Bologna, August 9, 2026 – This year is set to become the hottest summer in history. And so the unusual heat continues with very high maximum temperatures and values above 38 degrees almost every day. For this reason, in several areas between the provinces of Piacenza, Parma, Reggio, Modena, Bologna, and Ferrara, the regional civil protection has issued a yellow alert for extreme temperatures.
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For Monday, August 10, in the plains and low hills of the central sector of the region, high maximum temperatures are expected with values around 38° C or slightly higher. Scattered thunderstorms are also not excluded in the afternoon hours on the central-western Apennine ridge, with possible occasional effects and associated damage.
From Tuesday, moreover, for the entire period clear or slightly cloudy skies are expected, with more consistent cloudiness on the hills in the afternoon hours when local showers or thunderstorms will be possible. Temperatures will slightly decrease overall.
Forecast for the week from Monday, August 17 to Sunday, August 24, 2026
Next week, between Monday the 17th and Sunday the 24th, seems characterized by the progressive retreat of the high-pressure field towards the southern Mediterranean, favoring the influx of westerly currents over Northern Italy. In this context, episodes of instability will be possible, with precipitation that, overall, is expected to be slightly above the seasonal norm.
Temperatures will tend to decrease, returning to values close to the climatological average, while still remaining slightly above it.
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Tendency from Monday, August 25 until September 2026
During the period, the high-pressure field will tend to mainly affect the central-southern sector of the Mediterranean basin, while Northern Italy will remain exposed to westerly flows. In this configuration, our region may be influenced by both baric structures, with an alternation of stable phases and episodes of instability. Overall, precipitation is expected to be in line with or slightly above the seasonal norm, while temperatures will tend to return to values close to the climatological average.
The problem is the persistence of the heat, watch out for the risk of cloudbursts
At the base of this long heatwave, according to experts, is the persistence of the subtropical anticyclone over the Mediterranean and Western Europe. So the problem is not only represented by the temperature peaks, but by their duration. For over two months very hot air masses have continued to affect the country, favoring a progressive accumulation of heat that makes it increasingly difficult to cool down, especially during the night hours.
The muggy heat remains one of the most critical elements. Air coming from the Sahara crosses the Mediterranean, picking up moisture and turning the heat into an oppressive blanket. Minimum temperatures thus remain very high, especially in urban areas and along the coast, where the sea, now exceptionally warm, continues to release heat even during the night. The Mediterranean, experts emphasize, now represents a huge energy reservoir. Surface waters well above average feed the moisture available in the atmosphere and increase the potential for more intense thunderstorms. When more organized disturbances arrive, the risk will be to witness cloudbursts, hailstorms, and particularly violent wind gusts.
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