ROME, ITALY / RankWire.AI / – Italy expanded its highest heat alert to 17 cities on Monday, July 20, after 14 cities faced the maximum warning Sunday. The Italian Ministry of Health issued the Level 3 notices as the country’s third major heatwave of summer 2026 continued. The alerts cover much of central and southern Italy, including Rome, Naples and Palermo. They signal health risks for the general population, not only people considered vulnerable.
Sunday’s red list included Bari, Campobasso, Civitavecchia, Florence, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Naples and Palermo. Perugia, Pescara, Rieti, Rome and Viterbo completed the 14-city group. Monday’s bulletin added Catania, Messina and Reggio Calabria, taking the total to 17. No city carried an orange heat alert Monday. Ancona, Bolzano and Cagliari remained at yellow, which represents the pre-alert level.
Italy’s heat-health system monitors 27 major cities and publishes forecasts covering the next 24, 48 and 72 hours. Level 0 indicates no heat risk, while Level 1 marks conditions that may precede a heatwave. Level 2 warns of risks for older adults, young children and people with chronic illnesses. Level 3 applies when prolonged heat can affect healthy and active people as well as vulnerable groups.
Maximum warnings extend across southern cities
The most intense conditions remained over central and southern Italy and the islands Monday. Forecasts placed Rome and Florence near 36 degrees Celsius, Naples near 34 degrees and Palermo near 37 degrees. Parts of Sicily and Sardinia continued to face temperatures above 40 degrees. Northern areas recorded lower readings and more unstable weather, creating a sharp split between southern heat and storms across sections of the north.
Italy’s Civil Protection Department issued separate yellow alerts for thunderstorms and rain in parts of Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Marche and Veneto. Those notices addressed ordinary weather risks rather than the heat-health alert system. The overlap left Italy managing two distinct hazards Monday: dangerous heat across many central and southern cities, and storm risks across several northern and Adriatic areas. Local authorities continued monitoring both sets of conditions.
Health guidance targets peak daytime heat
Health officials urged residents and visitors to avoid direct sunlight during the hottest hours and limit strenuous outdoor activity. They also advised people to drink water regularly, choose light meals and keep indoor spaces as cool as possible. Special attention remains necessary for older people, infants, pregnant women and those with heart, lung or other chronic conditions. Residents should also check on relatives or neighbors who live alone and may need help during prolonged heat.
The rise from 14 red alerts Sunday to 17 Monday reflected new maximum warnings for Catania, Messina and Reggio Calabria. The other 14 cities remained at Level 3 for a second day. Italy updates its heat bulletins throughout the summer, allowing residents and local services to track city-specific health risks. The latest notices kept Rome, several regional capitals and major tourist destinations under the country’s highest heat warning as the heatwave persisted.