Bologna, August 7, 2026 — A small sigh of relief, but without lowering the guard. After days marked by temperatures close to 40 degrees and the highest heat alert, including the suffering equatorial nights, Emilia-Romagna is preparing to experience a slightly less scorching weekend, but still hot. However, it will be a short-lived respite: forecasts indicate a new and strong intensification of the African anticyclone, especially starting from August 12, with values expected to return well above average at least until mid-August.
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The day of Thursday, August 6 was probably the hottest of the summer in terms of the extent of the phenomenon. According to experts from 3Bmeteo, peaks of 39-40 degrees affected much of Emilia-Romagna, along with large areas of Northern and Central Italy. It is no coincidence that the Ministry of Health had extended the red alert to all major Italian cities. At least over the weekend, something will change. Temperatures will drop a few degrees, especially in the North, but will continue to remain at high levels.
The influence of “El Niño” also weighs in, the natural climatic phenomenon that causes an abnormal warming of the surface waters of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. Bologna will also remain among the 19 Italian cities with the red alert both Saturday and Sunday, while other northern areas — such as Milan, Turin, Venice, and Verona — will drop to lower alert levels.
Scorching heat, the problem is not the peak but the duration
At the base of this long heatwave is the persistence of the subtropical anticyclone over the Mediterranean and Western Europe. According to meteorologist from 3Bmeteo Edoardo Ferrara, 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 cooling increasingly difficult, especially during the night hours.
Humidity remains one of the most critical elements. Air coming from the Sahara crosses the Mediterranean loading with humidity 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 humidity 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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Nanni: “Brief dip, then intensification from August 12”
The ‘pause’, however, will last little. Roberto Nanni, meteorological technician at Ampro, already invites to look at next week: “After the peak of these days, with temperatures widely above climatic averages by 6-7 degrees, between August 8 and 11, a slight easing of the heat is expected. However, it will be a temporary dip, with values that will still remain well above the period’s norm. Subsequently, starting from August 12, models forecast a new intensification of the African high pressure, which could bring thermal anomalies again very high. The duration and intensity of this phase are still to be defined, but the model signal appears today more consistent than in recent days.” Below are the Arpae forecasts for the weekend.
Saturday, August 8
According to Arpae, tomorrow, Saturday, August 8, the sky will be characterized by variable cloudiness from the morning, while in the afternoon local showers may develop on the central-western hills. Isolated thunderstorms are not excluded along the Apennine ridge, with occasional effects and associated damage. In the evening, wide clearings will return. Temperatures will slightly decrease: minimums between 22 and 24 degrees, maximums between 32 and 34 degrees along the coast and on the Emilian plains, up to 35-36 degrees in the more inland plains. Winds will blow weakly from the southeast, with slightly rough sea.
Sunday, August 9
Sunday the sun will be the protagonist for most of the morning. In the afternoon, local showers may reappear on the central-western hills, again with the possibility of isolated thunderstorms on the Apennine ridge. Temperatures will remain high: minimums around 22-23 degrees and maximums between 34 and 35 degrees on the coast and the Emilian plains, with peaks of 36-37 degrees in the inland areas. Winds will be weak from the east, with local strengthening in the areas affected by the phenomena, while the sea will be very rough in the morning, gradually easing from late afternoon.
