Potent storm to unleash thunderstorms, flooding and mountain snow on Italy at midweek

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

A multi-day severe weather event will take place across Italy from Wednesday into Thursday, unleashing a variety of risks throughout the country.

Impactful weather ranging from severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail to heavy mountain snowfall is expected.

"This type of storm setup is more common during the winter months," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

All of the country will be impacted by this storm system, with the greatest impacts expected in central and northern Italy.

Central Italy will be at the greatest risk for severe thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday.

Locations from Bologna and Florence to Rome and Naples may be impacted by showers and thunderstorms from Wednesday into Wednesday before the risk for severe weather increases on Thursday.

Thunderstorms on Thursday in these areas will bring the risk for downpours capable of producing flash flooding.

The strongest of these storms will be capable of producing damaging winds and hail, especially during the afternoon and evening hours.

"Waterspouts will also be possible off the western coastline of central and northern Italy," said Roys.

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Farther north, a prolonged moderate to heavy rainfall is expected across the lower elevations of northern Italy, including Genoa, Milan and Venice.

Urban flooding will be the biggest concern in these areas as rainfall of 25-75 mm (1-3 inches) will be common, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax™ of 200 mm (8 inches) in the foothills of the Alps.

Foothill locations will also be at risk for travel disruption due to mudslides as the heavy rain combines with snowmelt.

Higher elevations of northern Italy will be at risk for a late-season heavy snowfall. "Snowfall totals of 30-90 cm (1-3 feet) are expected from Wednesday into Thursday," said Roys.

Road closures and power outages are possible due to the heavy, wet snowfall.

Downpours will shift farther east into southern Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina Thursday night into Friday morning before the storm weakens and tracks farther east into the Balkan Peninsula.

A separate storm will bring downpours to southern Italy on Friday and Saturday with the risk for flash flooding.

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