Weather forecast: bad weather is coming: rain in the North, but heat of up to 40°C returns in the South.

Severe weather returns to Italy after weeks of extreme heat: starting Thursday, August 20, an Atlantic low pressure system will bring heavy rain to the north and Tuscany, with accumulations of up to 100 mm. In the south, however, the African heat will persist, with peaks of 40°C. 

Lorenzo Tedici, meteorologist and media manager for iLMeteo.it, confirms that, after months of unbearable heat, an Atlantic low is poised to bring much-needed relief, first reaching northern Italy and then parts of central Italy. 

The turning point will begin to be felt on Thursday, with heavy rains hitting Liguria and Lombardy starting in the morning. During the day, the instability will spread across the north and, by the evening, will also reach Tuscany. We expect significant cumulative rainfall, up to 30-50 mm in 24 hours, especially in Lombardy and Piedmont. This equates to 50 liters of water per square meter of land: a godsend to provide some relief from the drought and to inhibit the outbreak of new fires. 

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The worst of the bad weather, however, is expected on Friday, August 21st, exactly two months after the astronomical start of this record-breaking summer of 2026. It will be a day of heavy rain in the North and Tuscany: in Lombardy, rainfall will reach nearly 100 liters per square meter, while in Liguria and locally in Tuscany, it will exceed 70 mm. 

In effect, an entire summer's worth of rain will fall in a single day. This is more great news for thirsty nature and will finally break the sultry heat. 

Meanwhile, however, Italy will literally split in two. While the North will breathe a sigh of relief under the umbrella, the African anticyclone will continue to dominate the South unchallenged. Temperatures will remain around 38°C, with a further and dramatic rise expected right around the weekend. Prepare for new, exhausting peaks of 40°C that will hit widely from Puglia to Campania, passing through Basilicata, Calabria, and Sicily. 

This clear divide will consolidate over the weekend. In the North and Tuscany, we'll still have the chance for a few brief refreshing showers, while in the South and the rest of Central Italy, the African heat won't recede. 

This weather pattern could remain with us until the end of the month: a scorching South under a dome of high pressure, a more unstable and capricious North, and Central Italy acting as a "middle ground" between the two extremes. 

Ultimately, this is good news for everyone: those on vacation, especially in central and southern Italy, will continue to enjoy the sun and heat of midsummer; those returning to work in the north will find a few more clouds and pleasant temperatures, perfect for mitigating the exceptional heat of a summer that will likely go down in history books as the hottest ever. 

IN DETAIL
 

Wednesday the 19th. In the North: Sunny, some thunderstorms in the mountains by evening. In the Center: Sunny. In the South: Sunny, showers in the mountains, especially in Calabria. 

Thursday the 20th. In the North: unstable weather with scattered thunderstorms. In the Center: thunderstorms from the evening. In the South: sunny and warmer. 

Friday the 21st. In the North: Very unstable with scattered thunderstorms. In the Center: Scattered showers and thunderstorms. In the South: Sunny and warmer. 

Outlook: Sunnier weekend, locally unstable in the North. 

(Adnkronos)