Italy Weather Alert: Heavy Rain, Snow & Strong Winds – Feb 19th
A widespread Atlantic disturbance is forecast to bring heavy rainfall, localized low-altitude snowfall, and strengthening winds across Italy, prompting a yellow alert in nine regions, the Department of Civil Protection announced Wednesday.
The weather system is expected to rapidly traverse the entire Italian peninsula, bringing widespread precipitation. Snowfall is anticipated above 200-400 meters in southern Piedmont and the western Ligurian hinterland, with moderate accumulations. Higher elevations – above 600-800 meters in Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and Veneto – are forecast to receive moderate to heavy snowfall.
Beginning Thursday morning, strong southerly winds, shifting to westerly, are predicted across Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche. These winds will extend to Lazio, Campania, Abruzzo, Molise, and Basilicata, with gusts reaching gale force along exposed coastal areas and potentially escalating to storm force along the Apennine ridge. Strong waves are also expected along exposed coastlines.
From late Thursday morning, gale to strong gale-force winds from the west are forecast for Sardinia, accompanied by violent waves along exposed coasts. The Department of Civil Protection has issued a yellow alert for Umbria, and parts of Calabria, Lazio, Molise, Abruzzo, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany, Lombardy, and Friuli-Venezia Giulia.
The Department of Civil Protection is coordinating with regional authorities, who are responsible for activating local civil protection systems. The national bulletin of criticality and alerts, detailing potential hydrogeological and hydraulic risks, is available on the Department’s website (www.protezionecivile.gov.it). The meteorological situation and predicted criticalities are updated daily based on latest forecasts and evolving conditions.
Regional alert levels, specific local risks, and preventative measures are managed by territorial civil protection structures, with which the Department will continue to monitor the situation.