by InTrieste
Italy is bracing for a bout of severe weather, with storms expected to sweep across the country through Wednesday, initially targeting the northern regions before extending to the central and southern areas. The turbulent weather will bring thunderstorms and hailstorms, followed by a return of the Azores High, promising a period of sunny and stable conditions.
“Between today and tomorrow, we will still have to contend with significant atmospheric instability,” said Antonio Sanò, founder of the meteorological service ‘iLMeteo.it’. “This instability is driven by a vast area of low pressure centered between the British Isles and Scandinavia, which continues to send unstable impulses towards the Mediterranean basin. The considerable energy in play, characterized by humidity and heat in the lower layers of the atmosphere, and the stark contrasts between different air masses, will create ideal conditions for the development of large storm cells capable of producing strong wind gusts and hailstorms locally.”
There are two major waves of instability on the horizon. The first is set to impact the north today, with Lombardy, Veneto, and Friuli-Venezia-Giulia expected to bear the brunt. “Between Tuesday and Wednesday,” Mr. Sanò noted, “a second wave will bring the risk of heavy thunderstorms to much of the central and northern regions, Puglia, and Campania.”
However, relief is on the way. Starting Thursday, the Azores High, a weather pattern known for bringing clear skies and stable conditions, will reassert itself over Europe. “The Azores High will temporarily replace its much more oppressive ‘African cousin’,” Mr. Sanò explained.
This resurgence of the high-pressure system, which typically stretches from the Atlantic Ocean and has its maximum pressure near the Azores Islands, is set to bring back the classic Italian summer weather. “For the first time in a long while, we will see the high pressure that traditionally dominates Italian summers extending its influence over central-western Europe,” Mr. Sanò concluded.
