UK tourists in Italy warned to prepare for 'dramatic' shift starting today

James Rodger
·2-min read

An "excessive" heat warning has been issued for swathes of Europe - with temperatures set to sizzle to a stifling and staggering 42C. The Italian Meteorological Service has issued an "Excessive Heat Warning" for certain areas of the country, with temperatures expected to hit 42.

The hot weather is also being felt across Greece, Spain and Cyprus, as well as Turkey. Orange warnings (the middle level on a three-tier scale) have been issued in Italy for Basilicata, Puglia, Sardinia, and Sicily regions, weather forecasters have said.

There are also yellow warnings for regions including Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Marche and Calabria. Temperatures of 30-40 C (86-104 F) are expected across the country over the coming days and may exceed 40 C (104 F) in interior areas of south-central mainland Italy and the islands of Sardinia and Sicily.

READ MORE UK tourists in France warned as disease 'which kills 25 per cent' hits 600 cases

The peak of the heatwave is expected around June 21, before a weather system moves into northern regions, bringing showers, storms, and some relief from the heat in northern areas. Another weather system is expected to move over the Italian Peninsula June 22-23, helping to moderate the excessive heat across the rest of the country.

Officials could issue new alerts or update/rescind existing advisories as weather conditions change over the coming days. It comes days after heatwaves across Cyprus and Greece have left multiple people dead with Turkey battling wildfires as temperatures soared above 40C.

Italy is currently baking in their first big heatwave of the summer with an African anticyclone boosting temperatures up as far as a sweltering 40C. That is 10C above seasonal averages, says Antonio Sanò, founder of the weather website ilmeteo.it.

By the end of the week, thermometres will register 39 or even 40C in Rome, Naples and Florence, while they will reach 42 or even 44C in inland parts of Sardinia and Sicily.

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