Fifth heatwave splits Italy as Alpine valleys brace for storms

Italy is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the summer, with forecasters warning of highs approaching 42C in central and southern regions while the north faces a contrasting spell of thunderstorms, according to The Local Italy.

The country will be divided in two, weather experts say, with a brief but intense burst of heat expected to affect the central and southern parts of the peninsula over the coming days. The forecast follows a summer that has already tested Italy's regions with repeated extreme weather events, from severe storms in Lombardy to drought conditions elsewhere.

For the Valle d'Aosta, the forecast points to the northern pattern: thunderstorms rather than the searing temperatures expected further south. The Alpine region, which has already seen an extraordinary summer of climate extremes, now faces the prospect of heavy rainfall and potential instability in the high mountains.