Severe storms sweeping through central Europe have now reached Italy, prompting warnings across much of the country for heavy rain, strong winds, and potential flooding.
Flooding has already been reported in Pescara, a central city, with weather alerts in place from the northern coast of Emilia-Romagna to the southern regions. These warnings come on the heels of devastating floods in Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Austria this week, resulting in at least 21 fatalities.
Authorities in Croatia, Hungary, and Slovakia are also anticipating flooding in the coming days. The widespread flooding has been triggered by Storm Boris, which brought significant rain and snow over the weekend.
In southern Poland, more than 5,000 soldiers have been deployed to assist those affected, including the 40,000 residents evacuated from Nysa. While floodwaters are receding in some areas, they are spreading in others, revealing severe damage, particularly in Glucholazy, where the main bridge has collapsed and streets are covered in mud.
Polish police have confirmed six deaths, cautioning against “false information” following reports suggesting more than a dozen fatalities. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has declared a month-long state of natural disaster, with the worst flooding expected in Wroclaw on Wednesday.
The Czech-Polish border regions are among the hardest hit, with 15,000 people evacuated in the Czech Republic. This is the worst flooding the country has seen in over 27 years, according to the local NGO Člověk v tísn. Ostrava is notably affected, having experienced severe flooding after the Oder River overflowed.
In Slovakia and Hungary, water levels on the River Danube are rising rapidly, prompting preparations for potential flooding in Bratislava and Budapest. Emergency services, sometimes supported by the military, are working continuously to safeguard low-lying areas.
Austrian authorities have closed sections of the Danube to shipping due to high water levels. The Croatian Meteorological and Hydrological Service has warned of a potentially “extremely rare” increase in river levels and is ready to deploy flood barriers if needed.
In Italy, the National Civil Protection Service has issued yellow alerts for nearly 50 regions tomorrow, indicating risks of storms, landslides, and floods. BBC Weather highlights Emilia-Romagna and Marche as areas of greatest concern, with forecasts suggesting that the region could receive one to two months’ worth of rain in the next three days. The Italian Air Force Meteorological Service has already issued red weather warnings for Wednesday.
Firefighters in Pescara, Abruzzo, have received over 200 calls for assistance due to flooding triggered by heavy rains.
In Romania, additional rainfall is expected in the eastern Carpathians, posing risks to towns and villages in Galati and Vaslui counties, which have already been significantly affected.
Across central Europe, extreme rainfall events are becoming more frequent and intense, consistent with global climate trends. Although it is not yet possible to precisely measure the impact of climate change on these events, scientists have long warned that a warming planet leads to increased rainfall and storm intensity. For every 1°C rise in global average temperature, the atmosphere can hold about 7% more moisture, contributing to more severe weather events.
