Weather: Sunny and warm until Sunday, then autumn brings downpours

ROME – Summer shows no signs of letting up, bringing Italy one last weekend of sunshine and scorching temperatures, with peaks of up to 34 degrees Celsius (22 degrees Fahrenheit) in Sicily, Tuscany, and Umbria. But the weather pattern is set to change abruptly: starting Monday, September XNUMXnd, coinciding with the autumnal equinox, a significant deterioration is forecast, paving the way for widespread low-pressure systems and, in some areas, even full-blown downpours.

The North African high pressure system, which is currently embracing the Italian peninsula, will continue to ensure clear days and sunny skies until Sunday the 21st. The September heat will peak between Saturday and Sunday, with highs above 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit) in much of central and southern Italy and up to 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit) in several areas of the country. In Rome , temperatures will reach 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit), while in northern Italy, from Sondrio to Trento , temperatures will be surprisingly similar to those in the south.

But the idyll is destined to end: according to meteorologists, the turning point will come at the beginning of next week. Unstable currents will bring widespread rain, thunderstorms, and a drastic drop in temperatures, marking the final farewell to summer and the arrival of autumn.