Severe Storms Cause Widespread Damage in Piedmont, Italy
A sudden and violent storm plunged the Piedmont region of Italy into chaos on the afternoon of July 23rd. From the hills of Turin to Asti and Settimo Torinese, the region experienced furious winds exceeding 100 km/h, hail, flooding, and uprooted trees, causing significant damage and widespread fear.
Key Impacts:
- Strong Winds: A control unit in Villanova d’Asti recorded a wind gust of 106 km/h, suggesting a potentially supercellular storm.
- Flooding: Severe flooding occurred in Turin, particularly on Corso Vercelli between Corso Giulio Cesare and Via Cigna, disrupting traffic. A railway underpass in Settimo Torinese was also closed due to flooding.
- Uprooted Trees: Numerous trees were broken or uprooted, especially between Chieri and the Hill of Turin, and in Settimo Torinese (Olimpia village and Via Cascina Nuova 32 bis). Fallen branches blocked roads and sidewalks, requiring safety interventions.
- Widespread Damage: Damage was reported in agricultural and residential areas, with submerged roads and blocked traffic throughout the region.
Areas Affected:
- Asti: Experienced extremely violent storms with hail and torrential rain.
- Turin: Suffered significant flooding and strong gusts of wind.
- Settimo Torinese: Faced flooding at a railway underpass and fallen trees.
- Torinese Hills & Chieri: Experienced numerous uprooted trees and blocked roads.
Ongoing Alerts:
The Civil Protection has issued a weather alert for intense thunderstorms, as the Atlantic disturbance continues to bring violent rains to Piedmont, Lombardy, Veneto, and Trentino-Alto Adige. A yellow alert is in effect for large sectors of Piedmont for tomorrow, forecasting further intense showers, hailstorms, and strong winds. The region is bracing for another day of potential disruption following today’s widespread damage.
