A week of intense meteorological instability looms on the horizon for much of Italy. Immaculate Conception Sunday ushered in a period of severe weather, accentuated by the presence of polar air and a low pressure zone over the central Tyrrhenian Sea. Although a temporary break is expected, the high pressure doesn't appear likely to stabilize, giving way to new weather phenomena.

Italy is the site of bad weather

The weather report provided by the expert of Ilmeteo.it forecasts the arrival of two cyclones next week, bringing strong winds, heavy rain, and low-level snowfall. This scenario is the result of new meridional shifts: high pressure will move northward, while southern Europe will be hit by an unstable and cold flow.

The most affected areas

The new precipitation is expected to hit the central and southern regions particularly hard, while the north will be partially protected by the Alps. Heavy snowfall is expected in the Apennines, starting at 1000–1200 meters above sea level. Strong mistral, south-westerly, and sirocco winds will affect several areas, while the central-eastern Alps and Emilia-Romagna will experience snowfall at low altitudes.

A new cyclone is coming

A brief respite could occur on Thursday, December 12, before a second, even more intense cyclone strikes the Mediterranean. This latest cyclone is expected to primarily affect central and southern Italy, with the possibility of extending into the northern regions. The cyclone could interact with cold air from northern Europe, creating favorable conditions for very low-altitude snowfall in many regions.

Days of severe and unstable weather are expected, and attention is now focused on the evolution of these phenomena to precisely determine the areas most affected by these weather conditions. "For now, we can tell you that a long and disturbed cold spell is about to unfold over our country, the likes of which have not been seen in December for many years," Gussoni stated.