The data released by Anbi. More than half of the total are cloudbursts. A particular concentration of events occurred in the first two weeks of September, including in Emilia-Romagna. Anbi: "Since the 1980s, Italy has lacked a national plan for hydrogeological prevention interventions"
There are 7 extreme events per day in Italy in 2024
Nearly 1,900 in 259 days. More than 7 extreme events occur daily in Italy in 2024, with water dominating the scene and a particularly devastating month of September. This year, the cloudbursts that hit the country numbered 1,023, more than half the total. A remarkable 157 of these occurred in the first two weeks of the current month, with 91% affecting the central-northern regions. Additionally, there have been 664 hailstorms since the beginning of the year, counting only those with large hailstones, 37 of which took place in September, setting a record in Versilia with hailstones measuring 7-9 cm in diameter. There were also 212 tornadoes, with nearly 1 in 4 concentrated in early September and 71% hitting the Tyrrhenian coast.
Emilia-Romagna has been heavily impacted in September
These are the figures released today by the ANBI Observatory on Water Resources regarding extreme events in Italy from the beginning of the year to September 15, 2024. The association highlights an important point: all three types of extreme weather events affected the eastern part of Emilia-Romagna in September.
As of September 17, the region has been hit by another flood triggered by abnormal rainfall (up to 300 mm accumulated in the first 48 hours). According to ISPRA, 45.6% of its territory is at risk of flooding, with a high probability of medium-intensity floods—the worst figure in Italy.
“This is a fact that needs to be reflected upon, as it may explain the recurrence of a flood just 16 months after the disastrous May 2023 flood: if Italy is the Mediterranean hub of the climate crisis, incompatible atmospheric phenomena are likely converging on the Adriatic coast, triggering torrential rains that exacerbate the inadequacy of the current hydraulic network,” emphasizes ANBI’s General Director, Massimo Gargano.
This fact also highlights the need for better prevention strategies and exposes their shortcomings. “It is an uncomfortable truth, but it must be said out of respect for those suffering the consequences of new floods: since the 1980s, Italy has lacked a national plan for hydrogeological prevention interventions, instead prioritizing emergency funds. This is also happening in Romagna,” states Francesco Vincenzi, President of ANBI.
