Italy is once again turning "red" as the country faces its third major heatwave in just a few weeks. The peninsula is bracing for a severe spike in temperatures that could drive thermometers up to 45°C (113°F) in inland parts of the Center-Sud. Strikingly, the freezing level - the altitude at which temperatures drop to zero - is projected to climb past a record-breaking 5,000 meters.
The Ministry of Health’s risk map looks increasingly alarming. While four cities - Florence, Perugia, Brescia, and Turin - are under the maximum Level 3 alert (red code) today, three more cities, including Rome, Bologna, and Frosinone, will be added tomorrow. The crisis is compounded by an ongoing drought and severe water shortages already disrupting parts of the Piedmont region, with fears that restrictions could spread nationwide.
In Florence, which has been under a continuous red alert since July 8, conditions are critical. Perceived temperatures are hovering between 37°C and 39°C, while overnight lows fail to drop below 22°C, leaving homes with no chance to cool down.
The extreme weather is fast becoming a labor crisis. In Florence, delivery riders for Glovo and Deliveroo have called a strike. Their demand is clear: a halt to outdoor deliveries during peak heat hours without any loss of income. Meanwhile, staff at the historic Palazzo Vecchio museum have petitioned Mayor Sara Funaro, demanding urgent interventions to regulate the indoor climate of offices and exhibition halls.