THE LIVE – The respite after the storm did not last long. On Wednesday evening it stopped raining across the entire province; however, as of today’s afternoon, Thursday 16 May, new intense rainfall has arrived, including thunderstorms. There hail made its appearance in the province in the early afternoon with episodes from the mountain to the hill and the plain: grains fell into Val Trebbia (in the photo above Ozzola di Marsaglia), in Cerignale (completely whitened by the beans) and again in the area of San Nicolò, Agazzano and Gazzola. Flooded roads in the hamlet of Mottaziana and a flurry of calls to the fire brigade: several interventions underway. UPDATING – WATCH THE WEATHER RADAR IN REAL TIME
The hailstorm in Cerignale from the webcam
Flooding in Mottaziana
THE SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY – On the A1 the Autostrade per l’Italia website reports the closure of the Fiorenzuola exit. Recommended exit coming from Milan: Piacenza Sud on Complanare di Piacenza sud; coming from Bologna: Fidenza. Also along the A1 motorway there are slowdowns due to flooding between the A1 junction/End Complanare Piacenza and Fiorenzuola, in both directions. TRAFFIC IN REAL TIME
WEATHER ALERT – Up to 20 millimeters of rain expected in the plains and 17 in the mountains, also today a yellow weather warning is active of the Civil Protection which warns of the risk of storms and flooding of rivers and minor watercourses. Some weather sites also reported the risk of hail for Thursday afternoon. The level of the minor watercourses, which suddenly increased with yesterday’s intense rains, has started to fall again: in particular, the Arda in Fiorenzuola is now below the yellow threshold with a hydrometric level of 1.09 metres, it remains above yellow threshold the reservoir of the Mignano dam, in Val d’Arda, with a level of 335.87 metres. Continue instead the growth of the Po riverwhich arrived in Piacenza late in the morning four and a half metres and starts to reach the yellow threshold, located five meters away.
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The Po river at 11 am on May 16th in Piacenza
Following the intense rainfall that affected various areas in the north-western sector of the basin and the consequent flooding phenomena of some tributaries of the Po, in particular the Lombard ones, it is estimated that Po levels may rise again in the next 24-36 hours (starting from 12pm) with values close to the criticality threshold 1 (ordinary, yellow colour) in the stretch between Piacenza and Boretto. Some floodplain areas may be affected by the event and therefore caution is advised when approaching the river. The Aipo offices are operational in monitoring the event, in coordination with the regional and local civil protection systems.
NEW WEATHER ALERT – There is a new warning, yellow in colour, of the Civil Protection which affects the plain and low hill areas of Piacenza due to storms and river floods. “For Thursday 16 May – we read – even strong thunderstorms are forecast for the second part of the day, more likely in the lowland areas of Emilia and Romagna, with possible associated effects and damage. Stormy precipitations could cause rapid increases in hydrometric levels in the tributaries of the western plain, with possible exceeding of threshold 1. For the Po river, an increase in hydrometric levels is expected in the Piacenza section around threshold 1. In mountainous/hilly areas occasional landslides on slopes characterized by particularly fragile hydrogeological conditions cannot be ruled out”.
WEDNESDAY DAMAGE IN THE LOWER – On Wednesday 15 May, starting at night, the pouring rain caused damage in particular in the Lower Piacentina area: Caorsothe municipality most affected with 112 millimeters of water fell, the Chiavenna has eroded the embankment, Aipo technicians intervened on site, requested by the mayor Roberta Battaglia, who reassured them about the risk of structural problems. Widespread flooding also in Monticelli d’Ongina, where Civil Protection volunteers intervened. TO Fiorenzuola situation under control after the inspections of the technicians, together with the mayor Gandolfi, along the peripheral roads of the town adjacent to the fields. In the evening the cry of alarm also arrived from the Coldiretti and Confagricoltura trade associations which reported extensive damage in the fields. On Thursday morning the emergency was over, even in the areas most affected by the rains of May 15th.
