An intense phase of winter-style bad weather ahead of the calendar will hit Italy in full, causing a multitude of atmospheric phenomena: from rain in the plains to snow at low altitudes, from thunderstorms to strong winds as well as sharp temperature drops. The ingredients are all there and it will be caused by a low pressure vortex that will form in our oceans on Friday November 21st.
What is “winter vortex”
In detail it is “winter vortex“capable of causing even local storms, but what made the news was snowfall at low hill levels in the northern region. “In the Anglo-Saxon world the term is often used informally by the media and sometimes also in operational contexts to denote strong winter storm suddenly, often produced by rapid cyclogenesis. This is the language of another meteorological tradition applied to our latitudes, but the underlying logic remains the same: a winter storm that appears quickly, gets worse and brings with it sudden and sharp severe weather”, experts explain Ilmeteo.it.
What caused it
To understand the reasons that cause this real atmospheric upheaval, we must turn our gaze to Northern Europe where cold air originating from the Arctic seas has been flowing for several days now. This current will become lower in latitude and then enter the Tyrrhenian Sea from the Rhone Gate. With the sea still very cool, the contrast will be very sharp, which is why we will experience the strong phenomena described above and the most important of which is the formation of Mediterranean cyclonic vortices.
“The expected effect is typical of winter Mediterranean cyclone: locally high and persistent rainfall, especially on the Tyrrhenian slopes affected by convergence; a marked drop in temperature, closely related to the influx of arctic air, snowfall to low altitudes, strong winds or storms”, the experts added.
Areas involved
In detail, from Friday 21st we will enter the most severe worst phase: the North-West region will be affected but rain and potential hydrogeological criticality will also hit the Tyrrhenian side of Tuscany, Lazio and Campania, bad weather will also hit Romagna. In this area we will also experience local storms and very strong winds. We are talking about snow: it will not only fall in the highlands of the Alps and Apennines, but also in the highlands of the hills.
Not much will change on Saturday November 22 with more heavy rain and snow at low elevations due to “icy canals“That”.Opening between the Arctic and the Mediterranean basin will remain quite active throughout late November.”
