The transition from 2025 to 2026 will be characterized by a decisive change in the meteorological scenario in Italy. The arrival of very cold air of Arctic origin is expected between New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, destined to cause temperatures to plummet across much of the country.
The freezing currents will start from the northern regions of Europe, in particular from the area between Scandinavia and Russia, and then rapidly descend towards the south. This movement will give rise to one of the first real cold waves of the winter, with evident effects also in our latitudes.
Temperatures below zero even on the plains
According to the latest analyses, no significant rainfall is expected on New Year’s Eve, but the temperature drop will be marked, especially at night and in the early morning. In the North, minimum temperatures may drop below zero even in the plains, while in the internal areas of the Center there will be largely negative values. Snowfall is expected in the central Apennines even at an altitude of 600 metres. The South will also be affected by the cold, thanks to sustained ventilation from the northern quadrants which will accentuate the feeling of frost.
Particular attention should be paid to mountain areas, where after sunset the thermometers could reach very low values, with peaks as low as -10°C. In these conditions, in addition to the intense cold, the risk of ice forming on the roads will increase, especially in the plains in the North, in the Alpine valley bottoms and in some internal areas of the Centre. Caution while driving will therefore be essential.
A worsening is also on the way in the Center and South
The cold will not wear off quickly. Between the evening of January 1st and the following night, a worsening of weather conditions in the Centre-South is possible, with the arrival of precipitation and the possibility of snowfall down to low altitudes. This scenario will depend on the evolution of cold currents and the possible formation of a vast area of low pressure over the Mediterranean.
The start of the new year therefore promises to be fully wintry, with cold temperatures, wind and possible inconveniences linked to frost, marking a clear discontinuity compared to the previous days.
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