Torrential Rain Sparks Flooding Crisis in Northern Italy

Northern Italy is grappling with flooding and landslides driven by heavy rainfall that has overwhelmed several cities, prompting emergency alerts and evacuation orders.

Red alerts for flooding and landslides have been declared across Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, affecting major cities like Florence and Pisa as unprecedented rainfall continues to batter the region. The alerts come as towns grapple with the aftermath of torrential rain, which has eclipsed nearly a month's worth of precipitation in just hours. Authorities have expressed concern over safety, urging residents to stay cautious and vigilant.

In Florence, where over 53mm of rain fell within six hours on Friday, local officials reported that the situation had begun to stabilize by midday, with floodwaters receding. Yet the drama was heightened by a family’s narrow escape from a landslide in Badia Prataglia. Evacuations also occurred in Bologna as mudslides threatened homes.

As conditions improve, flood defenses are being rapidly deployed in Pisa, where the Arno River has surpassed its initial flood risk level. Hundreds of residents faced travel restrictions following mudslides and fallen trees which affected various roadways, including closures on the A1 motorway connecting Florence to Rome. Furthermore, over 60 municipalities, including multiple campuses of the University of Florence, suspended classes.

The torrential weather persists, with forecasts predicting continued rain and thunderstorms through the weekend, while a high-pressure system in the Atlantic prolongs the storm's reach into the Mediterranean. Past flooding events in the area, such as the devastation caused by Storm Boris in September 2024, have shown the increasingly perilous nature of Italy’s weather amid signs of climate change intensifying the frequency of such weather-related disasters.

Local officials are urging residents to stay informed and prepare for possible further evacuations as the situation unfolds.