ITALY PERSPECTIVE

Rome, May 28, 2026. Five Italian cities under maximum red alert, 21 under yellow pre-alert: the Health Ministry triggered its level 3 – the highest – for Rome, Florence, Bologna, Turin, and Brescia. This 'red flag' means, according to the official definition, 'possible negative effects on the health of healthy and active people,' not just vulnerable populations. Pescara was placed in orange, and only one city, Campobasso, in the Apennines, was spared.

Meteorologists at IlMeteo.it describe an 'exceptionally abnormal heat phase for late May, caused by a powerful subtropical push that mainly affects the Centre-North.' In the Po Valley, thermometers topped 35°C, with tropical nights where the minimums did not drop below 20°C. Satellite images from Sentinel-3, published by the European Space Agency as part of the Copernicus program, show red zones covering the Po Valley, Lazio, Campania, Puglia, Sicily, and Sardinia – a summer glimpse in the heart of spring.

Italy compares favorably to its neighbors: the UK recorded its hottest May day since records began, at 35.1°C, and France suffered similar records. Italian media highlight that the country has been 'largely spared' from the worst continental excesses, even if the heatwave was deemed severe for the season.

The tourism sector, in full expansion – foreign visitor numbers surged 17.4% in March 2026 – is an immediate concern. In front of the Colosseum, Spanish and American tourists interviewed by The Local Italy testify to improvised adaptation strategies: early risers, air-conditioned restaurant breaks, museum visits in mid-day. Authorities have issued practical recommendations, including a Health Ministry note advising people to 'stay in the shade' and avoid the hottest hours.

ANSA anchors the episode in a structural trend: European heatwaves 'become increasingly early, anticipating late spring temperatures typically associated with summer.' The first similar episode dates back to 2003, a symbol of extreme summers. In this context, the national news agency reiterates the WMO's projections, which suggest that global average temperatures for 2026-2030 will range between 1.3 and 1.9°C above pre-industrial levels, with an 86% probability that at least one of these years will break the 2024 record. The year 2027 is designated as particularly concerning, due to the expected return of El Niño by the end of 2026.

A brief respite was forecast for the end of the weekend – alpine storms and a cold front from Scotland – before a return of the heat for the Republic Day holiday on June 2.