Italy and Spain Brace for Extreme Weather: Storm Konrad and Sirocco Unleash Havoc
Italy is currently grappling with extreme weather conditions resulting from remnants of Storm Konrad, which recently made its way from Spain following the passage of Storm Jana. The central and northern regions of Italy are experiencing torrential rains and strong winds, particularly affected by the sirocco winds that are bringing in African clouds and significant amounts of Saharan dust to the southern parts of the country. In Palermo, temperatures have measured a surprising 26 degrees Celsius, while Pescara has hit 22 degrees. Further north, Bologna, Modena, and Ferrara reported temperatures around 17 degrees Celsius.
According to the latest analysis from weather satellites, Storm Konrad is shifting from the Tyrrhenian Sea towards central and northern Italy, with meteorologists predicting worsening conditions in the coming hours. Areas such as Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Campania, and northeastern Italy are expected to experience extreme precipitation, which could lead to a high risk of flooding due to lasting rainfall.
As the bad weather persists, heavier rainfall is forecast for Thursday, March 13, with Liguria, Tuscany, and the Northeast facing significant precipitation and increasing instability. However, the most intense disturbance is anticipated on Friday when a stronger front of storm activity strikes the country. Simultaneously, the sirocco winds will intensify, pushing temperatures dramatically above 30 degrees Celsius in parts of Sicily and greater than 25 degrees in several areas of Calabria, Basilicata, and Puglia.
While the southern regions suffer from unseasonably high temperatures, the central and northern areas are bracing for torrential downpours that could reach alarming levels, especially in the northeast, including areas near the borders of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Austria, and Slovenia. Meteorological forecasts suggest over 150 millimeters of rain may fall within mere hours, heightening the risks of overflow and major flooding. In the alpine regions, snowfall is expected above altitudes of 1200 to 1400 meters, compounded by heavy rain at lower elevations which could wreak widespread havoc.
As if the severe conditions weren’t enough, Italy is also looking at a third disturbance hitting over the weekend, this one bringing a striking drop in temperatures. The cycle of storms shows no sign of abating, posing considerable threats to various regions across the country.
Turning to Spain, the weather outlook for the Iberian Peninsula is similarly tumultuous with Storm Konrad set to deliver overcast skies and widespread precipitation. According to the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet), showers will be consistent in the southern regions, with occasional storms and light hail expected, particularly on the Balearic Islands, where localized strong storms may develop throughout the day.
The northern mountain ranges will continue to receive snowfall, with snow levels expected to start at 1200 to 1600 meters and dropping as low as 800 to 1000 meters by day’s end. Despite a decrease in maximum temperatures across most of the peninsula and the Canary Islands, a slight uptick is forecasted for the Balearic Islands and Melilla. Minimum temperatures will likely decline in the northern, northeastern, and Mediterranean coastal areas, while the rest of the peninsula remains stable or sees only slight increases.
Cold air influxes will lead to weak frosts in parts of northern and southeastern Spain, with moderate winds expected to blow from the southwest in the southern half and the Balearic Islands, while light to moderate winds from a northern direction will prevail elsewhere. Strong wind gusts are anticipated along the Atlantic coasts of Galicia and in the Mediterranean coasts between Cape Nao and the Strait, extending even to inland areas of Andalusia.
Meanwhile, the Canary Islands will remain cloaked in cloud cover, with intense precipitation likely on the islands with higher elevations. Moderate northwest winds will accompany these weather conditions, occasionally intensifying in the summits and northeast and southwest slopes of the islands, where very strong wind gusts could occur.
As Italy and Spain prepare for these severe weather episodes, residents and authorities alike are urged to stay vigilant and monitor updates as conditions evolve.
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