Italy raises heat alert for cities

Italy has placed Rome, Florence, Bologna and Turin under its highest heat warning as an early-season heatwave pushes temperatures well above normal and raises health risks for residents, workers and visitors.

The Ministry of Health’s Level 3 red alert applies on Thursday, signalling conditions that can affect not only vulnerable people but also healthy and active adults. The alert marks the first peak of the 2026 heat bulletin season, which began this week and covers 27 urban centres monitored for temperature, humidity, solar radiation and ventilation.

Perceived temperatures in the affected cities are expected to approach 35C, with central and northern areas facing the sharpest rise. The conditions are being driven by a strong high-pressure system of North African origin over the Mediterranean, bringing clear skies, stagnant air and summer-like heat before the start of June.

Rome, Florence, Bologna and Turin had already been under orange warnings earlier in the week, alongside other cities including Bolzano, Brescia, Frosinone, Perugia, Rieti, Trieste, Venice and Viterbo. Milan and Verona were also added to heightened risk categories as the warm air mass expanded across the country.

The red warning indicates an emergency heat condition with possible negative effects on the wider population. Health authorities have advised people to avoid direct sun during the hottest part of the day, limit outdoor exercise, drink water regularly and keep homes ventilated. Particular attention has been urged for older people living alone, infants, people with chronic illnesses, outdoor workers and tourists undertaking long walks in historic city centres.

The timing has sharpened concern because the heat has arrived earlier than the period usually associated with Italy’s most dangerous summer episodes. Late May averages are normally milder in Rome and Florence, while cities in the Po Valley, including Bologna and Turin, are more vulnerable to stagnant air and high humidity when anticyclonic systems settle over northern Italy.

Tourism is another pressure point. Rome and Florence are entering a busy travel period, with large numbers of visitors moving between open-air sites, queues and public transport. Heat stress can build quickly in paved urban areas, where stone streets, traffic and limited shade intensify exposure. Public fountains, shaded routes and access to cooled indoor spaces are expected to play a larger role in managing risks through the day.

Rome’s local authorities have introduced fire-prevention and heat-risk measures, including arrangements for public facilities with cooling systems to be available when the red alert is active. Municipalities across the affected areas are also expected to coordinate support for fragile residents through social and health services.

The warning system is designed to help hospitals, care homes and local administrations prepare before emergency admissions rise. Heat-related illness can range from dehydration and cramps to heat exhaustion and heatstroke, a medical emergency that can damage organs if not treated promptly. Risk increases when high temperatures persist overnight, preventing the body from recovering.

Italy has faced a sequence of severe hot seasons over the past decade, with climate trends making early and prolonged heat episodes more frequent across southern Europe. Urban centres are especially exposed because buildings and roads store heat during the day and release it slowly after sunset. That pattern can make nights uncomfortable even when daytime highs fall slightly.

The health ministry’s bulletin is updated on weekdays and provides 24-, 48- and 72-hour forecasts. Bologna and Turin also draw on regional environmental agencies for local heat-risk assessments, reflecting the role of city-level data in evaluating discomfort and public health impact.

Forecasters expect the most intense phase to ease after Thursday, with no city projected to remain under the maximum warning heading into the weekend. However, temperatures are likely to stay above seasonal norms in several areas, and the broader pattern of stable, warm weather may continue into early June across parts of Italy and central Europe.

The alert has added to scrutiny of how public authorities manage climate-related health risks before the traditional summer peak. Labour groups and medical professionals have previously pressed for stronger protections for outdoor employees during heatwaves, including adjusted working hours, shaded rest areas and clearer rules on stopping work when conditions become unsafe.