Italy issues red alert for extreme heat in 15 cities as storms batter the north

Health ministry raises heat warnings across the country while violent storms hit the north. Italy's health ministry has placed 15 cities on its highest heat-risk level as the country's third heatwave of 2026 reaches its peak, even as violent storms swept the north, killing one person and bringing down trees and floods. According to the ministry's latest bulletin, the number of cities under "red alert" - level 3, the maximum warning - jumped from seven on Wednesday to 15 on Thursday, with the list including Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Florence, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Turin and Viterbo. The number of cities on red alert is to rise to 16 on Friday, with Milan joining the list. The bollino rosso marks the highest level of warning, indicating emergency conditions with possible negative health effects not only for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, very young children and those with chronic illness, but also for healthy, active adults. Forecasters expect highs of up to 45°C in inland Sardinia, and 40°C in Florence and Matera. A cool-down is expected from the weekend, when temperatures should fall to around 34°C. Storms in the north While the centre and south sweltered, northern Italy was hit by violent storms on Wednesday, leaving the country "split in two" meteorologically. A tornado struck the Bergamo area of Lombardia, while Emilia-Romagna and the Triveneto region were battered by storms with wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h. One person died in Bomporto, in the province of Modena, after their car collided with another vehicle amid the storm. Milan's regional authorities issued a medium-level orange alert for storms and winds of up to 100 km/h, urging residents to stay away from parks, tree-lined areas, scaffolding, outdoor seating areas and tents, and to secure objects left on balconies. Alto Adige had already been hit by heavy rain, strong gusts and hail on Tuesday evening, prompting some 50 fire brigade call-outs, while similar storms struck the Turin area, particularly the Susa and Chisone valleys. Meteorologists said the clash between heat and humidity built up over the Po Valley and cooler air descending from the central-eastern Alps was responsible for triggering the storms, with the alert extending across the entire Po Valley and to Milan. The bad weather was expected to ease in the north from Thursday, even as the rest of the country continued to swelter. Health advice Italy's health ministry monitors 27 urban centres and publishes a daily heatwave bulletin online. The ministry is advising people to limit sun exposure and strenuous activity during the hottest hours and to stay in cool environments. Residents and visitors are reminded to drink plenty of water, eat light meals, and to never leave children or pets in parked cars. For daily updates on the heatwave, see the Italian health ministry website. Photo credit: Marco Lissoni / Shutterstock.com

WIRE — Health ministry raises heat warnings across the country while violent storms hit the north. Italy's health ministry has placed 15 cities on its highest heat-risk level as the country's third heatwave of 2026 reaches its peak, even as violent storms swept the north, killing one person and bringing down trees and floods. According to the ministry's latest bulletin, the number of cities under "red alert" - level 3, the maximum warning - jumped from seven on Wednesday to 15 on Thursday, with the list including Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Florence, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Turin and Viterbo. The number of cities on red alert is to rise to 16 on Friday, with Milan joining the list. The bollino rosso marks the highest level of warning, indicating emergency conditions with possible negative health effects not only for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, very young children and those with chronic illness, but also for healthy, active adults. Forecasters expect highs of up to 45°C in inland Sardinia, and 40°C in Florence and Matera. A cool-down is expected from the weekend, when temperatures should fall to around 34°C. Storms in the north While the centre and south sweltered, northern Italy was hit by violent storms on Wednesday, leaving the country "split in two" meteorologically. A tornado struck the Bergamo area of Lombardia, while Emilia-Romagna and the Triveneto region were battered by storms with wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h. One person died in Bomporto, in the province of Modena, after their car collided with another vehicle amid the storm. Milan's regional authorities issued a medium-level orange alert for storms and winds of up to 100 km/h, urging residents to stay away from parks, tree-lined areas, scaffolding, outdoor seating areas and tents, and to secure objects left on balconies. Alto Adige had already been hit by heavy rain, strong gusts and hail on Tuesday evening, prompting some 50 fire brigade call-outs, while similar storms struck the Turin area, particularly the Susa and Chisone valleys. Meteorologists said the clash between heat and humidity built up over the Po Valley and cooler air descending from the central-eastern Alps was responsible for triggering the storms, with the alert extending across the entire Po Valley and to Milan. The bad weather was expected to ease in the north from Thursday, even as the rest of the country continued to swelter. Health advice Italy's health ministry monitors 27 urban centres and publishes a daily heatwave bulletin online. The ministry is advising people to limit sun exposure and strenuous activity during the hottest hours and to stay in cool environments. Residents and visitors are reminded to drink plenty of water, eat light meals, and to never leave children or pets in parked cars. For daily updates on the heatwave, see the Italian health ministry website. Photo credit: Marco Lissoni / Shutterstock.com

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