After a landslide led to twelve deaths on the island of Ischia, questions have been raised about the impacts of illegal building, tourism, and climate change.
The African heatwave affecting Europe is not an anomaly, but the face of the new Mediterranean summer
Much of Western Europe is already dealing with temperatures that in many cities are approaching or exceeding 35°C.
Summer has not officially begun yet, but much of Western Europe is already dealing with temperatures that in many cities are approaching or exceeding 35°C. According to weather forecasts, the most intense phase of the heatwave could last for several days, accompanied by increasingly widespread tropical nights. This is not an isolated event. In recent years, heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense and longer-lasting, transforming from exceptional events into a structural feature of Mediterranean summers.
The African anticyclone returns to centre stage
La causa dell’aumento delle temperature è la risalita verso l’Europa di una vasta massa d’aria calda proveniente dal nord Africa, spesso soprannominata “anticiclone africano”. Questo evento meteorologico favorisce condizioni di tempo stabile, cieli sereni e una forte compressione dell’aria negli strati più bassi dell’atmosfera, aumentando così le temperature percepite.
Gli effetti sono particolarmente evidenti nelle zone interne lontane dal mare, dove i termometri possono raggiungere i 38-40 gradi. Anche le temperature notturne rimangono elevate, rendendo più difficile il recupero fisiologico dell’organismo.
The rise in temperatures is caused by a vast mass of hot air moving northward from North Africa towards Europe, often referred to as the “African anticyclone.” This meteorological phenomenon favours stable weather conditions, clear skies and strong compression of air in the lower layers of the atmosphere, thereby increasing perceived temperatures.
The effects are particularly evident in inland areas far from the sea, where thermometers can reach 38–40°C. Night-time temperatures also remain high, making physiological recovery more difficult for the human body.
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Hotter and hotter, for longer and longer
Heatwaves are not new in the climatic history of the Mediterranean. What is changing is their frequency and duration. Several international studies show how global warming is increasing the probability that exceptionally hot air masses will reach southern Europe and remain trapped for longer periods.
Over recent decades, the average temperatures of the Mediterranean basin have been rising at a faster rate than the global average. According to the MedECC scientific network, the Mediterranean is warming approximately 20 per cent faster than the global average, making it one of the world’s main climate hotspots.
The effects of heatwaves go beyond comfort
When discussing extreme heat, people tend to think mainly about physical discomfort. In reality, the consequences are much broader.
High temperatures increase energy demand for cooling buildings, worsen drought conditions and place pressure on water resources. Agriculture is affected by heat stress and water scarcity, while natural ecosystems become more vulnerable to wildfires and biodiversity loss.
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Public health is also exposed to increasing risks. Heatwaves represent one of the most dangerous weather-related phenomena in terms of mortality, especially for older adults, children and people living with chronic illnesses.
From emergency to a new normal
Every summer seems to bring new records. But focusing exclusively on temperature peaks risks losing sight of the broader picture. The issue is not so much that it becomes extremely hot for a few days, but rather that these conditions are becoming increasingly frequent.
The heatwave currently affecting Italy is yet another sign of a transformation that is already underway. The Mediterranean is considered one of the most vulnerable climate hotspots on the planet, and what we define today as “exceptional” may become the norm for future summers. The real challenge, therefore, is not predicting the next heatwave, but adapting cities, infrastructure and production systems to a climate that is changing more rapidly than we were once accustomed to imagining.
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