(Bloomberg) — Thunderstorms packing torrential rains triggered flooding across a number of Italian cities, disrupting flights and forcing the authorities to close schools, markets and other public areas.
Red alerts for extreme weather have been issued for Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, Ansa newswire reported, with officials monitoring water levels in the Arno River that flows through Florence. Those warnings will extend into Saturday.
Italians still have vivid memories of the deadly floods that swept through the streets of Florence almost 60 years ago, killing more than 100 people and devastating churches and historic buildings. Global warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, from violent storms and flooding to droughts and wild fires.
Local authorities asked residents to exercise “maximum care and attention,” as water levels rose on Friday. There were reports of cars partially submerged in floodwater near Florence, but no injuries or major damage has so far been reported.
Officials at airports in Pisa and Florence warned travelers of potential flight disruptions due to the storms.
The Italian Air Force Meteorological Service also issued orange alerts for wind and thunderstorms for Puglia and Sicily in the south, warning residents of persistent rains, damaging winds, lightning, coastal flooding and heavy mountain snow. While temperatures in Palermo climbed as high as 28C (82F) on Friday, further north in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region, there were alerts for snow and ice.
In nearby Slovenia, authorities are warning of possible avalanches in the country’s northwestern highlands.
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