All 27 major Italian cities on red alert as fourth heatwave peaks

Italy is to place 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, the Guardian reported on Wednesday. The red alert covers every major urban centre, a measure that reflects the scale of the current heat event.

According to the Guardian, temperatures in some areas are edging close to 40C. The red alert is the highest level in Italy's heat warning system, which is designed to protect vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, during prolonged periods of extreme heat.

The alert comes as the fourth heatwave of the summer builds across the country, following a season that has already seen repeated episodes of extreme temperatures and drought conditions in several regions.

For the Marche region on the Adriatic coast, the red alert carries particular weight. Ancona, the regional capital and a major port city, is among the 27 cities affected. The coastal location offers some relief in the form of sea breezes, but the inland valleys of the Marche, where temperatures often run higher than on the coast, face the same strain on water resources that has marked this summer across central Italy.

The Guardian's reporting notes the alert system is designed to prompt local authorities to activate cooling centres and check on at-risk residents. In previous heat events this summer, Italian cities have opened air-conditioned public spaces and extended night-time opening hours for cultural sites, as the BBC reported in its guide to coping with the heat.

The repeated heatwaves have put pressure on Italy's ageing population, a demographic pattern that is particularly pronounced in the Marche, where small towns across the interior have some of the oldest average ages in the country. The red alert will test the capacity of local health services and volunteer networks that typically support elderly residents living alone.

The heat also compounds longer-term climate stress. Earlier this summer, drought conditions tightened across Italy, with the interior of Sardinia feeling the strain, and agricultural regions from Puglia to the Po Valley reporting water shortages. For the Marche's farming districts — known for grain, olives and wine — the cumulative effect of repeated heatwaves raises questions about harvest resilience that extend beyond the current emergency.

The Guardian reported the move comes as the fourth heatwave intensifies, with no immediate relief forecast. For the Marche, as for the rest of the country, the red alert is a reminder that the summer of 2026 is testing the limits of infrastructure and social support systems designed for a cooler climate.