coming hours, reaching its peak on Thursday.
The Ministry of Health has extended the "red alert" to almost all major Italian cities. This alert level indicates emergency conditions with very high temperatures that can pose a concrete risk to the health of the entire population, not just for the most vulnerable groups such as the elderly and children.
Authorities recommend avoiding direct exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of the day, specifically between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. It is essential to drink plenty of water, eat light meals based on fruits and vegetables, and keep home environments as cool as possible by closing windows during the day.
The agricultural and transport sectors are also closely monitoring the situation. The intense heat, combined with a lack of rain, is putting pressure on water reserves in several regions, leading municipalities to issue ordinances to limit the use of drinking water for non-essential purposes.
It is expected that this phase of intense heat may ease only over the weekend, thanks to the arrival of cooler currents that should bring temperatures back toward the seasonal average. Until then, the Civil Protection Department urges citizens to pay maximum attention and to follow official bulletins for constant updates.