There is now little doubt about the weather projections for next week: a vigorous comeback of the African anticyclone over the central Mediterranean is on the way. This phenomenon, known for bringing intense and sometimes extreme heat waves, promises to “inflame” our peninsula with very high temperatures. This will be the first real heat wave of the season across the entire country, given that so far the heat has been seen almost exclusively in the South.
A weekend of transition
Already over the course of this weekend, high pressure is beginning a process of strengthening on our peninsula, bringing greater atmospheric stability and a gradual increase in temperatures. The rise of hot air from the south-west will begin to be felt, with temperature values reaching 30-32 degrees, with slightly higher peaks in the south of the country. However, it is still a heat that is all in all bearable, even pleasant if we want.
Hot next week, 40° and above in the Center-South
Everything will change radically in the next week. The African anticyclone will intensify considerably, attracting increasingly warmer air towards the entire peninsula. From Tuesday to Fridaya hot periodwith a strong blaze coming directly from the very hot lands of Algeria and Tunisia.
During this phase, it will be very hot not only in the central-south, but also in the north, particularly in the Po Valley. Temperatures will rise significantly everywhere, far exceeding seasonal averages. The highest values are expected in the central-southern regions, with peaks of 38-40 degrees in many locationsespecially in major islands, in Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata, and in the internal areas of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio. Even Rome could reach 40 degrees.
Locally, even higher temperatures could be recorded: up to 42-43 degrees in Sardinia, Sicily and the Foggia area. An asphyxiating heat is therefore expected which will cause high temperatures even during the evening and night hours, when humidity levels will inevitably tend to rise, creating conditions of considerable discomfort, especially in large urban areas and along coastal areas.
Intense heat also in the North
Even in the north, although with generally lower values than in the centre-south, maximum temperatures will widely reach i 32-33 degrees, with a more sultry heat. Particular attention must be paid between Thursday and Friday, when the hot air will rise more towards the north, bringing the temperatures of the Emilian and Venetian plains to peaks of 36-38 degrees. This should coincide with the peak of the heat in the northern regions.
Possible mitigation
The extreme heat should only begin to ease next weekend, especially in the north, while the central-south could still remain under the scorching dome of the anticyclone, perhaps with a few degrees less.
We remain ready to update you, but in the meantime, let’s prepare to experience a hot week.
