Yeah, I didn’t expect it as well :D Is it also quite humid in Rome at this time? I can imagine that there is no time to rest from these temperatures...
I wonder from time to time how much of this is climate change related. For example there is record breaking drought in Poland, Vistula river is at all time low, 15cm deep in Warsaw. That means ground water levels dropped and there is not enough water to keep water level. Is it similar in Italy too?
Yes, it's very hot in Rome. Historically, though, the city was in an ideal position, protected by the Apennines to the east and open to the sea in the west. In the evenings, a breeze would rise from the sea, which we used to call il ponentino (the west wind). Thanks to this natural ventilation, Rome used to be much breezier, and even in summer, the humidity would drop, making the nights more bearable.
But now the city has become overbuilt and massive. It is sprawling and densely urbanized. The ponentino can barely make its way through all the concrete anymore.
On top of that, daily temperatures are noticeably higher. I don’t remember ever seeing 47°C on the car display in June just a few years ago, but now that has become a reality. The nights are unbearable, and the days feel like hell. When I open the windows, it feels like I’m in Bali, except without the beaches. I gasp for air like a fish out of water, trapped in a glass ball thick with humidity. You could almost wipe the air with a cloth and wring it out.
Winter hardly exists anymore. On December 31st, when I step out on the balcony to watch the New Year's fireworks, I wear just a sweatshirt, no heavy coat. I only need my coat for a couple of months, January and February. Rainfall is also scarce. Even the river suffers, and so does Lake Bracciano, the most important water reserve for Rome. Two years ago, the lake fell below its minimum level, forcing water rationing.
So yes, we are definitely in the middle of climate change. You can see it in the wildlife too. We are full of invasive species like the vespa velutina (Asian hornet) and American cockroaches, which were much less common before. When I talk about this, I feel anxious. I have two children, and I worry that one day we might face wars, not only the terrifying ones we are already living through, sometimes forgotten, sometimes overly politicized, but wars over water resources, which will be scarce and polluted.
I did not want to be heavy or depressing. Sorry if I am. You touched on a topic that really scares me.
Sending you a hug.
Thank you for sharing your feelings, none are too much, this topic is important to me too and it's painful to see how much we collectively stray from our connection to nature. Hugs!
Come here for winter! It gets freezing 🥶 (NYC)
!PIZZA !ALIVE