Italians were shivering behind
snow shovels and under soggy umbrellas Monday as a wave of a bad
weather moved down the peninsula, bringing low temperatures and
all forms of precipitation.
Wet, cold weather in Rome translated into snow pellets that
briefly dusted parts of the capital city in white on Sunday
night while further south in Calabria, snowfall was staying on
the ground at higher altitudes with a forecast for continued
wind and cold temperatures.
Some 35 people were evacuated from Petilia Policastro, a
small community in the province of Crotone in Calabria after a
landslide caused a building to collapse.
Snow was also reported in the central part of the island of
Sardinia, forcing the mayor of the city of Nuoro to close
schools Monday and warn citizens to stay off the roads unless
absolutely necessary.
Crews with the Anas transport agency were spreading salt to
try to reduce ice on highways, said the mayor of Mandas, Umberto
Oppus, who also closed schools in his community.
Other schools around the island including in the towns of
Fonni, Gavoi, Ollolai Sarule and Ovodda, were also closed and a
highway in the province of Macomer heading towards the city of
Sassari was shut down after a large truck overturned, blocking
the highway.
Mount Vesuvius, towering over the bay of Naples, was
blanketed with white from heavy snowfalls while in the city
below, rain pelted Neapolitans.
At the same time, in the nearby region of Basilicata roads
were closed due to sudden, heavy snowfall.
Schools were closed in communities around the region's
major city of Potenza, where heavy rainfalls have been recorded
in recent days.
Civil protection officials sounded a snowfall alert to
remain in force until Wednesday farther north in the Liguria
region, with heavy winds gusting to gale force levels, forecast.
To the east, high water flooded the iconic city of Venice
mid-morning on Monday, reaching a peak of 113 centimetres above
sea level.
Tides were judged to be "very strong" as well, contributing
to the high water washing over streets and flooding about 18% of
the city, starting from Piazza San Marco, officials said.
The situation looks the same for Tuesday, particularly at
high tide in the mid morning and at about 11 p.m.
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