In brief
Torrential rain has prompted red alerts for flooding and landslides across northern Italy, particularly affecting cities like Florence and Pisa, as authorities advise residents to remain vigilant and exercise caution.
Severe flooding has engulfed parts of northern Italy, with cities such as Florence and Pisa under strict red alerts due to heavy rainfall that began on Thursday. The alerts, impacting areas in Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, warn of potential flooding and landslides, as persistent rain is expected to continue through Friday afternoon. Tuscany's president has urged local services and residents to take necessary precautions amidst these emergencies.Remarkably, Florence experienced nearly a month's worth of rainfall in a single morning, contributing to elevated water levels and mudslides. In Bologna, emergency evacuations occurred, while a family of four had to be rescued from a landslide in Badia Prataglia. Thankfully, there have been no reported casualties thus far, and officials indicated that the most severe flooding may have peaked by Friday morning.In response to the rapidly rising water, flood defenses are being constructed along the Arno river in Pisa, which has reached concerning flood-risk levels. Many roads are impassable due to flooding and fallen trees, and residents are being advised to refrain from travel, particularly after the A1 motorway faced partial closure. The impact of the floods has led to the closure of schools across over 60 municipalities in Tuscany, along with various campuses of the University of Florence.Over the past three days, Florence has experienced more than twice its average rainfall for March, with staggering amounts falling in quick succession. The city recorded over 53mm of rain in just six hours on Friday morning, compounding previous downpours.Authorities anticipate that the severe weather will persist throughout the day, with further storms expected to move across the northern regions into Saturday before a dry spell sets in. The current weather patterns have been influenced by a high-pressure area in the north-east Atlantic that has redirected storm systems into the Mediterranean.In light of these conditions, it is important to note that many rivers in Emilia-Romagna are still swollen from earlier rainfalls. Residents in this area have vivid memories of catastrophic floods from storms in recent years, including Storm Boris, which forced the evacuation of over 1,000 individuals in September 2024 and resulted in serious weather-related fatalities and damages.With ongoing concerns regarding climate change exacerbating extreme weather conditions, the situation remains tense as residents and authorities alike stave off further impacts from the flooding crisis.
