The fifth heatwave reached its peak on Friday, splitting Italy in two, with temperatures in the centre and south and on the islands rising above 40°C, a full ten degrees above average, and severe thunderstorms expected in the north in the coming hours.
Making matters worse is the humidity, which pushes the perceived temperature at least five degrees above the actual reading, as well as scorching nights, dubbed "tropical", with temperatures in many cases close to 30°C.
