Fifth heatwave of summer bears down on Basilicata

Italy is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the summer, with forecasters warning of a brief but intense spell of heat set to affect central and southern Italy while the north faces thunderstorms, according to The Local Italy. Highs are expected to approach 42C in the worst-affected areas, the report said.

The country will be divided in two, forecasters said, with the scorching conditions concentrated south of Rome. For Basilicata, a region already accustomed to continental heat in its mountain interior and Mediterranean warmth on its coasts, the incoming wave tests the rhythms of daily life and work.

The forecast follows a summer in which climate extremes have repeatedly forced their way into European daily life, as The Local Italy documented in a separate report on the season's brutal reality. European nations have increasingly weighed adaptation measures, with a Guardian survey finding majorities across six countries favouring easier installation of home air conditioning over emissions cuts.