Rome included in 'bollino rosso' heatwave warning.

The Italian health ministry has issued a red alert heatwave warning for eight major cities on Tuesday 11 July, as temperatures tip 40°C.

The cities included in the level-three weather warning are Bolzano, Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Turin, Rome and Rieti.

The 'bollino rosso' indicates emergency conditions with possible negative effects on not just the elderly, sick or very young, but also on healthy and active people.

Allerta per le ondate di calore: previsto fino a mercoledì 12 luglio il livello 3 (bollino rosso)

Attiva H24 la sala operativa della Protezione Civile di Roma Capitale al numero verde 800854854 o al numero 06 67109200

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— Roma (@Roma) July 10, 2023

The red alert will remain in place on Wednesday 12 July for Florence, Frosinone, Latina, Perugia, Rome and Rieti, as well as Bologna.

A level-two orange alert is in place on Tuesday in Ancona, Bologna, Brescia, Campobasso, Milan, Pescara, Verona, Viterbo.

The 'bollino arancione' indicates weather conditions that pose risks of negative effects on the elderly, sick or very young.

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The health ministry recommends avoiding exposure to the sun and outdoor activity in the middle of the day, as well as advising people to drink plenty of water, eat lightly and preserve their medication properly. Dogs should be walked early in the morning and late evening.

Tourists in Rome should be aware that the city's historic fountains are off-limits, no matter how hot it gets, with fines of €450 for those caught entering the waters.

For heatwave details see health ministry website.

Photo credit: Vereshchagin Dmitry / Shutterstock.com.