Cyclone Austen brings cold and rain to Italy, with temperatures falling.

Saturday, October 24, 2026, Italy will be affected by the passage of a disturbance linked to the cold cyclone 'Austen,' originating from the Balkans and France. The day will be unstable in the Northeast with showers over Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia, turning to snow above 1300-1500 meters. In Central Italy, instability will increase from the afternoon over the Adriatic regions with showers, possibly thundery, while in the South, rain will particularly affect Campania before spreading further.

Winds will be strong to gale-force from the Maestrale (northwesterly), especially in the Northwest and around Sardinia, with rough seas. Temperatures will see a significant drop, particularly in the North, where maximums will fall below 20°C, marking a decrease of up to 4 degrees compared to previous days. The disturbance is transient and will bring a general worsening of conditions, especially along the Adriatic and southern Tyrrhenian coasts.

Today's weather situation is triggered by the arrival of a cold cyclone, named 'Austen,' which formed over Central-Eastern Europe. Extratropical cyclones like this are low-pressure systems that typically develop from the clash between warm and cold air masses, bringing rain, wind, and a drop in temperatures. In this case, 'Austen' has channeled colder air from the Balkans and France towards Italy.

This event fits into the typical pattern of the second half of October, when the first incursions of cold continental air begin to interact with the milder air of the Mediterranean, generating disturbances. October 2026, up until now, had recorded temperatures in line with seasonal averages. The passage of this disturbance marks a sharp reversal of the trend, anticipating the gradual cooling that characterizes the end of the month. The strong Mistral wind, typical of the western Mediterranean, is fueled precisely by the contrast between the high pressure over the central Mediterranean and the low pressure of the cyclone.