Temperatures set to tip 40°C in inland areas of Italy over the August holiday weekend, with red alert heat warnings for multiple cities in place this week.Italy is heading into its Ferragosto holiday weekend under the grip of a fourth major African anticyclone of the summer, with forecasters warning of little respite from the heat that has dominated the country since late July.  According to analyses from iLMeteo.it and 3BMeteo, temperatures are expected to exceed 35-36°C across most of the country, with even higher peaks in inland areas and on plains prone to heat build-up.   Highs will reportedly reach around 36-38°C in numerous cities across the centre-north, Sicily and Sardinia, with Rome likely to touch 39°C. Some inland and lowland areas of central Italy and Sardinia could see localised spikes closer to 40°C, forecasters say.   Tropical nights The heat is not confined to daytime hours. In the Po Valley and along the coasts, overnight lows may stay above 25°C, making conditions particularly oppressive even after sunset, while so-called "tropical nights" - when temperatures fail to drop below 20°C - are affecting almost the entire country, with an increase in "super-tropical nights" also being recorded, according to Lorenzo Tedici, head meteorologist at iLMeteo.it.   Weather models point to the fourth intense African heat surge of the season potentially lasting through the weekend of 15 August, with a new intensification expected mid-week.   Isolated thunderstorms are possible over the Alps and Apennines, sometimes accompanied by hail and strong gusts, but forecasters say these will not be enough to break the overall pattern of heat. Red alerts across the country The Italian health ministry, which issues daily heatwave bulletins for 27 monitored cities from May to September, has already placed most of the country's provincial capitals - including Rome - on the maximum "red" alert level for extended stretches this summer.   On 6 August, all 27 monitored cities were simultaneously rated red for the first time this year.   The tally of red-alert cities remains high heading into the Ferragosto holiday weekend, with 19 cities under red alert on Wednesday 12 August and 18 cities on Thursday 13 August.   The health ministry's Level 3 red warning denotes emergency heatwave conditions with potential health risks not only for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, young children and the chronically ill, but for the general population. When might it end? Asked when the current spell might break, Tedici told iLMeteo.it that Italians should expect to keep sweltering through Ferragosto, with peaks of 37-39°C in inland areas, before a possible turning point around 17-18 August.   Health authorities urge people to take precautions over the holiday weekend: avoiding outdoor exertion during the hottest hours, staying hydrated, and checking on elderly or vulnerable relatives and neighbours.   Photo Wanted in Rome