Overview

• The second and more intense heat wave of June is set to elevate temperatures several degrees above average across the peninsula for the coming week.
• Forecasters predict peaks of 36 to 37°C in Tuscany, Lazio, Molise, Basilicata, Puglia, Sicily and Sardinia, with interior zones of the major islands possibly hitting 40°C.
• A stable high-pressure ridge will limit rainfall nationwide, although isolated thunderstorms could still break out over the central and eastern Alps.
• Rising humidity will push heat indexes dangerously high in major cities like Milan, Bologna and Rome, heightening risks of heat-related illness.
• Weather models indicate that around mid-month a cold drop may detach and sweep across central and northern Italy, unleashing thunderstorms and cooler temperatures.