The floods that devastated theEmilia Romagna at the end of June they represent a clear example of weather conditions extreme which have affected the Northern Italy recently, with a particularly serious impact in the Apennine area between Parma and Modena. But what caused these events? Let’s delve deeper.
Extreme and atypical event
This exceptional flood event was triggered by an atypical cyclonic circulation for the summer period, caused by the descent of a vortex of fresh air at high altitude on the Tyrrhenian. The low pressure, isolated on the Mediterraneanwas fueled by significant water vapor flows, intensifying the cyclonic structure. The precipitation, extraordinary in intensity, extension and period of the year, they have no precedent in the recent history of the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena, especially in the Apennine areas.
Block configuration
A key element of this phenomenon is the locked configuration of the atmosphere. This scenario describes a situation in which weather systems, such as high and low pressures, move slowly or remain stationary for a long period. The locked configuration has trapped the vortex on the Tyrrhenianfacilitating the continuous influx of cloud systems towards theEmilia Romagna and causing persistent rain. The presence of high pressure at high latitudes, in contrast with the low pressure over the Mediterranean, has created a long-lasting cycle of bad weather.
Spike in extreme weather events
In recent years, there has been an increase in unusual weather events, such as periods of heavy rain or intense heat waves, which can also occur in atypical periods, including the summer months. Intense events during atmospheric blocking configurations are not isolated phenomena, but tend to occur simultaneously in other parts of the Northern Hemisphere.
Recently, atmospheric waves have been little evolving, penalising on the one hand the Central Northern Europe and the northern Italian regions with repeated rains, while on the other they brought heat waves from Nord Africa to the Southern Italy and theEuropa south-eastern. When vortices become isolated, the phenomena can become persistent.
Extreme weather in summer
In this context, it is clear that extreme weather events can also occur during the summer months. Atmospheric blocking patterns are not uncommon phenomena and tend to occur in various parts of the Northern Hemisphere at the same time.
In recent months, rogue atmospheric waves have caused alternating heavy rains in the Northern Italy and heat waves in the Southern ItalyThe phenomenon of vortex isolation has further accentuated the persistence of these events, leading to severe weather or extreme heat in several regions.
The role of climate change
These extreme weather events highlight the importance of understanding atmospheric dynamics and their impacts on regional weather. The combination of fresh air vortices, blocked configurations, and water vapor fluxes can lead to heavy rainfall and flooding events, such as the one that hit theEmilia Romagna. Furthermore, the tendency for these phenomena to persist requires particular attention in resource management and weather emergency preparedness.
