An exceptional heatwave is sweeping across Europe, with peak temperatures expected between Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 July. In Italy, Sardinia could reach 43-45 degrees, with values near 40 in central and southern regions including Lazio and Tuscany, while the North may see around 38 degrees. The Ministry of Health has placed several Italian cities on red alert, including Perugia and Florence, with the remainder on orange or yellow alert.

According to La Stampa, Europe is warming at more than double the global average rate, a trend attributed by experts to the increased frequency of hot air masses from North Africa combined with overall temperature rises of one to two degrees. Air from Algeria and Morocco is expected to push temperatures 7-8 degrees above seasonal averages.

France has placed 37 departments on red alert, with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees. A fire in the Fontainebleau forest, about 60 km southeast of Paris, has burned approximately 800 hectares, prompting the closure of the A6 motorway and disruptions to the Paris-Lyon TGV line.

In the United Kingdom, researchers at Imperial College London, the Met Office, and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine estimate heat-related deaths in England and Wales may exceed 2,700. The UK experienced two unprecedented heatwaves in May and June, with monthly records of 35.1 and 37.7 degrees respectively. According to La Repubblica, citing the EuroMoMo institute of the WHO, total heat-related deaths in Europe could reach 10,000.

In China, temperatures in the Xinjiang region have reportedly exceeded 49 degrees. In Italy, a state of water emergency has been declared in Piedmont, and the temperature of Po Delta water has reached 32 degrees, causing the disappearance of around 90 percent of clams and mussel mortality.

Health authorities recommend drinking at least eight glasses of water a day, avoiding sugary and ice-cold drinks, alcohol, and coffee, and favoring hydrating foods such as watermelon, melon, cucumber, zucchini, strawberries, cherries, apricots, and tomatoes. Fried and salty foods should be limited. People with hypertension should be aware that heat can alter the response to antihypertensive medications, and several medications including diuretics, statins, anti-inflammatories, and antibiotics may cause adverse reactions during extreme heat.

Regarding animal care, the National Animal Protection Agency (ENPA) advises avoiding walks during the hottest hours, ensuring fresh water is always available, never leaving animals in cars, and using high-protection sunscreen for dogs and cats. Extra attention should be paid to brachycephalic breeds.

For cooling, it is recommended to sleep with windows closed, shutters lowered, and air conditioning set between 25 and 27 degrees. Dehumidifiers are useful but dry air can irritate eyes, nose, and throat. Fans are effective up to 32 degrees but should never be directed at the body. Tepid showers around 27 degrees are preferable to cold ones, as very cold water constricts blood vessels and reduces heat dissipation. Applying cold water to wrists and ankles is a practice also recommended by emergency services.

In the labor sector, outdoor work may be suspended during peak alert days from 12 to 16. According to a Greenpeace-Cgil report, approximately 1.5 million workers in construction and agriculture are at risk of suspension. Coldiretti estimates a 30 percent drop in agricultural harvests. On Wednesday 15 July, Glovo and Deliveroo riders in Florence called a strike over low wages and working conditions.