Violent thunderstorms over half of Italy, cool air on the way

Italy is divided meteorologically: while some areas still enjoy sunshine and summer heat, others are being hit by violent thunderstorms. Starting today, Tuesday, September 22nd, showers and thunderstorms are affecting the western Alpine Arc, the Emilia-Romagna Apennines, Marche, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Calabria, Basilicata, and Sicily, with possible localized downpours and hailstorms.

Simultaneously, cool air is arriving from the northern quadrants, causing a noticeable drop in temperatures, particularly pronounced on the Adriatic side, with lows down to 10°C in the province of Gorizia. A near-general respite is expected on Thursday, followed by a new phase of instability in the Central-South on Friday, before the return of fair weather on Sunday.

The current weather situation stems from the clash between two opposing air masses. On one side, a high-pressure system persists over central-western Europe, bringing stable and dry weather. On the other, cool currents are descending from the northern quadrants towards the Balkan peninsula, grazing eastern and southern Italy.

This thermal contrast, typical of the autumn transition period, triggers the atmospheric instability responsible for thunderstorms. The Tyrrhenian Sea, still warm after summer, provides additional energy to the phenomena, increasing the risk of intense showers and hail along the coasts. The situation has evolved gradually: after weeks of predominantly stable weather, the first infiltrations of cool air began to alter the picture, with the temperature drop preceding the arrival of the thunderstorms.

The immediate consequences are locally intense precipitation, especially in the South and on the islands, and a noticeable drop in temperatures, particularly felt in the Adriatic regions. The weather pattern remains unstable, with forecasts of further deterioration over the weekend before a stabilization.