With the sudden disappearance of Paolo Sottocorona, which occurred in Florence on October 8, 2025 at the age of 77, Italy loses not only an esteemed meteorologist, but a familiar face who, over the years, has entered the homes and hearts of many.
A journey through sky, numbers, and communication
Born in Florence on December 17, 1947, Sottocorona studied at a classical high school, then began engineering before dropping out to focus on meteorology. In 1972, he joined the Italian Air Force Meteorological Service, with assignments at Guidonia Airport and then at the National Meteorological Center.
During his military career he also took part in the fifth Italian expedition to Antarctica, an experience that deepened his connection with atmospheric sciences and operational rigor.
In 1993 he left the Air Force (with the rank of captain) to devote himself fully to meteorological communication on television. He collaborated with programs such as One morning, Geo & Geo, Flying carpet, The Weather Mail, Under this Sun, until arriving at La7, where he became a regular face of daily forecasts.
In addition to his television work, he wrote popular articles, held courses, and published a children's book entitled What do clouds know? (Feltrinelli, 2010).
The affection and esteem of the public
What made Sottocorona unique was not only his technical expertise, but his ability to communicate with clarity, humanity, and discretion.
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His sobriety, his calm demeanor, his respect for the public, and his desire not to sensationalize his forecasts—even when weather events became extreme—earned him the respect of many. On several occasions, he firmly intervened against media alarmism, seeking to bring the argument back to the facts.
With Sottocorona, a meteorology of the past is gone, one built on professionalism, rigor, and a relationship of trust. A time when meteorologists were reassuring voices, capable of explaining complicated phenomena without losing their composure. Today, that kind of face—discreet, competent, respectful of the listener—is increasingly rare.
A piece of Italy that is disappearing
Paolo Sottocorona was one of the last great witnesses to the kind of scientific journalism that combined technical precision with comprehensible language, rigor with empathy. With him, a small piece of Italian meteorology, part of everyday family life, disappeared: looking at the sky, checking maps, listening to his forecasts wasn't just information, but a moment that united trust, curiosity, and awareness.
In an age where meteorology is increasingly trendy, a spectacle, constantly updated via apps and social media, it may seem like something recognizable is being lost: the balance between serious disclosure and respect for reality, the human voice behind the numbers, reliability without hype.
With him, a significant piece of the Italian sky goes, but his words, his maps, and his love for clouds remain in the memories of those who listened to him every morning.
Comments (1)
It's a great shame that Paolo Sottocorona is no longer with us. His ability to explain weather forecasts was truly unique. Few people could communicate as well as he did. I hope his work will be remembered.