Heat wave in Campania: peak at 41 degrees and forecast for July

Italy is once again under the grip of the African heat. second heat wave of 2026 is reaching its peak in these hours, with temperatures reaching peaks of 41% between Tuscany and Emilia and a perceived temperature that along the Ligurian coast reaches up to 45 degrees due to high humidity. The Ministry of Health has issued the red dot for 16 Italian cities, including Milan, Rome, and Turin, while for Naples and Campania the peak is expected in the next few days.

The subtropical anticyclone continues to strengthen, bringing sunny days and intense heat from north to south. According to meteorologists, the situation may only begin to improve in early July. In the meantime, it's helpful to understand what to expect and how to best cope with this period of extreme heat.

The heat wave that hit Naples in recent days Temperatures had already reached 33 degrees Celsius. Now the situation is set to worsen further.

Red alert in 16 cities: the latest situation

The Ministry of Health, led by Horace Schillaci, has issued a red alert for Wednesday, June 24, in 16 Italian cities. This is the highest alert level, signaling emergency conditions for the entire population, not just those at risk. The affected cities are spread across the country, with a particular concentration in Central and Northern Italy.

The head of the ministry has announced a meeting for Thursday 25 June technical table to monitor the emergency's evolution and evaluate operational options. Schillaci recalled that heatwave bulletins have been issued since May 25th, with three days of forecasts each time, and noted the existence of a set of guidelines that will be further disseminated. The priority, the minister added, remains to protect the most vulnerable people, the elderly and children.

Record heat in the South: when the peak arrives in Campania

So far, Southern Italy has remained partially unaffected by the most intense heat, but the situation will change rapidly. As explained Gianni Messeri, meteorologist of the Lamma Consortium (Tuscany Region and CNR), between Friday 26 and Saturday 27 June extreme temperatures will reach Campania, Puglia, Molise and Sardinia, while between Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 it will be the turn of Calabria and Sicily.

The reason, Messeri specifies, lies in the particular conformation of the anticyclone, which pushes a lot on the western sector and then presses towards the east. The peak is expected in Florence on Saturday with 40 degrees and on Monday in the Po Valley with 41. For Naples and Campania the maximum temperatures should settle around 35-37 degrees, but with high humidity levels that will make the heat feel more intense. Even in the South, lows will struggle to drop below 20 degrees, making nights particularly muggy.

Why summer storms bring no relief

Scattered thunderstorms are occurring in various regions these days, but don't be fooled. According to Lorenzo Tedici, meteorologist at iLMeteo.it, these showers offer no real relief from the heat. It's a matter of physics: they're not associated with the passage of an Atlantic disturbance accompanied by cool air aloft, but are generated exclusively by excess heat and the rapid saturation of water vapor in the atmosphere.

During these events, the temperature drops by just one or two degrees, while the humidity level rises further. The result for the body is zero: the perceived temperature remains the same, with the oppressiveness and discomfort remaining unchanged. This mechanism also explains why, despite a few showers, the feeling of mugginess doesn't diminish.

The effects of heat on daily life: blackouts and inconveniences

The heat wave is not only putting people's health to the test, but also infrastructure. In Naples, the Blackout on Corso Umberto, leaving 300 customers without electricity. It was caused precisely by prolonged exposure to high temperatures, which put stress on the electricity grid. This phenomenon could repeat itself in the coming days, with the peak heat also arriving in Campania.

Overloading the electricity grid due to the massive use of air conditioning is one of the most common consequences of prolonged heat waves. Authorities recommend limiting non-essential consumption during peak hours and promptly reporting any disruptions to grid operators.

When will the heat wave end: the forecast for July?

To glimpse a turning point, patience will be needed. Lorenzo Tedici stares at the horizon. first days of July, while Gianni Messeri indicates Tuesday 30 June as the first day with a "very slight, if not almost imperceptible" decline. The most encouraging indications point to 2 and 3 July, with a stormy break capable of mixing the air and lowering the temperatures more widely.

Until then, according to iLMeteo.it, the subtropical anticyclone will continue to strengthen, bringing sunny days and intense heat from north to south, with thunderstorms mostly confined to the Alps and Apennines. In the meantime, it's essential to follow the authorities' recommendations: avoid going out during the hottest hours of the day, stay hydrated, don't leave pets or people in cars, and pay particular attention to the elderly and young children, who are the most vulnerable in extreme heat.