Heat wave in Italy: Motorists fight for melting asphalt!

Heat wave in Italy: Motorists fight for melting asphalt!

Vienna, Österreich - In northern Italy, a current heat wave affects traffic and public health. With temperatures of up to 41 degrees Celsius, average values of about 35 degrees, the region has extreme weather conditions that are already burdening the infrastructure. On the A4 motorway between Verona Süd and Verona Ost, toll stations had to be temporarily blocked due to deformations of the road surface. These deformations are a direct consequence of the high temperatures that melt the asphalt and endanger the safety of the drivers. After a few hours, however, the access roads were released to restore the flow of traffic. The situation remains problematic between Montebello Vicentino and Sommacampagna, where traffic jams have formed over more than 30 kilometers because a lane towards Milan was blocked for security reasons FOCUS.

The region is currently experiencing the unusually high temperatures caused by a high -pressure area from North Africa. Especially in the inner regions of Sardinia, Sicily and Central Italy, maximum values beyond the 39 degrees Celsius, as well as in Florence and Rome. In the mountains, the zero -grade boundary was raised to over 4,500 meters, while on the Marmolata, the highest mountain of the Dolomites, plus degrees were registered at 3,343 meters. Meteorologists expect a change in the weather with a low pressure area from Northern Europe from the coming weekend, which could bring strong thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain, which should lead to a noticeable cooling in northern Italy, such as Vienna reported.

Health effects of the heat wave

The extreme temperatures lead to an increase in heat-related emergency visits to hospitals, especially in the Policlinico Gemelli in Rome, where about 20 percent of patients are treated due to heat-related symptoms. Older people and patients with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases are most affected. The symptoms range from slight dehydration to a drop in blood pressure, but no increase in serious cases was found compared to the previous year.

The health risks from heat waves should not be underestimated. According to the [EEA] (https://www.eea.europa.eu/de/signale/signale-2023/artikel/hitzewellen-und-andere-klimabede-extreme events), heat waves represent the greatest direct climate-related threat to health. Elderly people, children and people with previous illnesses are at risk. The European population is increasingly facing a higher risk of heat -related diseases, since high temperatures have increasingly fatal consequences in recent years. The regular occurrence of such extreme events has led to the warning to take appropriate adaptation measures and to sensitize the health service.

precautionary measures and recommendations

The authorities in Italy advise the population to avoid overexertion and take measures to minimize health risks. Signs of the threatening effects of climate change such as heat waves go hand in hand with the fact that the summer months in Europe are increasingly shaped by high temperatures. These shifts in the climate patterns require a rethink and targeted adjustments from those responsible.