The question remains: when will there be a cold snap? When is the snow coming? In recent months, Italy has recorded above-average temperatures. 2023 will be the warmest year worldwide. Reports of widespread heat reduce the risk of cold snaps. Until the evening before Christmas, The thermal anomaliesTemperatures dropped particularly in northern Italy 10 to 15 degrees above average in low temperatures and up to 20 degrees more in high temperatures. In short: Christmas 2023 is anything but white. Even contrary to all seasonal predictions December 2023 will be characterized by heat anomalies in Italy, with a sudden cessation of precipitation over a huge area. We are experiencing climate anomalies where almost anything can happen, albeit with limitations.
Extreme heat will be a constant in the coming years. Instead, with exceptions, cold spells will be brief and isolated events. For example from Below average temperatures are recorded in Scandinavia and Iceland since autumn with cold waves despite global warming.
Scientists are trying to explain these weather phenomena, including major cold snaps. Some studies are confidential, others are public and numerous, offering the opportunity to examine different results.
Scientists argue that we should have efficient weather forecasting systemsprovided that the Future waves of frost will be sudden, rapid and severe. In China, a historic cold snap comes to an end in December, and there was also extreme frost in eastern and briefly central Siberia. In addition, there will be exceptional snowfall due to increased humidity.
Will we have cold waves in January 2024? We can't know, but due to the rapid variability of the polar vortex it can be ruled out. It is unclear whether this will have a significant impact on Europe and Italy. We analyze the evolution of climate indices and their impacts and note that some phenomena could favor a cold phase. However, at the moment it is only a theory that can be taken into account in weather forecasts, since it is still too early to predict the evolution of the climate and whether there will be a wave of frost in Italy in January.
There History of climate changes and weather conditions in the 20th and 21st centuries Century is fascinating and complex, reflecting how the climate fluctuates significantly even over short periods of time. Despite the global warming trend, Over the last two centuries, there have been episodes of extreme cold that have shaped the collective memory in different parts of Europe and the world.
In the beginning of the 20th centuryDespite the end of the Little Ice Age, serious climatic events occurred, characterized by particularly cold and snowy winters. These episodes manifested themselves in exceptional snowfalls in cities such as Rome and extremely cold winters in regions such as southern Italy and Eastern Europe. Even in the 1930s, despite a period of calm, there were episodes of remarkable cold, such as January 1935, which set record low temperatures in Ukraine, Spain and North Africa.
The 1940s were characterized by equally harsh winters. The years 1939–1940, for example, brought historic snowfalls in Rome and Naples and extremely low temperatures in Germany and Russia. This decade also saw the winter of 1941–1942, which is considered one of the coldest of the 20th century in Europe.
The 1950s saw another memorable cold snapThe winter of 1956 was particularly severe, bringing snow and freezing temperatures to many regions of Italy and the Mediterranean. At the end of the 1950s there were also notable climatic events, such as the cold wave of 1957, which mainly affected central and southern Italy.
The 1960s and 1970s were characterized by a series of cold winters, with episodes of snowfall and waves of frost hitting various parts of Europe. These events were followed by a period of warmer weather in the 1970s, although there were still episodes of significant cold.
The 1980s and 1990s saw more severe winters again, with several cold waves and snowfall hitting Italy and other parts of Europe. These events have often led to emergency situations and significant inconvenience to the population.
Even in the 21st century, extreme cold events have not disappeared, with Europe hit by several waves of frost and snow, particularly in the second decade of the century. These events had a significant impact, particularly in northern Italy and other European regions, resulting in weather conditions reminiscent of those of past centuries.
These climate changes and extreme weather remind us of that the complexity and variability of the Earth's climate system. They underline the importance of climate research and climate understanding both in the context of global climate change and its local and regional manifestations.
In the winter of 1929, an ice core of remarkable size originating from Siberia, has invaded Italy, causing a drastic drop in temperature and snowstorms. This phenomenon had a significant impact on several Italian regions, with snow accumulations exceeding one meter in some places. For example, 70 cm of snow was recorded in Bari, a historical record for the city.
The Siberian frost began to appear in early February 1929with temperatures falling even further 20°C compared to the seasonal average. The extreme weather conditions caused significant disruption with mobility problems and structural damage. Large parts of the country were covered in snow, even in places where it does not normally snow.
On February 2, 1929, the Russian anticyclone brought very cold air to Italy. while a mass of ice-cold air from northern Europe flowed over the Rhone towards the Ligurian Sea and formed a low pressure area on the Tyrrhenian Sea. This combination resulted in heavy snowfall in central and northern Italy.
On February 12, air pressure fell over the central Tyrrhenian Sea, causing widespread severe weather with heavy snowfall in various regions. Temperatures fell well below freezing and snow accumulations reached considerable heights in many cities.
This cold spell had a significant impact on Italian societyThis not only causes immediate inconvenience, but also long-term problems such as crop failures and resulting food shortages. The low temperatures and heavy snowfall made this event one of the most memorable and difficult of the 20th century in Italy.
February 1956 Frost Wave: A memorable weather event and an unusual cold spell. Low temperatures typical of the polar regions spread across northern Italy (and beyond), with even flat areas covered in snow for more than a month and parts of the Po frozen over. These are just some of the characteristic phenomena of the severe cold that characterized the month of February 1956.
This episode, discussed in detail and documented with numerous photos, is analyzed here based on some important climatological points. The period was characterized by continuous air mass flows It came from the Arctic and, meeting the warm and humid air of the Mediterranean, created large areas of low pressure that affected the entire Mediterranean basin and most of the European continent.
