Italy puts all 27 major cities on highest heat alert

Italy has placed all of its 27 major cities, from Trieste in the north to Palermo in the south, under the highest heat alert as the fourth heatwave to hit the country this summer intensifies, according to the Guardian. The red alert covers every major urban centre, with temperatures in some areas edging close to 40C.

For Puglia, the alert arrives at the peak of the harvest and tourist season. The region's olive groves and vineyards are already under strain from drought, and the heat now threatens the quality and yield of the summer crop. The coastal towns of Salento, which draw thousands of visitors this month, face the challenge of keeping tourists safe while maintaining the region's reputation as a Mediterranean escape.

The heatwave is not merely a discomfort but a structural test for the South. Foreign coverage has repeatedly linked Italy's rising temperatures to agricultural stress, from the Xylella crisis in olive groves to the search for climate-resistant wheat. The red alert makes plain that the problem is no longer seasonal but systemic.