It is undeniable that summer has become a cocktail of extreme weather events. This statement may sound bold, but it is based on hard facts. In fact, we are witnessing a sudden transition from intense heat waves to storms of considerable violence.
A cocktail that seems destined to persist
Global warming and its consequences.
Global warming is an unstoppable phenomenon that is affecting all corners of the planet. However, it is important to underline that Italy and the Mediterranean area represent the so-called climatic hotspot. This means that in these regions the weather is changing faster and temperatures are rising at a faster rate. Significantly, the atmosphere is increasingly saturated with water vapor and when a cold disturbance from the North Atlantic arrives, the consequences are easily predictable.
However, it is important to remember that not all areas of Italy are constantly subject to extreme events. These events, by their nature, tend to be very localized, making it unlikely that an entire province or region would be affected by hail, high winds, or tornadoes.
An observation we had previously made
Despite a slow and delayed start, the summer of 2023 is gradually catching on. As unlikely as it may seem, the African anticyclone always ends up visiting us at least once or twice during the summer season. And often it lasts a long time.
The first heat wave is behind us, but next week does not promise cool temperatures. However, we had already warned our readers that the heat would have arrived anyway, from north to south, in all its forms. Even in seasons that have gotten off to a rocky start, there have always been 2-3 heat waves, some of them intense and not inconsiderable in duration.
Now it is unthinkable to have a full summer season without at least one period of persistent African heat. Ideally, there would be periods of rain and thunderstorms between one phase of extreme heat and another, without these phenomena giving rise to violent events. Unfortunately, we know that statistically it is almost impossible for the transition from extreme heat to rain to occur without consequences.
In short, summer is turning into a mix of extreme weather events, with a rapid transition from heat waves to severe storms. This is mainly due to global warming, which is especially affecting Italy and the Mediterranean area. Probably also in the summer of 2023 we will see heat waves alternating with periods of rain and thunderstorms.
