From Hobby to ‘Meteo-Mania’: Amateur Weather Enthusiast Captivates 80,000 Followers in italy
A dedicated online community has blossomed around real-time weather updates in the Friuli-Venezia Giulia region of Italy, fueled by the passion of a local enthusiast and increasingly frequent extreme weather events.
Driven by a childhood captivation with storms, Daniel Tescari, a 41-year-old from Gorizia, has cultivated a devoted following of 80,000 on his facebook page, “Crazy about the weather in Gorizia and storm chasing-Pmg,” and accompanying website. The initiative provides hyperlocal meteorological information and has tapped into a growing public interest in understanding and preparing for increasingly volatile weather patterns. Tescari anticipates reaching 100,000 followers next year, especially during the summer months when demand for accurate forecasts surges.
A Lifelong Passion Takes Root
Tescari’s journey began with a childhood fear – and subsequent fascination – with a particularly violent thunderstorm. “One night my mother had left the window shutters open and a violent storm broke out,” he recalled.”All that lightning and thunder scared me so much that I couldn’t speak for a while. But,on the other hand,I was fascinated and wanted to understand what those lights in the sky and those noises were… So I started watching the weather forecast on TV,getting into the habit of updating my family on what would happen the next day.”
This early curiosity evolved into a dedicated pursuit. Initially a hobby alongside his work as a warehouseman – following a stint as a sales agent – Tescari transformed his passion into a full-fledged online presence a decade ago.recognizing the growing demand for his detailed forecasts, he brought on Lorenzo Ghirardelli to assist with daily updates and page management.
Did you know?– Italy is experiencing more frequent and intense extreme weather events, including hailstorms and tornadoes, linked to climate change. These shifts drive demand for hyperlocal forecasts.
The Rise of ‘Storm Hunting’ and increased Extreme Weather
Tescari’s dedication extends beyond simply reporting the weather; he actively seeks out and analyzes storm events, earning him the moniker “storm hunter.” He has personally observed numerous whirlwinds in the region,noting a concerning trend. “Tornadoes…is an event to which our region is increasingly subject, also due to global warming,” he stated. “The area most affected is the Pordenone area where the disturbances descend violently from the mountains and where those forming in the Venetian plain also arrive.”
Recent observations indicate a meaningful increase in hailstorms, with hailstones growing in size – approximately one centimeter larger than in previous years. These events are being closely studied by regional authorities, including Arpa Fvg, and are incorporated into the data collected by the experimental project Pretemp-Italia-storm forecasts, with which Tescari actively collaborates by reporting extreme meteorological events.
Pro tip:– Understanding the why behind weather patterns is crucial for preparedness. Local experts like Tescari provide valuable context beyond simple forecasts.
Beyond Forecasts: A Community Driven by Understanding
The success of “Pazzi per il meteo Goriziano” – as the page is known in Italian – isn’t solely attributable to accurate predictions. Tescari emphasizes that his followers are equally interested in the insights that help them understand the why behind the weather. This desire for knowledge has fostered a strong sense of community, with users actively engaging with the content and sharing their own observations.
The initiative, initially managed in Tescari’s spare time, now requires dedicated effort due to the increasing demand for real-time updates and the commitment to frequent public speaking engagements. This transformation underscores the growing importance of accessible, localized weather information in a world facing increasingly unpredictable climate conditions.
This article is based on reporting originally published in the October 22, 2025 issue of la Vita Cattolica by Monika Pascolo.
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