Italy s scorching heatwave set to ease

Rome Aug 10 (IANS/AKI) The searing 40C plus temperatures that have gripped Italy this month will drop in the next few days and just one Sicilian city - Catania - is set to remain on the health ministry s maximum heat alert weather reports said on Thursday.

Meanwhile thunder and hailstorms and torrential rains have hit the north of the country especially Piedmont Lombardy and Valle d Aosta while unsettled weather is forecast over the weekend in southern Italy and on the Adriatic 3bmeteo.com reported.

Temperatures will rise again across Italy next week and will reach 35-36C in the centre and south - above the seasonal average - but are not expected to return to 40C and above according to 3bmeteo.com.

Currently 16 Italian cities including Rome Bologna Napoli Bari and Palermo are on the ministry s "red alert" - or level 3 threat - defined as "emergency conditions with possible adverse health effects for healthy and active people" due to the sweltering heat.

--IANS/AKI
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