Relentless storm: Northern Italy is battling violent storms!

Relentless storm: Northern Italy is battling violent storms!

Severe storms have been raging in northern Italy since Thursday evening, prompting intensive deployment of civil defense and fire services. Over 1,300 missions were counted in the regions of Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Tuscany. The impact is particularly dramatic, with roofs covered, trees uprooted and streets flooded. In the Travel Reporter It is reported that around 500 missions were recorded in Lombardy alone. Parks and green spaces in Milan had to be closed, and Malpensa Airport is also affected, where water has entered.

In Florence, the cycle paths on the Arno were closed, while gusts of over 110 km/h were recorded on the Ligurian coast. In Veneto, hailstones almost the size of tennis balls caused significant damage. There was also flooding on Lake Garda, which affected underground car parks and streets and trees fell over. In South Tyrol, the authorities reported flooded cellars and small landslides. In Parma, Emilia-Romagna, 50 mm of rain fell in just one hour.

Current weather warnings

The storm is due to a low pressure area and the ex-hurricane “Erin”, which led to an orange warning level (medium danger) for the regions of Lazio, Lombardy, Molise and Tuscany. For many other regions, such as Campania and Emilia-Romagna, a yellow warning level (increased alert) applies. Civil protection warns in particular of the risk of flooding in Lombardy, Piedmont, Veneto and Trentino-South Tyrol.

Travel recommendations for tourists

Travelers in the affected regions should contact their tour operators immediately to receive information about the current situation. According to the authorities, predicted thunderstorms and comparable weather phenomena do not justify free cancellation of trips. However, in exceptional circumstances such as severe flooding, organizers are obliged to support their customers. This applies, for example, to early return journeys or additional overnight stays, which are limited to a maximum of three days.

For individually booked trips, it should be noted that refunds are often only offered in the event of flight cancellations. Non-cancellable airline tickets only provide refunds of taxes and fees if the passenger does not wish to travel. If the booked accommodation is not accessible, the costs usually have to be paid unless the provider shows goodwill. The consumer advice center advises you to act carefully and not to cancel your trip too quickly to avoid high cancellation fees.

In summary, the situation in northern Italy is tense. When planning trips to the affected areas, holidaymakers should follow the recommendations of the organizers and be prepared for possible adjustments to their travel plans. The travel providers assess the situation and can often cancel trips or offer rebookings. Further developments should be followed closely in order to stay safe.