Every single city monitored by Italy's health ministry to hit maximum heat warning level on Thursday.All 27 cities monitored by the Italian health ministry's heatwave surveillance system are to be placed under the maximum red alert on Thursday 6 August.On Wednesday 5 August, there will be 25 cities under the "bollino rosso", rising to all 27 monitored cities on Thursday 6 August, according to the latest bulletin from the health ministry. The red code marks Level 3, the maximum heat alert, signalling emergency conditions with possible negative health effects for both vulnerable people and healthy, active individuals. Cities on red alert The affected cities span the length of the peninsula, with no regional capital excluded: Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Catania, Civitavecchia, Florence, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Messina, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Reggio Calabria, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Trieste, Venice, Verona and Viterbo. Until Wednesday, only Messina and Reggio Calabria will be spared the red code, sitting instead at the orange Level 2, indicating risks for vulnerable groups, before joining the rest of the country on Thursday. Fourth heatwave of the summer The surge is being driven by the fourth heatwave of the summer, intensified by a further strengthening of the African anticyclone. In Emilia-Romagna, temperatures have already approached 40°C, with highs of 38°C and locally 39-40°C forecast for Wednesday across the region's plains. Experts have cautioned against reading Thursday's nationwide red alert as a single sharp spike. According to one specialist cited by news agency ANSA, it is misleading to speak of a "peak", since Italy has instead reached a plateau of sustained extreme heat. Some relief is expected soon after, with a slight easing of temperatures forecast to begin from 7 August. Guidelines Italy's guidelines for coping with the heat include staying indoors between 10.00 and 18.00; drinking at least 1.5 litres of water per day; staying clear of fizzy drinks, alcohol and coffee; eating light meals, vegetables and fruit; wearing light clothes; and never leaving children or animals in cars. Italy has a 1500 telephone helpline active from 09.00 to 18.00 offer advice on how to manage the heat as well as information about social and health services available. The city of Rome urges residents and tourists to download the Waidy Wow app which locates the nearest nasoni drinking fountains around the capital. Photo credit: Michele Ursi / Shutterstock.com

All 27 cities monitored by the Italian health ministry's heatwave surveillance system are to be placed under the maximum red alert on Thursday 6 August. On Wednesday 5 August, there will be 25 cities under the "bollino rosso", rising to all 27 monitored cities on Thursday 6 August, according to the  from the health ministry. The red code marks Level 3, the maximum heat alert, signalling emergency conditions with possible negative health effects for both vulnerable people and healthy, active individuals. The affected cities span the length of the peninsula, with no regional capital excluded: Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Catania, Civitavecchia, Florence, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Messina, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Reggio Calabria, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Trieste, Venice, Verona and Viterbo. Until Wednesday, only Messina and Reggio Calabria will be spared the red code, sitting instead at the orange Level 2, indicating risks for vulnerable groups, before joining the rest of the country on Thursday. The surge is being driven by the fourth heatwave of the summer, intensified by a further strengthening of the African anticyclone. In Emilia-Romagna, temperatures have already approached 40°C, with highs of 38°C and locally 39-40°C forecast for Wednesday across the region's plains. Experts have cautioned against reading Thursday's nationwide red alert as a single sharp spike. According to one specialist cited by news agency ANSA, it is misleading to speak of a "peak", since Italy has instead reached a plateau of sustained extreme heat. Some relief is expected soon after, with a slight easing of temperatures forecast to begin from 7 August. Italy's  for coping with the heat include staying indoors between 10.00 and 18.00; drinking at least 1.5 litres of water per day; staying clear of fizzy drinks, alcohol and coffee; eating light meals, vegetables and fruit; wearing light clothes; and never leaving children or animals in cars. Italy has a  active from 09.00 to 18.00 offer advice on how to manage the heat as well as information about social and health services available. The city of Rome urges residents and tourists to download the  which locates the nearest  around the capital. Photo credit: Michele Ursi / Shutterstock.com