Il great heat begins to loosen its grip on Italy. Today, Monday 17 August 2026, a disturbance arriving from central Europe brings instability to several regions, with showers and temporal locally intense. The Civil Protection has issued aYellow weather alert in 13 regions for thunderstorms, hydraulic risk and hydrogeological risk. The change will be progressive: after today's disturbed passage, two calmer days are expected, but from Thursday August 20 one may come new and more intense phase of bad weather, accompanied by a sharp drop in temperatures.
Yellow weather alert today, August 17: the affected regions
The alert concerns Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Puglia, Tuscany, Trentino-Alto Adige, Umbria, and VenetoThe risk of storms affects many sectors of the regions involved, while for the hydrogeological risk the yellow alert concerns some areas of Calabria, Molise, Tuscany, and Trentino-Alto AdigeA flood warning has also been issued in Calabria.
The first precipitations are expected from late morning, initially mainly on Lombardy, Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna, and then extend to Tuscany, Umbria, Marche, and AbruzzoThunderstorms may be accompanied by locally heavy rain, gusts of wind, hail, and frequent lightning. In the South, the day will begin with large clearings, but thunderstorms may develop in the afternoon along the Apennines, Gargano, and the Campania coast. The passage of the weather system will primarily affect mountainous areas, the northeast, eastern Liguria, northern Tuscany, and some areas of the Adriatic coast.
The disturbance will also bring a first drop in temperatures, still low but sufficient to alleviate the heat and mugginess of recent weeks. The reduction will be more evident in the coming days, especially in the North and along the Tyrrhenian coasts. The overall situation also shows the first signs of change: the first green zones appear on the Ministry of Health's maps, while the maximum alert level remains only in Bari.
The sun returns on Tuesday and Wednesday, then the weather worsens again
After today's disturbed passage, the weather will gradually improve. Tuesday August 18 the North will return to largely stable, with clear or partly cloudy skies, while in the Centre some thunderstorms may persist, especially along the Adriatic regions. Wednesday August 19 will prevail instead Nice weather Over much of Italy, with only a few isolated showers possible in northern Calabria. Temperatures will continue to drop on both days, gradually returning closer to seasonal averages.
The truce, however, will be short-lived. Thursday August 20 a new and more important one is expected worseningCurrent forecasts indicate the arrival of an Atlantic low pressure system that could initially affect the Northwest and then extend to the rest of the North and the Tyrrhenian regions. The contrast between different air masses could favor severe thunderstorms, strong wind gusts, and hailstorms, accompanied by a more pronounced drop in temperatures, especially in the Central and Northern regions. The trajectory and intensity of these phenomena will, however, need to be confirmed in future updates.
The great heat towards the end
After weeks of heat and high temperatures, Italy is preparing for a change of scenery. The first signs arrive today, August 17, with thunderstorms and a drop in temperatures, followed by a brief lull between Tuesday and Wednesday. The real turning point could come in second part of the weekIf current forecasts are confirmed, the low pressure system expected from Thursday will bring cooler and more unstable weather, especially in the North and the Tyrrhenian regions, gradually putting an end to the most oppressive phase of the summer.
