Fifth heatwave of summer pushes central Italy to the brink

Italy is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the summer, with forecasters predicting highs approaching 42C in central and southern parts of the country, according to The Local Italy. The country will be divided in two, with a brief but intense spell of heat affecting the centre and south while the north faces thunderstorms.

The forecast deepens a summer that has already been marked by extreme conditions across Europe. The Local's reporting describes a season in which the brutal reality of climate change has forced its way into daily life, with repeated heatwaves, drought and violent storms replacing the languid summers of memory.

For Abruzzo, the heatwave arrives at the end of a dry season that has left the region's mountain watersheds under strain. The Apennine highlands, which supply much of central Italy's water, have seen lower than average snowpack in recent winters, and the summer heat compounds the pressure on rivers and reservoirs.