The regional environmental protection agency reported today, Friday, that the city of Milan in northern Italy recorded a new daily average temperature record of 33 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, as the heatwave that began around mid-August reached its peak.
According to the agency's statement, the 23rd and 24th of August were the hottest days this summer across the Lombardy region surrounding Milan, with several towns experiencing temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. The statement added that the Italian Alps also witnessed "unusually scorching" temperatures.
The agency noted that the heatwave is about to end, but this will open the door for thunderstorms and a sharp drop in temperatures by 10 to 15 degrees Celsius early next week.
Milan experienced its hottest days since the Milan Brera meteorological station began recording temperatures in 1763. The highest temperature recorded in Milan was 32.8 degrees Celsius on August 11, 2003.
The Italian capital, Rome, recorded unprecedented temperatures of 41.8 degrees Celsius in July, similar to many regions in southern Europe this summer, leading to wildfires and prompting governments to issue health warnings, disrupting the vacations of many tourists.
