An African heat wave has swept Italy, but also China, Japan and the United States. On the Peninsula from July 10 to July 20, more than 100 "alert level 3s", (red dot for heat wave) were issued for 25 out of 27 cities monitored by the Ministry of Health, with Rome and Rieti reaching as many as 11 consecutive days of alert. These are the official figures, cited by Legambiente, to sound the alarm about the heat wave that has been bending Italy for days. The capital city recorded a record 41.8 degrees, exceeding last year's 40.7. Other cities suffering the most include Florence, Frosinone, Latina and Perugia, with 10 red dot days out of 11. However, the Italian Peninsula remains split in two, since in such intense heat, storm phenomena once developed can manifest themselves with particular violence. This is what has already happened in the Alps, but in general Northern Italy in the coming days will risk very intense thunderstorms associated with large hail, as well as sudden and violent gusts of wind with potential damage.