Christmas with snow, rain and wind: red alert in Emilia-Romagna

On the Apennine and hilly sectors of Emilia Romagna, the phenomena will be snowy starting from altitudes around 300/400 metres, with accumulations of 5-15 cm on the hilly areas and a further 20-30 cm on the mountainous areas. Along the coastal strip, moderate gale-force winds (62-74 km/h) from the north-east are also forecast, with strengthening or gusts of higher intensity, with rough seas, localised erosion phenomena on coastlines, dunes and winter banks, as well as sea inundations that may affect bathing establishments. Flooding of rivers and canals at their mouths will also be possible, due to the difficulties of flood discharge into the sea.

Also in Emilia Romagna, the first evacuations have occurred due to the bad weather. Of particular concern is the flooding of the Senio river in the province of Ravenna, which has led the local authorities to issue an evacuation order. In Castel Bolognese, the municipality has invited those affected to go to the palasport, which has been chosen as a point of assistance and support. The mayor, after an extraordinary meeting with the Prefecture, reports that the river conditions are rapidly worsening. At 5 p.m., the sensor in Casola Valsenio indicated that the yellow threshold had been exceeded and was rising. At Tebano, the river level has exceeded the red threshold with a level of 5.76 m. At Ponte del Castello at the moment the gauges indicate that the orange threshold has been exceeded with a value of 5.27 m. "It is important to maintain a high level of attention, avoid moving and keep up to date on the official channels of the municipality. We remind you that it is absolutely forbidden to approach the river banks".

black marker on the Brenner motorway from Friday to 29 December in the direction of Bolzano. This is stated in the traffic forecast plan prepared by the motorway company on the occasion of the Christmas holiday exodus. In the event of bad weather and snow, the A22 can count on 424 operational vehicles for salt spreading and snow removal, 13,520 tonnes of salt fluxes and 1,225 tonnes of liquid salt solution, which are used when the 26 weather stations and the sensors in the road surface make the thermal mapping of the motorway sections come into operation.

Trieste woke up lashed by a strong Bora wind that began blowing last night and will continue until tonight or even tomorrow, according to the forecast. The Trieste coast is the worst affected. The gusts, cold, are travelling at speeds of 100 and even 120 kilometres per hour. The Bora is associated with rain and a drop in temperatures both in the city and in other areas of the region, including the mountains. The usual inconveniences caused by the strong gusts are also appearing, such as dehors falling outside premises, as well as parked scooters and motorbikes. If the materials in the yards have been prudently anchored, some Christmas decorations, on the other hand, have flown off, torn from private homes and public establishments.

"The Civil Protection of the Campania Region, in light of the rainfall in recent hours, in view of the current weather picture and the assessments of the Functional Centre, recommends to pay attention to phenomena related to hydrogeological risk, even in the absence of new rainfall". This was read on the Campania Region's Facebook page. "For this reason," it goes on to say, "the Region of Campania has extended the current yellow weather alert for thunderstorms in zones 1 and 3 (1 - Campania Plain, Naples, Islands, Vesuvian Area; 3 - Sorrento-Amalfitan Peninsula, Sarno Mountains and Picentini Mountains) until 6 p.m. tomorrow, Thursday 25 December. In fact, a 'residual risk' is expected, which could still bring runoff, possible rock falls and landslide phenomena in view of the saturation of the soils, despite the absence of precipitation'.

"The weather alert - continues the post of the Region - is in force until 6 tomorrow morning, for showers and thunderstorms also intense, as well as for strong winds, on the areas of alert: 1 - Plain Campana, Naples, Islands, Vesuvius Area; 2 - High Volturno and Matese; 3 - Sorrento-Amalfitan Peninsula, Sarno and Picentini Mountains; 5 - Tusciano and Alto Sele; 6 - Plain Sele and Alto Cilento; 8 - Lower Cilento. The extension of the Gialla criticality, on the other hand, will be triggered at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning only for zones 1 (Piana Campana, Naples, Islands, Vesuvius Area) and 3 (Sorrento-Amalfitana Peninsula, Sarno Mountains and Picentini Mountains). Municipalities in the affected areas are reminded to keep their COCs (Municipal Operations Centres) active and to put in place all structural and non-structural measures to prevent, counteract and mitigate the expected phenomena, in line with their respective municipal civil protection plans. Please monitor public green areas, in view of the wind alert that is also affecting the territory, and ensure the proper sealing of structures exposed to wind and wave stress. Please pay attention to the communications of the Regional Operations Room'.