ISTANBUL

A new wave of extreme heat is expected to sweep across Italy, with meteorologists warning of potentially record-breaking temperatures in the country’s southern regions and major islands.

The hot air mass, dubbed the third "African heat wave" of the summer, will primarily affect southern Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia, where temperatures could reach 48 degrees Celsius (118 degrees Fahrenheit) and approach the European record of 48.8 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) set in Sicily in August 2021, according to Italian news agency Rai.

Authorities say temperatures will remain significantly above average throughout the week, with highs expected to exceed 42°C (108°F) in Puglia, Basilicata, Sardinia, and Sicily.

The heat will also be felt in central Italy, with highs nearing 36°C (97°F) in cities such as Rome and Florence.

Filippo Anelli, president of Italy’s National Federation of the Orders of Physicians, urged “maximum attention” to vulnerable groups such as the elderly and people with chronic illnesses during the heat wave.

Meanwhile, northern regions are expected to face unstable weather conditions due to the interaction between the incoming African heat and a low-pressure system over northern Europe.

The clash is likely to trigger intense thunderstorms, hailstorms, and heavy rainfall, particularly over the Alps and Prealps.

Italy’s weather services described the current climate divide as “a clear sign of an exceptionally extreme summer,” as the country grapples with both scorching temperatures and severe storms.