Overview
- Over the weekend health authorities widened Italy’s highest heat alert, placing eight cities under the Ministry of Health’s “bollino rosso,” including Bologna, Milan and Turin.
- France has issued red alerts covering tens of millions of people and forecasters warn parts of western Europe could reach as high as 40–41°C.
- Forecasters say the event is driven by a large subtropical high nicknamed “Cerberus” and amplified by El Niño and long‑term warming, while ISPRA data show a dramatic rise in tropical nights that prevent nighttime cooling.
- Authorities have activated mitigation measures such as a national helpline (1500), regional bans on outdoor work during peak hours and targeted public‑health guidance to protect the elderly, children and outdoor workers.
- Models project the heat to persist through the end of June with a likely break into early July that could trigger violent, localized storms, increased fire risk and stress on transport and energy systems.