Heat alert for 17 Italian cities this weekend

An orange heat alert has been issued for 17 cities across the country this weekend as the mercury is set to rise above 40 degrees C amid the return of an African anticyclone to Italy.

The cities with the second highest alert level, when even the young and fit are advised to shun the midday sun, are: Ancona, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Campobasso, Catania, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome, Trieste, Verona and Viterbo.

“The peak of the African anticyclone will be rfeached this weekend with 42 degrees in Sicily and 40 in Puglia (Bari and Foggia), but we’ll also see 38 degrees in Matera, while the central towns of Ascoli Piceno and Chieti will register 37,” said Andrea Garbinato of the website ‘iLMeteo.it’.

Rome will reach 35 degrees, Florence 36, and Milan 32, he said.

“The heat will start building from Friday onwards, up and down the country,” he said.

Via ANSA