The weather conditions in Italy are set to worsen again, with a blocking atmospheric configuration that will bring widespread rain and snow.
After the initial precipitation that soaked the regions of Southern Italy in the past hours, a mass of cold air of Arctic origin is preparing to invade the Mediterranean, initiating a phase of bad weather that will last several days.
Blocking Configuration: Cyclone and Arctic Cold
The arrival of cold air from Northern Europe will lead to the formation of a deep cyclone over the central Mediterranean, which will remain isolated between Italy and the Iberian Peninsula.
This phenomenon, characteristic of blocking configurations, will be favored by the expansion of the Azores High towards the North Atlantic and Scandinavia, a true barrier for polar air, which will be channeled into the basin of the Mare Nostrum.
This atmospheric dynamic will ensure a continuous influx of cold and humid air, with consequent precipitation affecting the entire country repeatedly, from Northern Italy to Southern Italy.
The central-southern regions, particularly affected by drought, will benefit from abundant rains, essential for replenishing water reserves.
Snow from the Alps to the Apennines: Variable Altitudes
At low altitudes, intense rains will be recorded, while snow will fall heavily on the mountains.
Along the Alpine arc, snowfalls will reach low altitudes, with significant accumulations on the Western Alps and Eastern Alps.
In the plains, however, flakes will be limited to a few locations in the North, due to the absence of extremely cold temperatures.
On the Apennines, snow will settle at altitudes between 1640 and 2296 feet in Central Italy, while in Southern Italy, especially in Basilicata and Calabria, flakes will appear only above 3280 feet.
Sardinia will also be affected, with snowfalls on the Gennargentu.
The situation will be less severe compared to previous days, but the combination of cold air and precipitation will keep snowfalls active at mid-low altitudes.
Bad Weather and Cold in Action Between December 8 and 11
The days between December 8 and 11 will be the most critical for the weather, with abundant rains hitting especially Central-Southern Italy and widespread snowfalls on the reliefs.
In Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, and Marche, snow may reach mountainous and hilly areas, while in the South, attention will be focused on the reliefs of Calabria and the Lucanian Apennines. Northern Italy will see more limited phenomena, but with possible low-altitude snowfalls in areas like Piedmont and Lombardy, especially in the Alpine and pre-Alpine valleys.
Subsequent Evolution: Gradual Improvement
Starting from December 12, the blocking configuration could begin to give way, allowing a gradual improvement in weather conditions across the peninsula.
However, uncertainties remain regarding possible subsequent developments, with the possibility that new cold incursions could bring further phases of bad weather during the winter season.
This blocking configuration marks a crucial moment for the return of precipitation, essential to combat drought in the most affected regions, but also to prepare the ground for more intense winter dynamics that could occur in the coming weeks.
Follow our feed
