New Storm to Bring Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms to Italy
Italy is preparing for a new intense weather system that is expected to arrive at the start of the week. The disturbance will bring heavy rain and thunderstorms to several areas of the country.
In the past 24 hours, weather conditions have already caused serious problems. Firefighters carried out more than 1,200 interventions across central and northern Italy, responding to floods and other damage caused by the rain.
In Finale Ligure, a landslide fell onto the road surface, forcing authorities to close the Statale 1 highway. The closure has affected traffic in the area.
Meanwhile, meteorologists have issued a yellow alert for Saturday, August 22, warning of possible thunderstorms. A yellow alert is the lowest of Italy's three warning levels but still signals a real risk.
Several regions across the country appear on the list of areas at risk. Local authorities have urged residents to stay informed and take care during the storms.
This new system follows a period of unstable weather that has already caused significant downpours, known in Italian as 'nubifragi'. These sudden, very heavy rains can lead to flooding and travel disruption in a short time.
Vocabulary10 words
- disturbance
- a change in the weather that brings storms or rain
- thunderstorm
- a storm with heavy rain, wind, and loud noise from the sky
- intervention
- an action taken to help in an emergency situation
- landslide
- when soil and rocks suddenly fall down from higher ground
- yellow alert
- an official warning showing a low but real level of danger
- meteorologist
- a person who studies and predicts the weather
- downpour
- a very heavy fall of rain in a short time
- authority
- an official group with power to make decisions
- disruption
- something that stops normal activity from happening
- at risk
- in a situation where something bad could happen
Quiz
Answer key
1. Heavy rain and thunderstorms 2. Due to a landslide on the road 3. A low level warning of possible risk
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Italy is preparing for a new intense weather system that is expected to arrive at the start of the week. The _____ will bring heavy rain and _____ to several areas of the country.
In the past 24 hours, weather conditions have already caused serious problems. Firefighters carried out more than 1,200 _____ across central and northern Italy, responding to floods and other damage caused by the rain.
In Finale Ligure, a _____ fell onto the road surface, forcing authorities to close the Statale 1 highway. The closure has affected traffic in the area.
Meanwhile, _____ have issued a _____ for Saturday, August 22, warning of possible thunderstorms. A yellow alert is the lowest of Italy's three warning levels but still signals a real risk.
Several regions across the country appear on the list of areas _____. Local _____ have urged residents to stay informed and take care during the storms.
Discussion questions
- Have you ever experienced a sudden heavy storm? What happened?
- Why is it important for governments to issue weather alerts?
- What problems can landslides cause for people who live nearby?
- How can firefighters and emergency services prepare for extreme weather events?