Rome. Photo: PassportNews Italy faced one of the most extreme weather days of the summer on Sunday, July 19, with the country torn between an unusual heat wave in the center and south and a stormy system in the north, accompanied by heavy rains, lightning storms and the risk of flooding.
According to the Italian Ministry of Health, 14 cities are under a red heat alert, the highest level on the warning scale. Among the cities: Rome, Naples, Florence, Palermo, Bari and Pescara. This is a risk level indicating extreme heat conditions that could affect the entire population, not just the elderly, children and people with underlying diseases.
In the south of the country and on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia, unusual temperatures are being measured for the season. Following the situation, the authorities activated the national emergency line and medical assistance systems, with estimates that in the coming days the number of cities under code red will increase to 17.
While southerners are dealing with severe heatwaves, the picture is completely different in the north of the country. The Civil Protection Department has issued a yellow alert for the regions of Lombardy and Veneto, due to fears of heavy rains, thunderstorms, hail, strong winds and local flooding.
Authorities have instructed emergency teams to increase their alertness due to fears of flash flooding in urban areas, falling trees, and disruptions to transportation and electricity infrastructure.
At the same time, fire services are reporting dozens of active fire centers across the country, mainly in Sicily and the Campania region. The fires, fueled by severe drought and strong winds, have led to the establishment of regional emergency response teams and the reinforcement of firefighting forces in an attempt to prevent the fire from spreading to communities and vital infrastructure.
For those staying in Italy or planning to arrive there in the coming days, the authorities recommend that they follow local updates, avoid prolonged exposure to the sun in the central and southern regions, and stay updated on weather forecasts in the northern regions, where there may be localized disruptions due to the storms.