By Euronews
The fifth heatwave has reached its peak on Friday, splitting Italy in two, with temperatures in central and southern regions and on the islands exceeding 40°C, around ten degrees above the seasonal average, while severe thunderstorms are due to reach the north in the next few hours.
Humidity is making matters worse, pushing the perceived temperature at least five degrees higher than the actual reading, and bringing scorching nights, known as "tropical", with temperatures in many cases close to 30°C.
Despite the slight improvement forecast for the coming days, meteorologists have warned that temperatures will remain well above average even in September.
Nine cities have been placed under red alert for heat, where health risks linked to extreme sultriness are significant even for people not considered vulnerable. The cities affected are Bari, Cagliari, Campobasso, Catania, Latina, Messina, Palermo, Reggio Calabria and Rome.
