Italy putting nearly all major cities on highest heat alert
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- Italy's Health Ministry issued its highest "red" heat alert for 19 cities from north to south including Rome, Milan, Venice, and Naples, with 25 of 27 major cities expected to reach that level by Monday
- Only Reggio Calabria and Messina will remain on the second-highest "amber" alert, while the ministry urged residents to avoid sun exposure between 11:00 and 18:00 and stay hydrated
- Italian authorities warned the heat poses risks to even healthy and active people, not just the elderly, very young children, and those with chronic illnesses, as temperatures hit the mid-30s Celsius on Saturday
- The heatwave is being driven by a subtropical anticyclone from North Africa strengthening over the Mediterranean
- In France's Gironde region, the massive wildfire is now under control and roughly 200,000 evacuated residents have been able to return home, while 2,500 were newly evacuated from the southeastern Var region Friday after a contained blaze reignited
- In Greece, hundreds of tourists were evacuated by sea from the coastal town of Viotia as wildfires raged, while Spain has seen more than 200,000 hectares burn in 2026 — roughly five times the average for that point in the year
Why it matters: Italy's heat alert now spans nearly the entire country, putting outdoor workers, tourists, and vulnerable populations across 25 major urban centers at risk during peak summer. The same weather pattern fueling Italy's heatwave is driving active wildfires across France, Greece, Spain, and Portugal, with Spain's burnt area running five times its yearly average.
