Farmers’ association Coldiretti on Friday sounded that alarm about extreme weather in southern Italy and low precipitation levels in the north that have badly hit water reserves, saying agriculture all over the country is having huge trouble as a consequence.
It said that data from the European Severe Weather Database (ESWD) showed that Sicily experienced three extreme weather events in just one day on Thursday – a rain bomb in Siracusa, violent storms in the Cassaro area and gale-force winds in Catania.
It said heavy snowfalls had also caused huge problems in Vibo Valentia in Calabria.
As a result of the extreme weather, many fields are flooded, greenhouses have been damaged, trees have been knocked over and farmers are having difficulty reaching, harvesting and moving their crops in many areas.
In the north, meanwhile, water supplies remain under stress after last year’s long drought, with precipitation levels down 40% in 2022.
As a result the level of River Po is very low and as are those big lakes of the north.
Lake Garda is 35% full, Lake Maggiore is at 37% and Lake Como is down to 21%.
Scientists say that extreme weather events like the heat waves, supercharged storms, flooding and droughts are becoming more frequent and more intense because of climate change caused by human activity.
