African Heatwave Pushes Temperatures to 45°C in Sardinia and Sicily From July

A major wave of African heat is set to hit Italy’s Centre-South and the Greater Islands starting Tuesday, July 14, with temperatures expected to peak at up to 45°C in inland areas of Sardinia and Sicily. The heat is driven by a North African high pressure system positioned between Tunisia, Sardinia and southern Italy, bringing hot air masses from the Algerian desert, alongside intense nighttime humidity along the coasts.

Forecast models including ECMWF and GFS indicate a sharp temperature rise, with anomalous isotherms aloft—up to 28°C at 1,600 meters and around 27–30°C near 850 hPa. The highest point is expected between July 17 and 20, with the most extreme conditions in the Centre-South and islands (local highs of 42–44°C and near-45°C values), while the North is more marginal but still faces the risk of severe thunderstorms and hail in inland and mountainous areas.
Italian Version