Red alert for 27 Italian cities as heatwave strains Milan's grid

Italy's health ministry placed 27 cities, from Trieste in the northeast to Palermo in Sicily, on red alert ahead of the weekend as a blistering heatwave across much of Europe toppled temperature records and disrupted energy and transportation systems, France 24 reported.

The heat has set a national temperature record in Austria, fueled wildfires in France and strained power grids across the continent, CBS News reported, citing officials. Italy's summer of 2026 is approaching or exceeding temperatures recorded during the infamous summer of 2003, according to The Local Italy.

For Milan, the red alert covers the Lombardy capital, where the continental climate — typically foggy and humid — is now delivering extended periods of extreme heat that test the city's infrastructure and its workforce.

The economic stakes for Lombardy are significant. Milan is Italy's financial and industrial heart, and the heatwave's disruption to energy systems raises costs for businesses and risks productivity losses in a region that drives a disproportionate share of national output. The foreign wire notes that the heat has disrupted energy and transportation systems in several countries, and Italy's cities face similar pressures.

Rome commuters are already sweltering, with The Local Italy reporting that the capital's newest metro line, Metro C, faces criticism over high temperatures while air conditioning on electric buses struggles with conditions they were not designed for. Milan's own metro and tram network, heavily used by commuters and tourists, faces comparable strains, though the foreign press has not yet documented specific failures there.

The heatwave also compounds longer-term concerns about Italy's ageing population and its vulnerability to climate stress. The Local Italy noted that temperatures are approaching 2003 levels, a summer that caused thousands of excess deaths across Europe. Foreign health officials have urged precautions, and experts shared advice with the BBC on how to avoid the worst of the Italian heat, from shopping in supermarkets during peak hours to taking night-time tours.

For Milan's business district, the practical response is adaptation. The city's glass towers and outdoor cafes are less equipped for prolonged heat than for its traditional foggy winters, and the disruption to energy systems raises the cost of cooling. The wire offers no sign of immediate relief, with the red alert extending through the weekend and temperatures expected to remain elevated.