Three Italian cities placed on red alert and 16 more on orange on Thursday.Italy is bracing for its fourth heatwave of the summer, with forecasters warning that temperatures could climb as high as 41°C in the coming days as a subtropical anticyclone of North African origin strengthens its grip on the Mediterranean.After a brief respite towards the end of last week, the extreme heat has returned with force, following earlier heatwaves in late May, mid-June and mid-July. Heat warnings According to the latest bulletin from the health ministry, which monitors 27 cities across the country, Campobasso is under the maximum red alert on Wednesday, and will be joined by Perugia and Rieti on Thursday. The red alert, or 'bollino rosso', is the highest of the three-tier warning system, indicating a health risk to the general population and not just vulnerable groups. Amid a sweltering heatwave, Rome deploys misting spray to help tourists cool off outside the Colosseum. pic.twitter.com/5f9sxPmOJi — Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome) July 17, 2026 There are 10 cities placed on orange alert - signalling a lesser but still significant risk to the elderly, young children and those with chronic illnesses - on Wednesday: Bolzano, Civitavecchia, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Rieti, Rome, Turin and Viterbo. The number of cities with the 'bolline arancione' warning rises to 16 on Thursday, with the addition of Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Milan, Naples, Pescara, Venice and Verona. Heat surge Meteorologists attribute the new surge to a renewed strengthening of the subtropical anticyclone over the Mediterranean basin. Inland plains in the north and central regions are expected to be hit first, with highs of 36-38°C forecast for Wednesday, rising towards 40°C over the weekend. Turin and Milan could tip 38°C by Thursday, while inland areas of Tuscany, Campania, Basilicata and Sardinia are also expected to see some of the highest readings, alongside tropical nights with minimum temperatures failing to drop below 25°C in places. Forecasters say temperatures across much of the country are likely to remain well above the seasonal average - in some cases by as much as 7-12°C - at least until the beginning of August. Guidelines The health ministry urging people - especially those at risk - to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day, to stay out of direct sunlight, to refrain from outdoor physical activity, and to drink plenty of water. Rooms should be kept well ventilated. People should check on elderly neighbours living alone, and small children and pets should never be left in cars, even briefly. Italy has a 1500 telephone helpline, active from 09.00 to 18.00, offering advice on how to manage the heat as well as information about social and health services available. Photo credit: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com

Italy is bracing for its fourth heatwave of the summer, with forecasters warning that temperatures could climb as high as 41°C in the coming days as a subtropical anticyclone of North African origin strengthens its grip on the Mediterranean. After a brief respite towards the end of last week, the extreme heat has returned with force, following earlier heatwaves in late May, mid-June and mid-July. According to the latest bulletin from the health ministry, which monitors 27 cities across the country, Campobasso is under the maximum red alert on Wednesday, and will be joined by Perugia and Rieti on Thursday. The red alert, or 'bollino rosso', is the highest of the three-tier warning system, indicating a health risk to the general population and not just vulnerable groups. Amid a sweltering heatwave, Rome deploys misting spray to help tourists cool off outside the Colosseum.  — Wanted in Rome (@wantedinrome)  There are 10 cities placed on orange alert - signalling a lesser but still significant risk to the elderly, young children and those with chronic illnesses - on Wednesday: Bolzano, Civitavecchia, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Rieti, Rome, Turin and Viterbo. The number of cities with the 'bolline arancione' warning rises to 16 on Thursday, with the addition of Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Milan, Naples, Pescara, Venice and Verona. Meteorologists attribute the new surge to a renewed strengthening of the subtropical anticyclone over the Mediterranean basin. Inland plains in the north and central regions are expected to be hit first, with highs of 36-38°C forecast for Wednesday, rising towards 40°C over the weekend. Turin and Milan could tip 38°C by Thursday, while inland areas of Tuscany, Campania, Basilicata and Sardinia are also expected to see some of the highest readings, alongside tropical nights with minimum temperatures failing to drop below 25°C in places. Forecasters say temperatures across much of the country are likely to remain well above the seasonal average - in some cases by as much as 7-12°C - at least until the beginning of August. The health ministry urging people - especially those at risk - to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day, to stay out of direct sunlight, to refrain from outdoor physical activity, and to drink plenty of water. Rooms should be kept well ventilated. People should check on elderly neighbours living alone, and small children and pets should never be left in cars, even briefly. Italy has a , active from 09.00 to 18.00, offering advice on how to manage the heat as well as information about social and health services available. Photo credit: Adam McCullough / Shutterstock.com