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Weather alert: Heavy rain and hail in Liguria and Northern Italy

Severe weather has arrived in Northern Italy, particularly affecting Liguria with thunderstorms and heavy rain.

20 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Weather alert: Heavy rain and hail in Liguria and Northern Italy — Archive photoPhoto: Nasa · Wikimedia Commons · Public domain

Today, Italy is under a weather alert due to a disturbance that has led to a rapid deterioration of conditions. Heavy and abundant downpours are expected, with the risk of hail. This situation has been caused by a large depression of cold polar air coming from the British Isles, moving toward Europe and the Mediterranean, resulting in a strong thermal contrast after a long period of record heat.

Liguria is among the hardest-hit regions, with heavy rains causing flooding and disruptions. According to weather bulletins, an orange alert has been issued for the eastern central part of Liguria for August 21. Firefighters have been mobilized to assist in the most affected areas, such as Genoa and Chiavari, where reports of flooded roads are coming in.

In Liguria, nearly 40,000 lightning strikes have been recorded, with 20,000 occurring in the city of Genoa alone. In response to the alert situation, the Municipality of Florence has decided to close parks and gardens to ensure citizens' safety. Additionally, train services on the Genoa-Ventimiglia route have been suspended due to adverse conditions.

In Milan, the Municipality has taken precautionary measures by closing parks and swimming pools to prevent possible incidents due to the bad weather. Disruptions are continuing to grow, with reports of damage and difficulties in managing the ongoing weather situation. Updates are being provided continuously by the relevant authorities.

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