ROME: Italy has expanded its highest-level heat alert to 18 cities as the country continues to grapple with its third major heat wave of 2026, prompting health officials to warn of serious risks to public health.
According to Italy’s Health Ministry, the city of Cagliari will join 17 other urban centers under the maximum Level 3 (red) heat warning on Tuesday. Cities already under the alert include Rome, Naples, Florence, Palermo, Catania and Genoa, among others.
The ministry said a Level 3 alert is issued during prolonged periods of extreme heat that pose significant health risks not only to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with chronic illnesses but also to healthy adults and children.
Italy’s national heat warning system monitors 27 major cities, issuing daily forecasts and health advisories during periods of extreme temperatures.
Forecasters expect weather conditions to improve slightly by Wednesday, when the number of cities under the highest alert is projected to decline to seven. Those expected to remain under the red warning include Cagliari, Catania, Messina, Naples, Palermo, Reggio Calabria and Rome.
Italy has already experienced three major heat waves this year, with previous periods of extreme temperatures linked to multiple heat-related fatalities, highlighting growing concerns over the impact of increasingly frequent and intense summer heat events.
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