Italy is facing the hottest days of the year so far. Meteorologists are warning of an aggressive African high pressure wedge that will bring an intense heatwave across the whole country from Thursday. Temperatures are set to reach peaks of up to 40 degrees next weekend and the heat is expected to last until at least mid-August.
While today (Tuesday) and tomorrow (Wednesday) will still bring pleasant temperatures of 30 to 32 degrees across the country, the weather will change abruptly from Thursday. Warm air masses from Africa will flood the country and send thermometers soaring. According to the weather experts, Friday will be the first day on which the heat will be felt across the country, with temperatures of 37 degrees in Emilia-Romagna and 38 degrees in Umbria.
The peak of the heatwave is expected at the weekend (August 10/11). Temperatures of over 35 degrees will then be the norm in large parts of Italy. In the south, particularly on the islands and in Apulia, temperatures could even peak at over 40°C. The high humidity will further increase the perceived temperature and make for extremely humid conditions. There is no sign of cooling down any time soon, as forecasts point to a stable heat dome until at least the middle of the month.
