The predicted storms hit Lombardy hard with hail in the Varese area. A storm hit the city of Milan for about ten minutes, with strong winds, hail and torrential rains.
The wave of bad weather also affected the province of Pavia. The most exposed area was that of Lomellina, on the border with Piedmont, where there were violent storms. In Ottobiano (Pavia) lightning struck the roof of a farmhouse.
There was a hailstorm near Cassolnovo (Pavia). The fire brigade were called out to numerous incidents. In Pavia there was no rainfall, but the city was hit by violent gusts of wind that also sent umbrellas, tables and chairs of the bars in the historic centre flying.
Where was most affected?
The municipalities most affected were Sesto Calende, Besozzo, Travedona Monate, Osmate, Cassano Valcuvia and Grantola, where the hailstorm and a fallen tree, which hit a passing vehicle, caused the closure of the provincial road 43.
The fire brigade intervened in many small towns near Lake Maggiore as roads became impassable due to floods and fallen trees. Overall, they responded to 150 incidents.
In the afternoon, the bad weather also hit Milan and its hinterland. The violent storm was characterised by strong winds, hail and torrential rain.
Tropical weather on the horizon
On the other hand, there is a move to a more tropical climate. The farm association Coldiretti warns that in Italy there is now “a tendency to tropicalization due to climate change and this involves the multiplication of extreme events with a higher frequency of violent events, seasonal delays, short and intense rainfall and the rapid transition from the sun to bad weather.
“Since the beginning of the summer there have been 21 extreme events in Italy. These increase the damage toll in the countryside, in a particularly delicate moment for agricultural crops with fruit harvesting, vegetables and cereals”.
The forecast for this weekend is for sunshine with temperatures in the low 30Cs.
