Italy Braces for Fifth Heatwave of Summer as Temperatures Near 42C

Italy is bracing for its fifth heatwave of the summer, with forecasters warning of highs approaching 42C across central and southern parts of the country. According to The Local Italy, the nation will be divided in two, with a brief but intense spell of heat set to affect central and southern Italy while the north faces thunderstorms.

The forecast comes after a summer that has already tested the country's resilience to extreme weather. For Campania, the heat arrives at the peak of the tourist season, when Naples' narrow streets and the archaeological sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum draw thousands of daily visitors.

The regional capital has grown accustomed to summer heat, but the intensity of this year's conditions has pushed the city's infrastructure and its residents to their limits.