Italy places all major cities on red alert

Italy put all 27 cities in its national heat surveillance system on red alert on Thursday, August 6, as a new wave of extreme temperatures spread across southern and central Europe. The move put every major Italian city under the country’s highest heat warning level at the same time, according to Italy’s Health Ministry and reports from ABC News, CBS News and Reuters. Austria set a national temperature record during the same heat event, while France was battling wildfires and several countries were reporting strain on power and transport systems. ### How unusual is it for Italy to put every major city on red alert? Italy’s Health Ministry had already said on Tuesday, August 4, that all 27 monitored cities would be on red alert by Thursday as the country’s fourth heatwave of the summer intensified. Reuters reported that 25 cities were already on red alert on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Messina and Reggio Calabria due to join them on Thursday. (ingest.abcnews.com) Reuters described Thursday’s nationwide top-tier warning as an “unprecedented step.” CBS reported it was the first time this year that the entire network of monitored cities had been placed under the highest warning level simultaneously. ### What were conditions like on the ground in Italy? Emilia-Romagna was among the hottest parts of Italy on Thursday, with Reuters reporting temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in several areas and 42.8C near Ravenna in Bagnacavallo. (yahoo.com) ABC and CBS both said temperatures had climbed above 104 degrees Fahrenheit in several countries affected by the broader European heatwave. (yahoo.com) Italy’s response included public-health measures aimed at limiting exposure. Reuters reported that some cities offered free museum access for older residents seeking cooler indoor spaces, while Rome extended screenings in air-conditioned cinemas for people over 70. ### What else was happening across Europe? Austria set a national heat record during the same weather system, according to ABC and CBS. (aol.com) Both outlets linked the record to the broader heatwave that was affecting Italy, France and parts of central and eastern Europe. GeoSphere Austria, the national weather service, was publishing current temperature monitoring and climate data as the heat continued on August 6. (straitstimes.com) France was dealing with wildfires that had already been worsened by earlier heat and drought conditions. ABC and CBS said the new heatwave was fueling fires in France, while France 24 reported that firefighters had been battling major blazes in the southwest and warned that renewed scorching temperatures could intensify them. (ingest.abcnews.com) ### Why were energy and transport systems under pressure? Hungary switched off decorative lighting at state buildings including parliament, Buda Castle and Chain Bridge to save energy during the heatwave, Reuters reported. Romania was also facing strain tied to low water levels and high temperatures, according to Reuters’ August 6 reporting on the regional impact. (ingest.abcnews.com) Reuters said record-low Danube water levels were creating problems for energy supply and river shipping in parts of central Europe. That added to the transport and infrastructure disruption cited by ABC and CBS in their broader accounts of the heatwave’s effects. ### Where does this story go next? Italy’s next official signal will come from updated Health Ministry heat bulletins covering the 27 monitored cities. (msn.com) GeoSphere Austria’s weather and climate portals were also continuing to publish temperature data on Thursday, August 6, as authorities across Europe tracked whether the heat, wildfire risk and energy pressure would persist into the next several days. (yahoo.com 1) (yahoo.com 2)