Rain and snow to start week then taste of spring

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 14 - Rain and snow will start the week across much of Italy and then there will be a touch of spring starting from Thursday, forecasters said Monday.
    "Most of Italy will see rain and snow from MOnday until Wednesday and then temperatures will rise quite sharply starting from Thursday," said Antonio Sanò, director of the 'iLMeteo.it' website.
    He said the "much-acclaimed San Valentine's weather front has arrived in Italy.
    "The first effects will be seen this afternoon.
    "Over the next few hours the parched lands of the north and centre will received an important dose of precipitation.
    "Snow will again dust high ground starting from 700 metres, but may also reach low-lying areas of Piedmont and Lombardy by the evening, making an appearances for a few hours also in Turin, Asti, Alessandria, Milan, Pavia, and Bergamo.
    "There will be rain in the rest of the north, as well as in Tuscany, Umbria and later also in Lazio.
    "From Tuesday the front will affect the Triveneto, with abundant snow in Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia Giulia at a height of 6/800 metres.
    "Thunderstorms and scattered showers will affect the centre and south, in particular Campania and western Sicily.
    "Then things will change again on Thursday with a full-blown taste of spring, with temperature highs of 13/15 degrees C in many cities, including Milan, Bologna, Florence, Rome and Naples.
    "The high pressure, as in the previous incursion, could be long-lived". (ANSA).