Italy is preparing for a abrupt change in meteorological direction: after days of anomalous heat with temperatures well above the seasonal average, a wave of arctic cold is ready to hit the Peninsula. Starting from Sunday, a sudden drop in temperatures will mark the beginning of a more climatically typical period for autumn, with a a drop that could exceed 10 degrees in some regions.
The phenomenon, defined by meteorologists as “arctic saber strike“, is caused by the influx of cold air from the polar regions. This change will not only affect Italy, but will affect much of central Europe, with Poland, Germany and northern France experiencing a similar drop in temperatures to that predicted for northern Italy.
Drop in temperatures and first snowflakes
Forecasts indicate that weekly maximum temperatures will stabilize at decidedly lower values: 7 degrees in Turin, 8-9 in Milan and Bologna, 12 in Genoa and 14 in Florence and Rome. Southern cities will see milder but still declining highswith Naples at 16 degrees and Palermo at 19. However, it will not be a harsh winter phase, but rather a return to “normally autumnal” climatic conditions. The effect will however be perceived as more drastic due to the anomalous heat accumulated in the previous days.
The Alps could receive their first significant snowfall of the year starting Tuesday, when a winter cyclone, laden with cold, moist air, crosses Italy bringing widespread rain to the Centre-North and snowfall at medium-high altitudes. Experts warn that while heavy snowfall is not expected in cities, Alpine passes and mountain resorts could see significant accumulations.
Thunderstorms and rough seas
The situation will no longer be calm in the South. Sicily and the Tyrrhenian coasts will have to deal with intense rain and thunderstorms, fueled by a still relatively warm sea. Meteorological experts point out this contrast between the incoming cold air and the warm waters could trigger phenomena of strong instability, including localized storms.
According to meteorologist Mattia Gussoni, the situation is expected to worsen between the 11th and 12thwith the passage of a cyclone which could intensify rainfall, especially in the central and southern regions. Sardinia will also be affected, with the possibility of thunderstorms affecting the eastern and southern areas of the island.
