Civil Protection Department

Heatwaves

• National prediction and alert system
• What heat waves are
• Health risks
• Advice for defending yourself from the heat

National prediction and alert system

From 2012 the National prediction and alert System for prevention heatwaves effects is coordinated by the Ministry of Health. Heatwaves bullettins of 27 Italian cities, and heatwaves safety tips, are available on the Ministry of Health website, heatwaves section.

The System is operational from 15 May to 15 September.in 27 Italian cities (Ancona, Bari, Bologna, Bolzano, Brescia, Cagliari, Campobasso, Catania, Civitavecchia, Firenze, Frosinone, Genoa, Latina, Messina, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Pescara, Reggio Calabria, Rieti, Rome, Turin, Trieste, Venice, Verona, Viterbo). From its activation in 2004 to 2011, the System was coordinated by the Civil Protection Department.

The technical aspects of the system are managed by the Department of Epidemiology of Lazio region, which operates as a National Centre of Competence (CC) as provided by the 27 February 2004 Directive of the President of Council of Ministers.

The programme includes the activation of prediction and alert systems in the main Italian cities for preventing heatwaves effects on health. The whole of such systems has been denominated Heat Health Watch Warning Systems - HHWWS, and allow to spot, for a specific urban area, weather conditions that may a significant impact on vulnerable people's health.

Based of such models, daily bullettins are issued for every city with possible effects of weather forecast of the next 24, 48 and 72 hours. Bullettins are sent to local centres indicated by the relevant Administration, in order to activary, if necessary, emergency intervention plans.

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