Storms, Tornado and Floods Hit Northern and Central Italy
Listen to the story
Severe weather has struck northern and central Italy, bringing heavy storms, a tornado, and lightning across several regions.
The region of Lombardy has requested a state of emergency from the national government. This request usually means extra funds and support are needed to deal with the damage.
According to local reports, about 400 people have been evacuated from their homes because of landslides and flooding. Many roads and homes have been affected by rising water and falling earth.
The Bergamo area, known as the Bergamasca, has been especially hard hit. Heavy rain has fallen continuously in the region.
In the Orobie mountain range, rainfall has reached record levels, with some areas receiving up to 250 millimeters of rain. This is an unusually high amount for such a short period.
The heavy rainfall has caused rivers and streams to rise quickly, leading to flash floods in some low-lying areas.
Weather forecasts suggest that more unstable conditions could continue to affect the Centre-North of Italy in the coming days.
Authorities are monitoring the situation closely, especially in areas already weakened by the recent storms.
Vocabulary7 words
- tornado
- a very strong, spinning wind that can destroy things
- state of emergency
- an official announcement that a situation is very serious and needs urgent help
- landslides
- sudden falls of earth, rock, or mud down a slope
- flooding
- when water covers land that is normally dry
- Orobie
- a mountain range in northern Italy, near Bergamo
- millimeters
- a small unit used to measure how much rain has fallen
- forecasts
- predictions about what the weather will be like
Quiz
Answer key
1. Because of heavy storms, landslides, and floods 2. Up to 250 millimeters 3. True
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Severe weather has struck northern and central Italy, bringing heavy storms, a _____, and lightning across several regions.
The region of Lombardy has requested a state of _____ from the national government.
This request usually means extra funds and support are needed to deal with the _____.
About 400 people have been _____ from their homes because of landslides and flooding.
The Bergamo area, known as the Bergamasca, has been especially _____ hit.
In the Orobie mountain range, rainfall has reached _____ levels, with some areas receiving up to 250 millimeters of rain.
The heavy rainfall has caused rivers and streams to rise quickly, leading to flash _____ in some low-lying areas.
Weather forecasts suggest that more unstable _____ could continue to affect the Centre-North of Italy.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think heavy rain can cause both landslides and floods?
- What kind of help does a region usually need after a state of emergency is declared?
- Have you ever experienced extreme weather like a storm or flood? What happened?
- How can people prepare for severe weather events like this one?