Overview

• Italian forecasters warn an African anticyclone will bring the strongest heat wave in decades across central and southern regions.
• Daytime highs above 40°C are expected from Sardinia to Puglia, with inland areas of Sicily and Sardinia reaching up to 45–46°C by July 21–22.
• Meteorologists caution eastern Sicily could challenge the European high-temperature record of 48.8°C and approach 50°C between July 22 and 23 under dry, compressional winds.
• Northern Italy is forecast to experience thunderstorms, hail and localized flash floods over the weekend as an Atlantic front clashes with the heat dome.
• Meaningful relief is not anticipated until around July 25, when an Azores anticyclone is predicted to replace the Saharan high.