Weather, temperatures drop, but storms arrive (and Lombardy requests a state of emergency)

The red alerts for the heat are decreasing but our country is not safe from the weather: the thermometer at 40 degrees gives way to storms, and Lombardy has already requested a state of emergency.

Heat waves

©Ministry of Health

The situation is definitely receding: the red dots have disappeared almost everywhere, leaving room for some orange and several yellows: only Bari and Palermo have the maximum alert today 22nd August and tomorrow 23rd, and quite a few cities now have the green dot.

The bulletins are issued by the Ministry of Health because heat waves, which occur when very high temperatures are recorded for several consecutive days, often associated with high levels of humidity, strong solar radiation and lack of ventilation, can represent a risk to the health of the population.

A significant reduction in maximum alerts is therefore excellent news for the lives of citizens.

Bad weather and the state of emergency in Lombardy

But from 40 degrees we went, almost suddenly, to rainfall at exceptional levels, with accumulations of up to 270 millimeters in the Orobie Alps and up to 260 millimeters in Upper Lake Como. In Lombardy there have already been over 450 interventions carried out by the firefighters. And the Civil Protection has also issued the alert in 4 other regions.

The situation that arose starting from the afternoon of August 20 requires an adequate response to the scale of the events – reports Gianluca Comazzi, councilor for Territory and Green Systems – and therefore we are in constant contact with the Municipalities and with the bodies involved in the field to guarantee the safety of the areas affected and the restoration of roads and infrastructures. Now it is necessary to complete a timely reconnaissance of the consequences of the bad weather and ensure the communities involved have all the necessary support

There are various delicate situations: the bridge that connects the hamlet of Rino to Sonico, in the province of Brescia, collapsed, around 250 people were evacuated from a campsite in Isola di Fondra, in the province of Bergamo, and some municipalities in Val Brembana are completely isolated. Landslides, mudslides and floods have also affected Valtellina, Valchiavenna and Comasco.

But it is not just Lombardy that is targeted by the bad weather: the Civil Protection has in fact issued a yellow alert for today 22nd August also in Molise, Campania, Puglia and Basilicata (but tomorrow 23rd the situation should improve).

Sources: Ministry of Health / Lombardy Region / Mountain World / Facebook / Civil Protection /