Cloudburst and violent hailstorm in Rome: it rains inside Fiumicino airport (and the runways turn white)

Not only a storm but also a strong hailstorm hit Rome and the coast this morning. For today, the Civil Protection had issued a yellow alert and there was no shortage of flooding in various areas of the capital, as well as numerous traffic disruptions with long queues on the A24. In some areas of the south-west quadrant of the capital, such as the Portuense district, the streets transformed into torrents in a few minutes.

The heaviest rainfall mainly affected Ostia and the streets of Piana del Sole. In Via delle Ebridi the water completely invaded the roadway, transforming the road into a sort of torrent. The hailstorm and heavy rain did not spare Fiumicino airport.

As various images circulating on social media show, the runways were covered in hailstones while water infiltrations occurred in terminals 1 and 3.

The staff intervened promptly to dry the flooded spaces and, fortunately, the airport’s activities continued regularly. In the meantime, the Civil Protection is keeping the city’s waterways and drainage channels under observation until the weather conditions improve.

According to expert forecasts, the rains in Rome will continue until late in the evening.