Italy is bracing for more extreme bad
weather with risk of further flooding in some areas due to soil
saturation, meteorologist Mattia Gussoni of www.iLMeteo.it said
on Saturday.
A new low pressure system originating in the north Atlantic is
due to reach the northern regions on Saturday afternoon, before
moving south to Tuscany and eastern Liguria by evening, bringing
heavy or very heavy rainfall to the same areas affected by Storm
Ciaran earlier in the week.
The precipitation caused by that Atlantic low has saturated the
soil, meaning that it is unable to absorb further rainfall.
"All this translates into an increased risk of further
flooding," said Gussoni.
"In fact, the water remains on the ground surface without
infiltrating, washing away the soil and increasing the risk of
landslides and mudslides," he continued.
"The water would then further swell the rivers", causing them to
break their banks, concluded Gussoni.
Seven people died and one other is still missing after strong
winds and heavy rainfall caused flooding in five Tuscan
provinces on Thursday evening and night.
Other parts of central and northern Italy were also affected by
the extreme weather, but not to the same degree.
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