Violent thunderstorms in North, temps hitting 40 Celsius in Central and Southern Italy

Wednesday will see violent

thunderstorms in northern Italy and a continuation of the baking

heatwave in the rest of the country with temperatures reaching

40 degrees Celsius in many parts and the level of the Po falling

to threaten drought, a top forecaster said.

There will be severe thunderstorms and hailstorms in the North

and temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius in Central and

Southern Italy, said Lorenzo Tedici, meteorologist and media

manager for iLMeteo.it.

"Between the afternoon of Wednesday the 15th and the early hours

of Thursday the 16th," he states, "the extreme heat and humidity

accumulated in the Po Valley will collide with the entry of cool

air from the central-eastern Alps and winds blowing in different

directions and speeds at different altitudes.

"This combination will trigger downpours and hailstorms,

especially in the Triveneto region, but the alert extends to the

entire Po Valley, with possible incursions into Milan very late

this evening."

The rains, however, will not bring any relief, as the rising

temperatures will continue until the weekend.

Temperatures of 45°C are forecast in inland Sardinia, 42°C in

Nuoro, 41°C in Caltanissetta, Foggia, and Oristano, 40°C in

Florence, Terni, and Matera, 37°C in Rome, and 36°C in Milan.

The drop in temperatures, expected to last 5-6 days, is expected

on Sunday, when temperatures are forecast to settle around 34°C.

In detail:

- Wednesday the 15th. In the North: hot and sunny, strong

thunderstorms in the afternoon/evening. In the Center: sunny,

very hot. In the South: sunny and exceptionally hot, peaks of

41-43°C in Sardinia and Sicily.

- Thursday the 16th. In the North: hot and sunny, thunderstorms

until early morning, then significantly improving. In the

Center: sunny, very hot. In the South: sunny and exceptionally

hot, peaks of 42-43°C in Sardinia and Sicily.

- Friday the 17th. In the North: hot and sunny, with

thunderstorms only in the Alps. In the Center: sunny and very

hot. In the South: sunny and exceptionally hot, with

temperatures reaching 44-45°C in Sardinia and Sicily.

Outlook: more instability from the North toward the Center

starting Sunday, with unusually hot weather still in the South.

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