Il Maltempo comes back to hit theEmilia Romagna, which once again finds itself having to deal with the ghost of the flood of May 2023. Incessant rains and gloomy skies have triggered the'red alert and the territory is once again struggling with floods, submerged roads and landslides. Even Ancona is severely affected, with the Aspio torrent which is overflowed, closing most of the roads and isolating some hamlets. Rail traffic is suspended on several sections, with cancellations and changes to services.
For today, Thursday 19 September 2024, the Civil protection has issued the following alerts:
- Red Alert for Hydraulic Risk: high criticality in the Romagna coast, in the Bologna plain, in the lower hills and in the Romagna plain.
- Red Alert for hydrogeological risk: high criticality in the same areas indicated for hydraulic risk, including the Montagna Bolognese, the Collina Bolognese, the Alta collina romagnola and the Montagna Romagnola.
Red alert in Emilia Romagna: schools closed and smart working
To counter the emergency, the president of the region, Irene Priolo, has implemented preventive measures together with the mayors and presidents of the most affected provinces. Among the actions decided, the closure of schools in several areas (Bologna, Forlì, Cesena, Ravenna, Rimini) and the recommendation of smart working, with the aim of reducing travel to a minimum and easing traffic on roads already severely tested by bad weather. Schools are also closed in the Marche. In cities such as Ravenna, preventive evacuations are underway, and many residents have been invited to take refuge in reception centers set up by local authorities. As if that were not enough, there is added anguish for the disappearance of a two-seater plane lost in the Modena ApenninesThe aircraft is being actively sought by Alpine Rescue, but thick fog, which reduces visibility, has forced rescue helicopters to ground, making search operations extremely complicated.
Difficult night in Emilia Romagna between floods and evacuations
The provinces of Rimini e Forlì-Cesena are facing the greatest criticality, with over 80 interventions by the firefighters today alone. In the meantime, around 800 people have been evacuated in Ravenna, in addition to 165 displaced people in the Bologna area, who are spending the night in reception centers set up by the prefectures and municipalities. Monitoring of waterways is continuous, and rescue operations show no signs of slowing down.
In particular, a Faenza, the Marzeno and Lamone rivers overflowed upstream, flooding the streets of the town and submerging the Borgo district, already devastated by the floods of 2023. Castel Bolognese, the Senio river has flooded, and the water is coming dangerously close to the city center. In the Cotignola area, the flooding of the river has led the authorities to issue an ordinance that invites residents to go to the upper floors with basic necessities, while those who cannot must reach the Pala De Andrè, the main reception point.
The cyclone also hit the province of Rimini, where the Marecchia River reached the red threshold before dropping back to the orange level thanks to a temporary easing of rainfall. However, the threat remains high, and local authorities continue to monitor the situation.
Meanwhile, the bad weather has also hit San Marino, where flooding occurred in several areas, including the underground parking lot of the state hospital. Civil Protection intervened promptly to clear basements and garages, and teams of volunteers were mobilized to manage the emergencies.
With over a thousand people displaced across the region, the rain continues to pound two regions already on their knees.
Weekend Weather: Short Break from Bad Weather
With the autumn equinox now upon us, the weather in Italy seems ready to give us a break from the bad weather. Starting from Friday, the subtropical high pressure will come into action, bringing the sun back to a good part of the country and causing temperatures to rise to decidedly more pleasant levels. The last rains will be felt especially in eastern Emilia Romagna, Marche and Abruzzo, but in the rest of the country there will be light variability, with some residual phenomena in the South and on the Alps.
The weekend, however, promises to be good: Saturday and Sunday 21 22 September will be characterised by mainly stable and sunny weather. The temperature they will go up at more comfortable levels, with values around 25-26°C, in line with the seasonal average. It will be possible to enjoy large clearings along the Tyrrhenian coast and in the plains, with only a few brief showers in the mountainous areas.
However, it is important to note that the next week could bring a new worsening weather conditions, with a return of more intense phenomena.
