As northern Italy reels from near-record hailstorms, forecasters warn of a fourth heatwave hitting southern Europe next week, with temperatures expected to reach as high as 48C. The Italian region of Veneto was hit by extreme weather, including large hailstones, on Thursday, leaving over 110 people injured. Governor Luca Zaia declared a regional state of emergency for the affected areas, describing the hail as “absolutely out of the ordinary” with stones measuring over 10cm in diameter.
Italy remains gripped by its third heatwave of the summer, despite the peak passing on Wednesday. Rome’s civil protection department set up 28 “heat help points” around the city to prevent residents and tourists from suffering from health problems in the extreme temperatures. Some hospitals reported a 20-25% increase in emergency unit admissions due to dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
In Sicily, temperatures reached 46-47C on Tuesday and Wednesday, with the European record of 48.8C set in August 2021. Chef Gaetano Serio, who works at Osteria Lo Bianco in Palermo, described the conditions as “unbearable,” saying that working in the kitchen was like being in a sauna. Temperatures in factories in the southern region of Basilicata were nearing 40C, prompting warnings from the CGIL union about the risks to workers’ health and safety.
The Unusual Weather Pattern Behind Europe’s Heatwave and Devastating FloodsFarm workers in Marsica, Abruzzo, were working from 4am-11am to avoid the hottest hours, while factory workers across the country threatened to strike over the extreme heat. Temperatures are expected to reach almost 48C in Sicily and Sardinia, according to data from ilMeteo.it.
In Greece, strong winds reignited wildfires in the west of Athens, prompting more evacuations. The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, said the fire service and civil protection authority would remain on high alert as a new heatwave moves eastward across the country. Temperatures are expected to reach 45C on Sunday, prompting the declaration of a state of emergency on the island of Rhodes. Authorities in Athens announced that archaeological sites, including one at the Acropolis, would be closed during the hottest hours of the day.
The risk of fires in Spain remains high, with temperatures peaking at 44C in some regions and an all-time record of 44.2C recorded in Málaga. Meanwhile, in Tunisia, firefighters are battling a major blaze that has raged for two days in a pine forest near the border with Algeria.