A severe heatwave is tightening its grip on parts of the Middle East, South Asia and southern Europe, with authorities in multiple countries issuing health alerts and forecasting further temperature rises. In Bangladesh, the capital Dhaka saw its first sunshine in nearly a week on Tuesday after days of torrential rain, but the reprieve was brief, with more downpours expected.

Iran’s meteorological service warned that temperatures would rise by 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in Tehran and 16 other provinces, with the capital expected to reach 41°C on Wednesday. Italy’s health ministry placed seven cities, including Rome, Bologna and Florence, under its highest ‘red’ alert for Wednesday, warning of a serious risk to the entire population. In Israel, temperatures in inland and mountainous areas were forecast to be slightly above seasonal averages, with a further increase in heat stress expected on Wednesday. Germany’s national weather service said the south-west could see highs of 35°C on Tuesday, with some areas reaching 37°C on Thursday before a cooling trend at the weekend.

The picture is more complex in South Asia. Bangladesh’s meteorological office said that after six days of heavy rainfall that caused flooding in at least 11 districts, Dhaka recorded 175 mm of rain on Sunday — the highest in the country. While sunshine returned on Tuesday morning, the office warned of further rain by midday, though not as intense as the previous week. In Germany, forecasters warned of locally severe thunderstorms in central and southern regions, with the risk of heavy downpours and hail, even as the north remained mostly dry and sunny.

Meteorologists in Bangladesh noted that two more low-pressure systems could form later this month, but said the likelihood of a repeat of the recent deluge was low. Across the affected regions, the immediate concern is the health impact of prolonged high temperatures, particularly for the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Authorities in Iran, Italy and Israel have advised residents to avoid outdoor activity during peak hours and to stay hydrated. The heatwave is expected to persist in many areas until at least the weekend, with monitoring ongoing.