The heatwave sweeping across Italy is intensifying and, according to the latest bulletin from the Ministry of Health, tomorrow six cities will be under a red alert: Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Florence, Perugia, and Turin. In addition to these, twelve cities under an orange alert, indicating that the heat poses a particular danger to the elderly and frail. According to meteorologist Tommaso Torrigiani of the Lamma-Cnr Consortium, temperatures in some parts of the South have already risen beyond 40 degrees, particularly in Puglia and Basilicata, where the peak is forecast within the following day. However, the Center-North is also preparing for hot days: between Saturday and Monday, temperatures could reach 40 degrees in the inland districts of Tuscany, Lazio, and some areas of the Po Valley. Between Saturday and Sunday, Florence, Ferrara, and Terni will reach 40 degrees in the shade, while Milan and Rome will fall just short, reaching 39°C. The heat wave is being driven by an African anticyclone that is expected to last at least ten days, with two peaks: the first on Thursday, June 26, and the second on Sunday, June 29. Temperatures are forecast to decline slightly following July 2. Concerns have also been raised about the length of the heat. Torrigiani draws parallels with the historic summer of 2003, which featured temperatures 5 degrees above the seasonal average and increased health concerns, particularly for those over 75. In Perugia, which is already on red alert, emergency room visits have increased in recent days, with one in every four patients classed as fragile. Additionally, the meteorologist explains that the current heatwave was initiated by humid currents from Africa, which were drawn to a low-pressure region on the Iberian Peninsula. A distinct phenomenon from the more critical one anticipated in the upcoming months, when the African anticyclone will reach its full intensity. Finally, the heat will be more extreme around the coasts, where the Mediterranean, which has been overheated by more than 5 degrees, will no longer have the customary cooling effect. Tropical nights will also be felt here, with minimum temperatures not falling below 20 degrees, making sleep more difficult.