Italy's 27 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 comes as temperatures in some areas edge close to 40C, the paper said.

The measure, which takes effect as the summer's fourth heatwave builds, places every major urban centre under the most severe warning level. The Guardian reported that the alert spans the entire peninsula, a rare nationwide application of the highest heat category.

For the Abruzzo bureau, the red alert carries a particular resonance. L'Aquila, the regional capital, sits at more than 700 metres in the Apennine highlands, where the continental climate has historically offered cooler summer nights. The heatwave now pressing on the cities is also reaching the mountain interior, though the region's altitude has so far moderated the worst of the temperatures.

The Guardian's report on Wednesday said the red alert — the highest level in Italy's heat warning system — would apply to all 27 major cities, including Trieste in the north and Palermo in the south. The fourth heatwave of the summer has intensified conditions across the country, with some areas approaching 40C, according to the paper.

The nationwide alert follows weeks of extreme heat that have already reshaped daily life in Italian cities. Earlier this summer, authorities in several municipalities imposed water restrictions and advised residents to avoid outdoor activity during peak hours. The Guardian's coverage this week noted that the red alert is the most severe category, indicating health risks for the general population, not only the vulnerable.

For the high Apennines, the heatwave adds strain to a region already marked by the memory of disaster. L'Aquila, rebuilt after the 2009 earthquake, has a population that is acutely aware of the fragility of infrastructure under stress. The mountain communities of Abruzzo, which depend on summer tourism and agriculture, face the same heat that is testing the cities, even if the altitude tempers the extremes.

The Guardian reported that the alert would be in place as the heatwave continues to intensify. No end date was given in the wire item. The red alert is expected to remain in force while temperatures stay elevated, with authorities advising residents to take precautions.

The regional consequence is real but measured. Abruzzo's national parks — the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga, the Maiella — attract visitors seeking relief from the coastal and urban heat. The red alert in the cities may push more people into the mountains, bringing both economic benefit and added pressure on the fragile alpine environment that the region's conservation-minded communities work to protect.