African Anticyclone in October: a strong weather anomaly

⁣The‍ African heat waves that occur in early October ⁢in Italy represent an increasingly‍ common weather phenomenon. Despite being mid-Autumn, in‌ such circumstances temperatures can reach or exceed 30°C, especially ‍in Southern Italy and the Major Islands like Sardinia and ⁤Sicily.

The phenomenon of African heat develops when masses of hot air from North Africa are pushed ⁣towards ⁣the Mediterranean basin by a High-Pressure field.

This meteorological configuration favors the stagnation of heat over large areas of ‌the country, causing⁣ a significant⁣ increase in⁤ temperatures compared to seasonal averages. ⁣Although such heat⁤ waves in early October may seem unusual, ‌they have become ⁤more frequent, partly due ‌to climate change. ⁣

Out-of-season heat

The intensity of the heat not only causes‍ physical discomfort and health problems, particularly for the most vulnerable people, but also has long-term consequences on the ecosystem and the atmosphere.

A critical aspect of ⁣out-of-season heat ‍waves is‌ the accumulation of thermal energy in⁤ the⁢ sea and air.

This⁣ excess energy‌ can play a ‍decisive ⁣role‍ when new disturbances form, especially those coming from the Atlantic.

Sudden⁣ severe weather

Atlantic disturbances, characterized by high humidity and low-pressure systems, can find‌ optimal conditions in an already overheated atmosphere.

When colder and more unstable air from the Atlantic interacts with the warm and stagnant air over Italy, perfect conditions ⁤are created for extreme ⁣weather phenomena⁤ such as violent thunderstorms, downpours, and strong winds. The surplus energy generated ‌by the heat can intensify ‌these disturbances, making ⁤weather events more intense and complex to predict⁣ accurately. ‌ ⁣

The problem of drought

Another effect of abnormal heat is the worsening of drought.

Although ⁣October heat is not as prolonged ‌as summer ⁢heat, it can extend dry periods, especially if subsequent disturbances concentrate on ⁣specific areas without distributing evenly across the territory.

This creates a contrast between areas still affected by drought and others ⁣experiencing extreme weather episodes. ‍

Which areas ⁣are most at risk?

The most⁤ vulnerable areas are certainly Southern Italy and the Major Islands, where African heat tends to be more intense and prolonged.

However, even the North and Center could experience abnormal temperatures, with direct consequences on ⁣water resource ⁢management and increased hydrogeological risk. The Po plains, for example, could suffer the combined ⁣impact of‌ out-of-season heat and⁢ heavy rainfall, with negative effects on agriculture and ⁢infrastructure.

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