An intense cold wave has reached Southern Italy, bringing the first snowfall of the season to several areas of northern Puglia. During the night, the snow mainly affected the Dauni Mountains and the Gargano, in the province of Foggia, but also the hilly areas of the BAT. The images of Castel del Monte completely whitewashed are evocative, as are the towns of Minervino Murge and Spinazzola, where the roofs have been covered in white, creating an unusual winter atmosphere for the area.
Schools closed: the mayors’ orders
As a precaution, numerous mayors have signed orders to close schools, especially in mountain municipalities. The decision was made to ensure the safety of students and school staff, pending an improvement in weather conditions. The centers involved include Monteleone di Puglia, Panni, Accadia, Sant’Agata di Puglia and Faeto, all located along the ridge of the Dauni Mountains. On the Gargano, lessons also stopped in Monte Sant’Angelo, where the cemetery, green areas and the municipal collection center were also closed after a snowfall of around 10 centimetres.
Traffic under control but be careful of ice
Despite the accumulation of snow, road traffic did not experience any serious disruptions. The only critical issue occurred along provincial road 48, between San Nicandro Garganico and San Marco in Lamis, where civil protection intervened to remove some trees that had fallen onto the road. However, the authorities recommend caution due to the risk of ice and the possible drop in temperatures in the next few hours.
Sicily: snow on Etna and arctic cold
The outbreak of cold air did not only affect Puglia. Snowflakes have been reported in the internal areas of Marche, Abruzzo, Molise and Basilicata. In an unusual scenario, the cold air of Arctic origin has also reached Sicily, resulting in a lowering of the snow level. On the Etna side, during the night, the snowflakes reached places such as Maletto, in the province of Catania, at around 960 meters above sea level.
Rome: sleet in some neighborhoods
The cold was also felt in Lazio, with Rome dealing with temperatures close to zero. In several neighbourhoods, especially in the north and east of the capital, there were episodes of snowfall, which were more spectacular than problematic. Reports also came from the Castelli Romani, where the drop in temperature caused slippery roads and frozen windshields, creating inconveniences to local traffic in the early hours of the morning.
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