A red weather alert has been issued for the Puglia region of Italy, effective from midnight Tuesday, February 17, 2026, due to forecast strong north-westerly winds and resulting rough seas along exposed coastlines. The alert, issued by the Protezione Civile Puglia, extends for 20 hours and includes the province of Bari.
The regional civil protection agency anticipates wind gusts reaching storm force, accompanied by significant wave action. Rain is also expected, particularly during Tuesday morning, with conditions forecast to improve in the afternoon as skies clear. The website 3BMeteo.com predicts more stable weather on Wednesday, with clear or partly cloudy skies. However, a return to unsettled conditions is expected from Thursday, with increased cloud cover and precipitation, though a return to better weather is anticipated over the weekend.
The regional system of civil protection in Puglia, established under Regional Law 53/2019, comprises the regional Protezione Civile section, the provinces and the municipalities, each with specific responsibilities within their territories. The regional structure coordinates, directs, and promotes civil protection activities as part of the national system.
The Province of Bari’s coordination of volunteer associations and municipal civil protection groups is managed by the CVPC Bari, located in Modugno. The Prefettura – Ufficio Territoriale del Governo di Bari also maintains a civil protection division, with recent updates focused on the management of spring-summer exoduses, including updated plans released as recently as July 29, 2025.
The Comune di Bari’s Ripartizione Corpo di Polizia Locale e Protezione Civile, based on Via Paolo Aquilino, is also involved in local preparedness efforts. The regional Protezione Civile provides ongoing monitoring through systems like the Synapsi Regione Puglia, a planning and emergency management system, and publishes regular bulletins on critical situations, wildfires, heat waves, and weather conditions.