Italy faces blistering 39C heat as all 27 major cities under 'red warning' - full list

It is the first time this year all 27 monitored cities have been placed under the highest heat warning. 22:16, Wed, Aug 5, 2026 Updated: 22:17, Wed, Aug 5, 2026 Tourists brave the sweltering conditions at the Colosseum in Rome (Image: Amer Ghazzal/Shutterstock)Italy will place all 27 of its major cities under its highest heat alert on Thursday as the country's fourth heatwave of the summer continues to intensify. The move marks the first time this year that every city monitored by Italy's Health Ministry heat surveillance system has been placed under its maximum red warning. Officials said 25 cities were already on maximum alert on Wednesday, with two more due to join the list on Thursday.A red alert is issued when prolonged periods of extreme heat are expected to pose a health risk to the entire population, increasing the likelihood of heat-related emergencies rather than affecting only vulnerable groups. Temperatures in parts of the country have climbed towards 40C in recent days, prompting authorities to issue a series of public health recommendations aimed at reducing the risks associated with the extreme conditions. People have been advised to avoid direct sunlight between 11a...