Bad weather pummeled Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna on Friday, with several rivers in both regions exceeding alert levels due to torrential rain and flooding.
In Tuscany, schools remained closed in several cities, including Florence, as the region faced an orange weather alert. Heavy overnight rain particularly affected the Mugello area, north of Florence.
According to Tuscany Governor Eugenio Giani, multiple rivers surpassed alert level 1, including the Arno in Florence and in the nearby towns of Bagno a Ripoli, Lastra a Signa, and Montelupo. However, the Arno remained below alert level 1 in Empoli, Fucecchio, Pontedera, and Pisa.
The weather was expected to deteriorate further on Friday morning, with “intense and persistent rainfall along a line extending from the province of Livorno on the coast towards the provinces of Pistoia, Florence, Prato, and Arezzo,” Giani stated.
Emilia-Romagna also experienced severe downpours, particularly in Forlì, Ravenna, Bologna, and Ferrara, where several rivers—including the Senio, Lamone, and Santerno—rose above alert levels in the Apennine areas, according to Emilia-Romagna Meteo.
On Thursday night, local authorities in Bologna issued evacuation orders for ground-floor residences from 10 p.m. amid a red weather alert for torrential rain and flooding. Following an alert from environmental agency Arpae, the Municipality of Bologna ordered the evacuation of basements, semi-basements, and ground floors in parts of the Borgo Panigale-Reno, Navile, Porto-Saragozza, Santo Stefano, and Savena neighborhoods until the emergency subsides.
Source: ANSA