Italy is battling an African anticyclone that has pushed temperatures to up to 40 °C, prompting the Ministry of Health to warn of “abnormal conditions” in mountain areas.
Heatwaves in Italy
In Florence a temperature of 41.4 °C was recorded, while Scansano reached 40.7 °C. Governor Eugenio Giani reminded the public that the governor’s decree forbids construction workers from operating during heatwaves. Mountain temperatures between 4 500 m and 4 800 m above sea level are expected to fall below zero, which prompted the Italian Ministry of Health to issue a yellow alert for the Aosta Valley amid “abnormal conditions.”
African Anticyclone’s Influence on Weather
The African anticyclone, which will dominate the weather through the weekend until 15 August, is projected by Rai News to lift temperatures above 40 °C in Lazio and Tuscany, and 38‑39 °C in Liguria, “quite atypical for the region.” The Padan plain will see thermometers reading 37‑39 °C. On Ligurian coasts the temperature may not fall below 28‑30 °C even at midnight, according to iLMeteo.it. On Wednesday 13 August the highest alert will apply to 16 cities.
Deadly Heatwaves
An analysis by Imperial College London’s Institute of Data Studies revealed approximately 2 300 heat‑related deaths this year, including 499 in Milan, 282 in Rome and 6 in Sassari. More than 60 % of these deaths are attributed to extreme temperatures, intensified by climate change. The study also includes victims on beaches recorded during the late‑June to early‑July 2025 heatwave.
