Heatwave to peak Friday then temps to start dropping Monday

Italy's brutal third heatwave of the

summer will peak Friday with the mercury hitting 45-46 degrees

Celsius in some parts but then temperatures will start to drop

Monday, forecaster Lorenzo Tedici said Thursday.

Despite violent thunderstorms in the north, temperatures

continue to rise.

To see the heat ease somewhat, we'll have to wait until next

Monday, according to Tedici, meteorologist and media manager for

iLMeteo.it.

"Cagliari, Nuoro, Caltanissetta, and Foggia will reach 41-42°C,"

Tedici emphasizes.

"Ascoli Piceno will reach 40°C, while the 39°C threshold will be

common in Agrigento, Terni, Florence, Forlì, Frosinone,

Macerata, and even Isernia, a surprising figure considering its

423 meters above sea level."

Not only that, but it will be even hotter inland.

Temperatures are forecast to reach 46°C in Sardinia and 45°C in

Sicily.

On Saturday, temperatures will remain unchanged across much of

the peninsula, with a maximum of 1-2°C lower in the North.

Sunday will not fare any better, with temperatures reaching 41°C

in Caltanissetta and widespread 39°C across Sicily, Sardinia,

and Calabria. Umbria and Puglia will barely reach 38°C, and only

the North will experience a further, slight drop in temperatures

with a few more clouds.

A reversal of the trend is expected between Monday and Tuesday,

with temperatures gradually but widely falling to 32-33°C.

The only exceptions will be the far South and the major islands,

which will continue to experience uncomfortably hot weather,

albeit attenuated at times.

In detail:

- Thursday the 16th. In the North: hot and sunny, with

irregular thunderstorms in the Alps. In the Center: sunny, very

hot. In the South: Sunny and exceptionally hot, with

temperatures reaching 42-43°C in Sardinia and Sicily.

- Friday the 17th. In the North: Hot and sunny, with

thunderstorms in the Alps. In the Center: Sunny, very hot. In

the South: Sunny and exceptionally hot, with temperatures

reaching 44-46°C in Sardinia and Sicily.

- Saturday the 18th. In the North: Warm with some thunderstorms

in the Northeast. In the Center: Sunny, very hot. In the South:

Sunny and still exceptionally hot.

Outlook: Gradual end of the third African heat wave from Monday,

July 20th onwards.

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