Civil protection authorities
issued a fresh weather alert for southern regions on Monday as
much of Italy remained in the grips of heavy ice and snow.
"In the next few hours a low-pressure area arriving from
the Atlantic will hit Sardinia before extending across southern
regions during the day tomorrow, with rain and snowfall at low
altitude and stronger winds," the warning said.
Rain and snow were forecast in Basilicata, Calabria and
Sicily in particular.
The civil protection department also issued a yellow
warning for localised hydrogeological and hydraulic risk in
Sicily, Calabria, Molise, much of Puglia and parts of Abruzzo.
Central and southern regions have born the brunt of the
recent cold snap, with temperatures dipping to -18 degrees
Celsius in some places.
Schools remained closed on Monday in dozens of
municipalities in the central Abruzzo region including the
coastal city of Pescara due to heavy snowfall.
Similar conditions were reported in neighbouring Molise,
where the situation was compounded by an ongoing earthquake
swarm that began last week.
Instead the sun shone on the central Marche region but
roads remained dangerous due to ice.
In Sicily strong north-westerly winds caused disruptions to
ferry and hovercraft connections between the northern port town
of Milazzo and the Aeolian islands, where snow was reported on
Stromboli, Salina and Lipari.
On Saturday night a woman in her final month of pregnancy
had to be airlifted from Lipari to Milazzo after going into
labour.
In the southern Campania region schools were closed in the
province of Salerno, while in the provinces of Avellino and
Benevento farmers belonging to the association Coldiretti
rallied their tractors to help clear snow from roads.
Meteorologists said the icy weather would last at least
until the end of the week.
The cold hasn't spared northern regions either: in Tuscany
municipal civil protection officers in Florence told citizens to
brace for freezing temperatures Tuesday.
Elderly people were advised to take special care and only
go outdoors in the morning, while the homeless were reminded
that shelter was available for them.
Likewise municipal authorities in Rome were offering
shelter, food, a shower service and a change of clothes to the
homeless and needy under its 2015-2016 winter plan.
To access the service prospective users must first call the
city council's social operations room on the freephone number
800.440.022.
This is also the number to call to alert the authorities to
people in need.
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