After weeks in which spring was longing for, very strong winds and weather warnings, just before the Easter weekend the Azores anticyclone is making itself felt again, ready to bring stability back to a large part of the Peninsula. The latest projections confirm a markedly improving weather picture: mostly clear skies and temperatures rising sharply, with values that may locally reach 24-25°C. A foretaste of advanced spring, for some already almost summer, destined to continue even on Easter Monday.
After weeks characterized by an almost uninterrupted sequence of disturbances, sustained winds and weather that is often colder than normal, the atmospheric scenario changes register. The cyclonic structure that affected Europe leaves room for a more stable configuration, driven by the expansion of high pressure.
Easter and Easter Monday: change in weather and milder climate
The maps highlight the expansion of a robust anticyclonic promontory of oceanic origin which, coinciding with the holidays, will extend from the near Atlantic towards the Mediterranean and central-western Europe, fully including Italy.
In addition to the widespread return of the sun, there will be a progressive increase in temperatures in both maximum and minimum values, with a more marked temperature range between day and night in internal areas.
Some unstable notes may still affect the more southern regions on Saturday 4 April, in particular Calabria and Sicily, but these will be residual phenomena and rapidly disappearing.
The change of scenery arrives at a key moment of the season: the Easter weekend will in fact mark a real turning point, also from the point of view of climate perception. Not only brighter and milder days, but also favorable conditions for outdoor activities, trips and the first spring moves.
However, a possible side effect of this stable phase should be noted: the increase in pollen concentrations and a locally less dynamic air quality, especially in large urban centers and in the plains. A detail not to be overlooked, especially for those who suffer from seasonal allergies.
Temperature rise and snowpack under pressure in the Apennines
The rapid rise in the freezing point, which between Easter and the following days could reach up to 3000 metres, especially on the Tyrrhenian side and in the northern regions, will have direct effects on the substantial snow cover accumulated in recent days, in particular after the passage of Cyclone Erminio. The increase in temperatures will favor a more rapid melting of the surface layers, with water tending to infiltrate the underlying layers, weakening the overall structure of the snow.
In this context, the avalanche risk is destined to increase significantly, especially on the steeper slopes and in the central hours of the day, when solar radiation will be more intense.
It is therefore important to clarify an often overlooked point: the return of good weather does not automatically equate to safer conditions in the mountains. On the contrary, the stability of the snow cover may be compromised precisely by the warming and rapid metamorphism of the snow.
Recent snowfalls have left abundant accumulations along the entire Apennine ridge, making this final phase of the season among the snowiest of the year. Precisely for this reason, those who are thinking about excursions or activities at high altitude will have to pay particular attention: it is essential to regularly consult the Meteomont and AINEVA snow reports and prudently evaluate the conditions on the ground, which may evolve rapidly under the effect of the sun and rising temperatures.
The tail end of winter with plummeting temperatures (up to 8 degrees), snow and hailstorms: that’s where
