The recent floods that hit Emilia-Romagna, in particular the Apennine area between Parma and Modena, are an example of extreme weather conditions that affected Northern Italy. These weather events were caused by an atypical cyclonic circulation for the summer period, due to the descent of a vortex of fresh air at high altitude over the Tyrrhenian Sea. This low pressure, isolated over the Mediterranean, was fueled by significant water vapor flows, which intensified the cyclonic structure. The rainfall, extraordinary in intensity, extent and time of year, is unprecedented in the recent history of the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia and Modena, especially in the Apennine areas.
A key element of this weather phenomenon is the locked configuration of the atmosphere. This scenario describes a situation in which weather systems, such as high and low pressure, move slowly or remain stationary for a long period. The blocked configuration has trapped the vortex over the Tyrrhenian Sea, facilitating the continuous influx of cloud systems towards Emilia-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 cycle of lasting bad weather.
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 not been very evolutionary, penalizing on the one hand Central Northern Europe and the northern Italian regions with repeated rains, while on the other they have brought heat waves from North Africa towards Southern Italy and south-eastern Europe . When the vortices become isolated, the phenomena can become persistent.
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, anomalous atmospheric waves have caused alternating intense rainfall in Northern Italy and heat waves in Southern Italy. The phenomenon of vortex isolation has further accentuated the persistence of these events, leading to severe weather or extreme heat in several regions.
These extreme weather phenomena highlight the importance of understanding atmospheric dynamics and their impacts on regional weather. The combination of fresh air vortices, blocked configurations and water vapor flows can lead to intense rainfall events and floods, like the one that hit Emilia-Romagna. Furthermore, the tendency for these phenomena to persist requires particular attention in the management of resources and in preparing for weather emergencies.
