Italy Weather: African Anticyclone Ends, Rain & Snow Forecast March 8-11
Italy is bracing for a shift in weather patterns, moving from an extended period of high pressure dominated by an African anticyclone to a return of rain and potential snowfall, according to forecasts from meteorologist Mario Giuliacci.
Giuliacci, in recent reports, has outlined a two-phase weather system. The first phase, characterized by the prolonged influence of the African anticyclone, is expected to last until approximately March 6-7. The anticyclone’s core is currently positioned over Tunisia and Libya, with warmer air currents extending towards Italy. However, Giuliacci cautioned that clear skies will not be universal, noting that the Alps will be the only region experiencing consistently sunny conditions, while the rest of the country will likely see fog or overcast skies.
Coastal areas are particularly expected to experience localized showers. A brief interruption to the high-pressure system is anticipated between March 1 and 2, with a North Atlantic disturbance bringing rainfall to Northern Italy before the anticyclone reasserts its dominance through March 6-7.
The weather pattern is then forecast to change dramatically starting March 8. Giuliacci predicts a return to widespread rainfall, particularly across Central and Southern Italy, with lighter precipitation in the North. A significant development is the potential for snowfall at altitudes between 9 and 11 March on the Alps and the central-northern Apennines, with a probability estimated between 30 and 50 percent. This could bring snow to sectors of the central Apennines as well. A general cooling trend is expected across the entire Italian peninsula concurrent with the shift in precipitation.
Recent reports indicate that temperatures could reach as high as 25 degrees Celsius in Sardinia during a period between March 20 and 21, as the African anticyclone extends its influence across Italy. However, the immediate forecast focuses on the approaching change in conditions and the potential for colder temperatures and snowfall in the coming days.