The epicenter of this influx of cold air was a powerful anticyclone which moved between Scandinavia and the British Isles from the end of January to February 23rd. In Italy, the most critical phase began on February 1st with the advance of Arctic air over the Balkan Peninsula; This resulted in a significant drop in temperature, heavy snowfall and strong bora winds.
From February 3rd to 6thThe minimum temperatures fell to -14 degrees in Bologna and -15 degrees in Reggio, while large parts of Europe were hit by snow and frost: heavy snowfalls occurred on the French Riviera (Nice, 15 cm), in Rome and Naples; Record temperatures were recorded in Moscow (-42°C), Stockholm (-30°C) and Prague (-27°C).
On February 11th and 12th the storm moved further north, with heavy snowfall in Emilia (Bologna, 55 cm). From the 13th to the 17th, a new wave of arctic air brought temperatures down to the lowest values of the period: Turin reached -21.4°C, Casale Monferrato -20.3°C, Asti -19.7°C, Vercelli – 23.4°C, Vicenza at -19°C, Bologna at -14.4°C, Cervia at -16°C; in Polesine the Po di Goro and the Po della Donzella are frozen over.
On the 18th a new period of bad weather began, but the intensity of the cold subsided. According to the data recorded by the Reggio-Emilia weather station, the following values were determined: The minimum temperature fell to -18.8 ° C on February 16, 1956, for eleven days the minimum temperatures remained below -10 ° C, for twelve days the maximum temperatures exceeded that There was no zero point, the average monthly temperature was -3.6°C compared to a climatic average of +4°C and the snow cover remained compact.
In modern times, meteorology has reached a high level of quality that allows us to precisely observe and reconstruct the development of large, extremely intense weather phenomena. This quality is reduced when predicting local phenomena, which can sometimes be very violent.
The use of technologies More advanced data allows for a better understanding of the temporal and spatial dynamics of atmospheric events, and it is also possible to use historical data to build mathematical climate models that predict future weather behavior. And even if some extremely intense meteorological events will no longer occur on this scale in the future, their occurrence can still be predicted well in advance.
The cold of 1956 did not occur as much because global warming was less than todaybut because large cells allowed high and low pressure Transfer of ice-cold air masses of Siberian and polar origin to Europewhich reached Italy, where in the Mediterranean Sea various disturbances resulted in disrupted systems that resulted in heavy and repeated snowfalls at low temperatures.
For those living in northern Italy, 1956 was poor in snow compared to the rest of the country, but above all there were freezing temperatures. But that doesn't mean it didn't snow in northern Italy, it was very cold, but the amounts of snow weren't unusual.
The snow-covered ground and several clear nights favored this great, semi-stationary cold. And this also refutes some theories that want to emphasize that in northern Italy, for example, the likelihood of a cold is lower in February. A fact that is also refuted by the facts in February 2012. February, like part of March, is a particularly ideal month for cold waves and snowfalls on the peninsula and the main islands.
A 1956 understood as cold, it could return, repeat, as mentioned, not in the same exact dynamic. We are witnessing the advent of extremely cold weather with the waves of frost occurring in various parts of the planet and also resulting in temperature records that are over a hundred years old.
The weather of the winter of 1985 is still considered to be one of the coldest and harshest in Italy's recent history. An unprecedented wave of frost hit the entire peninsula, bringing freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall and logistical challenges of enormous proportions. In this article we take you on a journey back in time to the Ice Age and experience the trials that the Italian population had to face during this unforgiving season.
The year 1985 began with a bitter cold that quickly turned into a cold snap almost unprecedented. In many Italian regions, temperatures fell well below freezing point. Cities in the north, generally more accustomed to the cold, recorded record temperatures, but the center and south were not spared.
The snowfall was heavy and prolonged, which turn cities into fairytale scenarios, but at the same time cause enormous inconvenience. Roads became impassable, traffic came to a standstill and many everyday activities stopped. Authorities urged the population to stay at home to minimize the risks associated with the extreme cold and adverse weather conditions.
The frost wave of 1985 had significant social and economic impacts. Many people were isolated in their homes and had difficulty obtaining basic necessities. Businesses suffered huge losses and many businesses were forced to temporarily close due to adverse weather conditions.
The Italian government was aware of the emergency and mobilized the police and army and aid organizations to deal with the situation. Convoys were organized to transport food and medicine to the worst-hit areas, and rescuers worked tirelessly to clear the streets and restore normality.
Despite the difficulties, With the 1985 freeze emerged stories of solidarity and altruism. Many people helped each other, shared resources and offered support to those who needed it most. These acts of generosity provided a glimmer of hope in a time otherwise marked by the cold splendor of winter.
The cold snap of 1985 remains an indelible chapter in Italy's climate history. Its traces are visible not only in the weather data, but also in the stories of resilience and solidarity of a population called to face one of the most unpredictable and serious challenges. The winter of 1985 taught Italy that even in the coldest weather, the strength of community can melt even the hardest ice.
Conclusion: The biggest cold waves They are a symbolic example of how weather can profoundly affect the lives of people and communities, but also of how solidarity and resilience can emerge even in the most adverse circumstances. However, these weather events, some of which were isolated in time, often influenced the perception of winter. We've often talked about a cold winter, for example the one from 2012although in reality the wave of frost ended after about two weeks in a largely mild winter.