The heat wave is about to leave Italy, heavy storms are coming.

The Italian peninsula has been gripped by an unprecedented heatwave over recent days, with temperatures soaring up to 10 degrees Celsius above historical averages. This extreme weather phenomenon has affected not just Italy but also much of Europe, where millions have experienced sweltering conditions. According to the latest bulletin issued by the Ministry of Health, 22 cities in Italy still carry the red warning label today, Monday, June 29. These include major urban centers such as Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Campobasso, Civitavecchia, Florence, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Venice, Verona, and Viterbo. The number will rise to 25 by Wednesday, July 1, as Cagliari, Catania, and Trieste are added to the list.

This heatwave has brought about significant health concerns, including deaths, cardiac incidents, and other emergencies. As the high temperatures begin to recede, however, new challenges emerge in the form of increasingly frequent thunderstorms and hail. Meteorologist Mattia Gussoni from iLMeteo.it explains that these storms are a result of the accumulated thermal energy from the prolonged period of heat. He notes that global warming, driven by increased atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide due to human activities, has raised the baseline climate temperature significantly compared to past levels. This elevated starting point allows heatwaves to reach exceptional peaks that would otherwise be impossible. Despite this, the forecast suggests that temperatures in many parts of central and northern Italy will continue to exceed 36-37 degrees Celsius through Tuesday, June 30.

The shift towards more unstable weather patterns is anticipated to occur around midweek, specifically on Wednesday, July 1, when a disturbance descending from Northern Europe is expected to impact Italy. This interaction between cooler, unstable air currents at higher altitudes and the warm, humid air mass over the Mediterranean basin could lead to particularly severe thunderstorms. Potential risks associated with these storms include heavy hail and downbursts—intense straight-line winds that can cause damage upon exiting a storm system. Regions most vulnerable to this sudden change in weather conditions are initially expected to be those in the north, followed by parts of the center-south. After this brief but intense phase of storm activity, the subtropical anticyclone from Africa is predicted to return, bringing back sunny and hot conditions across the entire peninsula.

Fabrizio Pregliasco, director of the specialization school in hygiene and preventive medicine at the University of Milan, highlights the increasing coherence of such extreme events with the effects of climate change. He emphasizes that after experiencing an intense heatwave, the risk of violent thunderstorms accompanied by strong electrical activity increases substantially. The transition from extreme heat to sudden cooling poses its own set of dangers, which require careful monitoring and preparedness measures. While some areas may see relief from the oppressive heat, others face the prospect of dealing with both residual effects of the heatwave and the potential for damaging weather phenomena.

As the situation evolves, authorities remain vigilant, emphasizing the need for continued caution and readiness among the population. With the balance of power shifting from one extreme to another, the coming days will test the resilience of communities across Italy as they navigate through yet another chapter of unpredictable weather patterns shaped by ongoing environmental changes.