Heat wave in northern Italy: asphalt is melting on the A4!

Heat wave in northern Italy: asphalt is melting on the A4!

In northern Italy, an extreme heat wave is causing significant problems, especially on the motorways. Temperatures rise to up to 37 degrees, which is a challenge not only for people but also for the infrastructure. The A4 motorway is particularly affected, where there are repeated temporary closures between Verona South and Verona East. This is due to asphalt deformation and the associated difficulties in traffic flow. The current temperatures here are reaching more than 35 degrees, which is having a significant impact on the road surface, which has deformed and one lane had to be temporarily closed, such as derstandard.de reported.

The situation is particularly critical on a section of the A4 near Vicenza, where long traffic jams of over 30 kilometers between Montebello Vicentino and Sommacampagna force travelers to linger. This is due to the fact that one lane in the direction of Milan is closed. Despite the major challenges, some access roads were able to be reopened after a few hours. The high volume of traffic and waiting times highlight the problems caused by the extreme heat.

Climate alert and tropical nights

The high temperatures are not only a burden for drivers, but also for the entire region. A state of climate alert has been declared in Veneto to draw attention to the health risks. The nights offer little rest, the temperatures do not drop below 22 degrees and, according to meteorologists, lead to so-called “tropical nights” that are becoming increasingly normal. South Tyrol News points out that these extreme events are part of a new climatic reality that is becoming increasingly apparent.

The agricultural sectors are also affected. High evaporation rates lead to water losses, which poses a particular threat to corn cultivation during a sensitive growth phase. Forecasts show that water losses of up to 60 millimeters are expected over the next ten days. This could have significant consequences for the crop. At the higher altitudes of the Marmolada, at 3343 meters, plus degrees were also measured, which shows that the zero degree level is now 500 meters higher than last year, which is massively driving glacier retreat.

Although local thunderstorms were forecast for Thursday, there is no sustained cooling in sight. The combination of extreme heat and the associated challenges makes it clear that the population in northern Italy must prepare for a prolonged heat wave, while the infrastructure and the environment must respond to these extreme conditions.