Another African anticyclone this season has reached the Apennine Peninsula, Italian meteorologists warn. Thanks to Charon, temperatures in the coming days may reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. In eight cities in Italy, including Rome and Florence, the highest level of alert is in effect on Friday due to another heat wave this summer.
The Italian Ministry of Health has issued red heat warnings in Bari, Brescia, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Trieste, as well as Rome and Florence. The highest level of alert means a threat to the health of the entire population, not just the elderly, the sick and children.
Fainting and fires
This is the latest heatwave in Italy this season. Local media are emphasizing that this year's summer on the Apennine Peninsula is exceptionally unforgiving.
The situation is particularly difficult in the Lazio region. Since the beginning of July, Rome has been on the list of cities with the highest level of alert almost every day. Cases of fainting due to the heat are becoming a daily occurrence on the streets of the Italian capital, especially in the city center, which is besieged by tourists.
Lazio is also a region that has been particularly affected by fires. They are common in Rome and its surroundings. On Thursday, a series of massive fires left much of the metropolis covered in smoke. It was necessary to close one of the runways at Fiumicino Airport.
Hot start of September
According to forecasts, the heatwave in Italy will continue for the next few days and extend into the beginning of the new month. Italians are waiting for the arrival of a phenomenon called storm at the end of summer, which definitely closes the period of the most intense heat. According to experts, quoted by the portal IlMeteo.it, this will not happen before September 7-8.
Main image source: Reuters