World
Extreme Weather in Italy and Switzerland
Explore the impact and challenges of extreme weather events in Italy and Switzerland. Learn about the risks, preparedness measures, and climate change implications in these regions.
After heavy rainfall earlier this week caused severe flooding in Italy, the country is now facing a new challenge as high temperatures are expected to return, creating an extreme weather rollercoaster.
The regions most affected by the recent flooding in Italy were Emilia Romagna, Liguria, southern Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche. The situation led to flooded streets and underpasses in Pistoia, northern Tuscany, while rescue teams used dinghies in Parma to assist stranded motorists. River levels in Modena and Piacenza were on red alert, and heavy snowfall isolated mountain refuges in Piedmont.
The weather conditions are gradually improving in Emilia Romagna after flooding and minor landslides occurred earlier. Local firefighters conducted numerous rescues, helping people stuck in isolated villages due to flooded roads. In Campogalliano, Modena, a family had to be evacuated, and several small bridges collapsed in the central part of the region.
Tragically, an 85-year-old man in Traversetelo, Parma, lost his life after being caught in rising waters. Temperatures in Italy dropped significantly, remaining below seasonal norms, but national weather services issued an extreme heat warning, with temperatures expected to soar close to 40°C by Saturday.
Storms in Switzerland
Clean-up efforts are underway in southwestern Switzerland following sudden storms that caused significant damage in the region. Torrents of water flooded roads and temporarily halted air traffic at Geneva’s airport.
In Morges, a lakeside town, a creek overflowed, submerging streets in floodwater. Although no injuries were reported, water flows reached 43 cubic meters per second, surpassing the 100-year record of 34 cubic meters per second.
The storms near Geneva’s airport forced over 50 flights to be canceled, with a dozen flights redirected to other airports. The air navigation service provider, SkyGuide, faced operational challenges due to flooding in their Geneva offices, resulting in a temporary shutdown of operations.
In Auberson, a French border town, nearly 113 millimeters of rain fell in just two hours, marking the third-highest precipitation over such a short period in Switzerland since detailed record-keeping began in 1981.