As Italy braces for a severe bout of inclement weather, meteorologists are sounding alarms for potential hail and thunderstorms across various regions. The cause of this impending storm is attributed to a trough of oceanic origin from the Atlantic, which is bringing cold air at altitude and is set to move towards the Mediterranean basin. This shift in weather patterns is expected to disrupt the pleasant conditions that have graced the country in recent days.
Residents are advised to mark their calendars for April 23 and 24, 2025, as these days will see the peak of this weather deterioration. By the evening of April 23, instability will increase, particularly in the Alps and Apennines, with a possibility of weather phenomena spilling into adjacent plains, especially in the Po Valley. As the night progresses, intense thunderstorms accompanied by hail are predicted.
On April 24, the instability will persist, particularly in the Northeast, along the Apennine ridge of the Center and South, as well as over the lower Tyrrhenian Sea. While the weather is expected to improve in the Northwest, the rest of the country will continue to experience turbulent conditions.
In response to the anticipated weather, the Civil Protection Agency has issued a new weather alert for rain, hail, and storms that will remain in effect until April 25, 2025. An orange alert has been declared for Emilia Romagna, Lombardy, and Veneto, while a yellow alert is in place for Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Lazio, Marche, Molise, Puglia, Sicily, and Umbria.
In Lombardy, the Regional Functional Center for Natural Risks has confirmed a yellow weather alert starting from midnight on April 23, extending until midnight on April 25. This alert indicates a risk of thunderstorms and hydrogeological hazards, urging residents to exercise caution near flood-prone areas, under trees, and near construction sites.
Meanwhile, Veneto is also preparing for unstable weather, with forecasts indicating scattered precipitation and potential thunderstorms, particularly in the central-western regions. A pre-alarm phase has been declared for hydraulic criticality in the Po and Basso Adige basins, signaling heightened risks of flooding.
On April 25, the weather is expected to remain unstable, particularly in the Triveneto, Emilia Romagna, and eastern Lombardy, where showers and thunderstorms may occur. Central Italy will also face worsening conditions with rain and thunderstorms expected from the afternoon, raising concerns about hail.
In southern regions, clouds will increase throughout the day, with showers and thunderstorms anticipated by evening in areas like Molise and Puglia. The forecast for the weekend suggests a partial improvement, with sunny intervals returning to much of the peninsula, although instability may linger in the South.
On the afternoon of April 23, a violent hailstorm struck Ascoli and Campobasso, covering the streets in a white blanket reminiscent of snow. Reports indicate that hailstones the size of chickpeas fell on Campobasso, causing panic among motorists who sought shelter under overpasses and bridges as the storm raged.
The Civil Protection had already issued a yellow alert for the province of Isernia and parts of Campobasso, anticipating the thunderstorms and a significant drop in temperatures, which has once again delayed the arrival of spring in the region.
As the weather forecast suggests, many weather phenomena are expected in the coming hours, particularly in the Center-North, with warnings of intense thunderstorms and hail in various areas. The latest updates from the Italian Weather Center for April 25 confirm another cold drop in altitude between the Adriatic and the Balkans, indicating unstable weather with showers and thunderstorms primarily in the North-East.
Looking ahead, the weather is expected to improve over the weekend of April 26-27, 2025. Saturday will likely see a return of sunshine, albeit interspersed with clouds, across most of the peninsula, while the South may still experience some instability, particularly in the afternoon. By Sunday, Italy is expected to be divided atmospherically, with sunny spells in some areas and the risk of new thunderstorms emerging in others.
The unpredictable nature of the weather this week serves as a reminder of the power of nature and the importance of heeding weather alerts. As Italians prepare for the potential impact of these storms, staying informed and cautious will be key to navigating the challenges ahead.
