Amid record heat and thunderstorms, Italy is divided over the weather: the forecast.

On one side, strong thunderstorms, on the other, record-breaking heat that doesn't let up. This is an extreme summer, where the suffocating heat is now compounded by extreme weather events, hitting parts of Italy, divided in two by the weather. In the coming days, therefore, after the weakening of the anticyclone, we will see the scenario described by the experts: showers, especially in the North and parts of Central Italy, while the South will remain hot. But is the worst really over, at least as far as temperatures are concerned? Here's what meteorologists have in their forecasts for today, Tuesday, August 18, and the days to come. 

With the first real Atlantic breeze, the atmosphere literally ignited. The arrival of slightly cooler air at high altitude was enough to trigger powerful thunderstorms. The numbers speak for themselves: 7.000 lightning strikes in a single hour recorded in Tuscany and wind gusts exceeding 100 km/h in the Po Valley, accompanied by torrential rain concentrated in just a few minutes. 

Don't miss the latest news from La Milano: Add us to your favorite sources on Google in just one click.

Lorenzo Tedici, meteorologist and media manager at iLMeteo.it, reminds us that this is the flip side of a very hot summer of 2026: after accumulating extraordinary thermal energy, the end of the fourth heat wave is causing chaos across half of Italy. 

The extreme "encore" in the Center-North
 

While the instability that has hit central and northern Italy in recent hours is sliding southward (bringing some heavy showers to the Lower Tyrrhenian Sea and the Apennine ridge), attention is already turning to mid-week. 

Between Thursday, August 20th and Friday, August 21st, we will see a true encore of extreme weather, which will severely impact the North and parts of Central Italy (Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche) for 48 hours. The heaviest downpours are expected near the Alps, Prealps, Triveneto, and the stretch between Eastern Liguria and Upper Tuscany. 

But why will these storms be so strong? Two "explosive ingredients" are primarily to blame: 

The boiling sea: the waters of our seas are recording abnormal temperatures that even reach 30-31 degrees. 

The suffocating humidity: the amount of water vapor accumulated in our plains during three uninterrupted months of heat acts as fuel for thunderstorm cells. 

Those on holiday in the South, however, can rest assured: from Wednesday onwards, the days will return to being mostly sunny and warm. 

Goodbye to the African heat or a fifth wave lurking?
 

The intensity of the low-pressure system on Thursday and Friday will be crucial to understanding what lies ahead for the end of the month. The question everyone is asking is: will these storms permanently wipe out the African heat, at least in central and northern Italy? 

Currently, the general trend suggests this could be the last week with the dreaded 40°C temperatures (still expected in the South). However, there's a danger not to be underestimated: some weather models are skewing the trend and are indicating the concrete possibility of a fifth African heatwave starting Monday, August 24th. 

In short, to finally say goodbye to the Summer of Records, we'll have to wait a few more days. 

Tuesday the 18th. Sunny in the North. Sunny in the Center, with some showers in the Apennines. Scattered thunderstorms in the South, mostly but not limited to the mountains, sunny elsewhere. 

Wednesday, the 19th. In the North: Sunny, some thunderstorms in the mountains; clouds in Liguria. In the Center: Sunny. In the South: Mostly sunny. 

Thursday the 20th. In the North: Severe weather with thunderstorms. In the Center: Thunderstorms from the evening. In the South: Sunny and warmer. 

Outlook: Further strong thunderstorms in the North and Tyrrhenian regions on Friday, August 21; sunnier but unstable weather at times on the weekend. 

(Adnkronos)