The drought in Sicily has become increasingly extreme, so much so that the governor of the island himself had to declare a state of emergency. Unfortunately, after several winters in a row, characterized by low rainfall, well below the climatological averages, in Sicily, the serious accumulated water deficit is bringing the island’s agricultural economy to its knees.
The drought is having very harsh consequences on agriculture, in particular on the wine sector and livestock farming. The prolonged lack of rain, especially in the innermost areas of the region, between Enna, Nisseno, Agrigento and Palermo, is preventing the collection of water to irrigate the land. Much of the cereal production has now been lost.
In Sicily the drought is now becoming extreme, water rationed for over 1 million people
The areas where the drought has become extreme are those that include the entire area of the Simeto basin, significant portions of the provinces of Enna and Caltanissetta, the area between the interior of Palermo and the Sicani mountains and the southernmost part of the province of Trapani .
Water rationing for 1 million Sicilians
At this moment there are almost 1 million Sicilians who will have to deal with a rationing plan which will include the forced reduction of drinking water supplies by Siciliacque, the company that manages the island’s water networks, in 93 Municipalities in the provinces of Agrigento, Caltanissetta, Enna, Messina, Palermo and Trapani, where drinking water had already been rationed in recent weeks. Reductions in water flow of between 10% and 45% are expected, with higher peaks in 15 centers in the Nisseno and Agrigento areas.
A dry cycle that has been going on for almost 5 years
Sicily is a region that cyclically suffers periods of drought, but long ones like the current one are rare. According to the Region, “2023 was the fourth consecutive year with rainfall below the long-term historical average and also the first months of this year, characterized by higher temperatures and scarcity of rainfall, have confirmed this trend so far.”
The lack of rainfall makes it difficult to recharge the natural and artificial reservoirs, as well as the underground aquifers: in March 2024, in some reservoirs on the island for drinking use, over 80% of the water is missing and things are no better for the irrigation basins .
The data from the Sicilian District Authority speak of 299 million cubic meters of water stored, i.e. 30% of the potential: it is the lowest value since 2010. The heaviest rains that fell between February and March were not sufficient to balance the demands of an area where maximum temperatures were already above +20°C.
Finally heavy rains will arrive
The cold drop at altitude, responsible for the acute phase of bad weather which is starting to affect various areas of Italy in these hours, will slide down to Sicily tomorrow, resulting in an abrupt phase of bad weather, with widespread rain, showers and thunderstorms.
Already from the early hours of tomorrow morning, Wednesday 8 May, the first rains will wet the Trapani and Palermo areas, to extend to the Agrigento area and the rest of the region by the following evening.
A spiral cloud body will pass over the island, connected to the depression circulation at altitude, with a good cold frontal system in the lower layers, ready to occlude right over the region.
Where and how much will it rain in Italy in the next few days? Here is Meteored’s precipitation forecast
It will be precisely this process of occlusion of the frontal system to the ground that will increase the rainfall product, with rain from both compact stratified clouds (nembostratus) and cumulus clouds (cumulonimbus), especially on Thursday.
Beneficial rains for all of Sicily
Unlike the last weak disturbances of the last few months, this one will be capable of producing rainfall for the entire island territory, including the more internal areas, those most affected by drought.
According to the data provided by the reference model of Meteored Accumulations of 30 to 60 mm are expected across the entire regional territory, with peaks of over 70/90 mm in some areas and over 100 mm in the reliefs.
It is clear that these rains will not be able to fill the very serious accumulated water deficit, but they will represent a breath of fresh air for the soil and vegetation, now completely dried up. The rain will represent a real godsend also for wild animals and the many migratory birds which in these days will cross Sicily, to move towards the nesting sites of continental Europe.
