Weather forecasts indicate that the current heat wave plaguing Italy will not abate for at least another week. In addition, the weather conditions are expected to worsen due to the arrival of a current of warm subtropical air from the heart of the Sahara, which will head towards the center-south and the main islands of the country.
heat intensification
The heat, already unbearable, will intensify further in the coming days. Temperatures could reach exceptional, perhaps even historic, levels in parts of the south and the main islands. Between Wednesday 19 and Tuesday 25extreme heat is expected, with temperatures likely to exceed 44-45°C in several places in the interior, far from the sea, such as Puglia, Basilicata, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia.
extreme high altitude isotherms
This now arriving subtropical air mass will be characterized by high altitude temperatures (around 1600 meters) near 27-28°C. These values are extreme for that altitude! Naturally, such temperatures will quickly reflect on the ground, where the thermometer will easily exceed 40-41°Cespecially in areas far from the sea.
Start of next week exaggerated
If that wasn’t enough, the temperature could rise even higher between July 24 and 25. Early next week, an extraordinary isotherm of +30°C at 1600 meters. This is just a prediction right now, but it’s not entirely unfounded. Under these conditions, the soil temperature could reach 46-47°C in the inland areas of the south, while on the coasts we would have temperatures around 35-40°C with high humidity levels.
Is a possible update coming up?
Early next week could mark the peak of this long African heat wave. After July 25the hypothesis of a general cooling over all of Italy seems to arise thanks to the advance of a new Atlantic front.
Hail, thunderstorms and fresh air on the way?
This interruption could remove much of the excessive heat accumulated in the previous days, causing a significant drop in temperatures. The thermal decrease, of course, would be produced by strong storms, torrential rains and hailstorms.
Extreme weather events expected
Given the enormous amount of energy that will be present on the Italian territory, it is reasonable to expect extreme weather events as fresh air passes through.
Conclusion
In summary, the weather forecast indicates an intensification of heat in the coming days, with temperatures that could reach historical levels. However, after July 25 there may be a general cooling accompanied by extreme weather events.