Bad weather hits the Northwest: orange alert in Liguria

An Atlantic disturbance is hitting northwestern Italy on Sunday, October 18, 2026, bringing intense bad weather conditions. Liguria is the most affected region, where an orange weather alert has been issued by the Civil Protection due to the risk of severe thunderstorms and heavy downpours.

The bad weather also extends to Piedmont, with heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. In the Alps, the drop in temperatures has brought the first snowfall of the season at higher elevations. Forecasts indicate a worsening of conditions throughout the day, with persistent rain and strong winds in the northwestern regions.

Today's weather event is caused by the arrival of an Atlantic disturbance, a low-pressure system laden with moisture moving from the Atlantic Ocean toward the Mediterranean. This phenomenon is typical of the autumn season, when the clash between the still-warm air masses over the sea and the colder ones arriving from the north generates instability and intense precipitation, especially in regions exposed to the northwest like Liguria and Piedmont.

Weather alerts, such as the orange alert currently active in Liguria, are a forecasting and prevention system managed by the Civil Protection Department together with meteorological agencies. They are issued when forecast models indicate the likely occurrence of intense events that may cause damage or disruption. The scale ranges from green (no criticality) to yellow, orange, and red (maximum criticality). An orange alert implies that intense meteorological phenomena are expected, with possible damage to infrastructure, homes, and roadways, requiring particular attention from the public and authorities.