Mediterranean storm to unleash thunderstorms, heavy rain and snow from Italy to Balkans
By
Adam Douty, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Nov 29, 2020 6:47 PM EDT
The storm that brought heavy rain to Spain and Portugal last week will push across the Mediterranean Sea into early this week, bringing thunderstorms, heavy rain and snow from Italy into the Balkans.
While rain first reached Corsica and Sardinia on Friday, the heaviest waited for Friday night and Saturday. From Sunday into early next week, rain will advance east into the southern Balkans. As colder air presses to the south, snow may even fall across some areas.
The heaviest of the rain fell across Sicily and southern Italy through early Sunday when 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) of rain were reported within a short period of time. Matera, located in southern Italy, received 74.8 mm (2.94 inches) of rain on Sunday alone.
Rain intensity is expected to lessen across Corsica and Sardinia into Sunday night, followed by southern Italy on Monday as the storm moves into the Balkans.
This rain can lead to isolated flash flooding, especially in mountainous areas where the heavy rain will quickly run off the rugged terrain and into the valleys below. Mudslides and debris flows are possible as well which could close some roads and cut off rural areas.
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As the storm moves into the Balkans by Sunday night, rain will spread across Greece, Albania and southern Bulgaria through Monday. The heaviest rain is expected to fall across southern Greece with amounts of 13-50 mm (0.50-2.00 inches). While this rain is not expected to lead to a significant flood threat, it can cause slower travel and ponding on roadways.
A gusty wind caused by the storm can also kick up dangerous seas on the Aegean Sea during the first half of the week.
In addition to the rain, as colder air presses to the south, the northern edge of precipitation can fall as a mix of rain and snow, or even all snow in some areas. The most likely areas to get snow will stretch from the mountains of northern Albania to southern Serbia, northern Bulgaria and Romania.
Higher elevations could potentially receive up to 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) of snow making for slow and dangerous travel early next week.
While accumulating snow is most likely in higher elevations, people in places like Skopje, Sofia and Bucharest can see snow mixing with rain. With some nighttime temperatures falling to or a little below freezing, rain could switch to snow for a time and wet roadways may potentially turn icy.
Heavy rainfall first arrived across Spain and Portugal last Wednesday, and an orange alert, the second highest on a four level scale, was issued for Malaga and Costa del Sol by the Spanish weather service.
As of Friday afternoon, local time, rainfall totals of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) have been common across parts of Spain with higher totals likely in the mountains. Strong winds were also reported across Spain, including in Izana where gusts reached 94 mph (152 km/h).
AccuWeather forecasters will be monitoring a storm system that is expected to spin to the west of the Iberian Peninsula into the beginning of next week. The outer edges can bring rounds of rain to western areas through this time frame before it begins tracking to the east later next week.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo
News / Weather Forecasts
Mediterranean storm to unleash thunderstorms, heavy rain and snow from Italy to Balkans
By Adam Douty, AccuWeather senior meteorologist
Updated Nov 29, 2020 6:47 PM EDT
The storm that brought heavy rain to Spain and Portugal last week will push across the Mediterranean Sea into early this week, bringing thunderstorms, heavy rain and snow from Italy into the Balkans.
While rain first reached Corsica and Sardinia on Friday, the heaviest waited for Friday night and Saturday. From Sunday into early next week, rain will advance east into the southern Balkans. As colder air presses to the south, snow may even fall across some areas.
The heaviest of the rain fell across Sicily and southern Italy through early Sunday when 25-50 mm (1-2 inches) of rain were reported within a short period of time. Matera, located in southern Italy, received 74.8 mm (2.94 inches) of rain on Sunday alone.
Rain intensity is expected to lessen across Corsica and Sardinia into Sunday night, followed by southern Italy on Monday as the storm moves into the Balkans.
This rain can lead to isolated flash flooding, especially in mountainous areas where the heavy rain will quickly run off the rugged terrain and into the valleys below. Mudslides and debris flows are possible as well which could close some roads and cut off rural areas.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
As the storm moves into the Balkans by Sunday night, rain will spread across Greece, Albania and southern Bulgaria through Monday. The heaviest rain is expected to fall across southern Greece with amounts of 13-50 mm (0.50-2.00 inches). While this rain is not expected to lead to a significant flood threat, it can cause slower travel and ponding on roadways.
A gusty wind caused by the storm can also kick up dangerous seas on the Aegean Sea during the first half of the week.
Related:
In addition to the rain, as colder air presses to the south, the northern edge of precipitation can fall as a mix of rain and snow, or even all snow in some areas. The most likely areas to get snow will stretch from the mountains of northern Albania to southern Serbia, northern Bulgaria and Romania.
Higher elevations could potentially receive up to 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) of snow making for slow and dangerous travel early next week.
While accumulating snow is most likely in higher elevations, people in places like Skopje, Sofia and Bucharest can see snow mixing with rain. With some nighttime temperatures falling to or a little below freezing, rain could switch to snow for a time and wet roadways may potentially turn icy.
Heavy rainfall first arrived across Spain and Portugal last Wednesday, and an orange alert, the second highest on a four level scale, was issued for Malaga and Costa del Sol by the Spanish weather service.
As of Friday afternoon, local time, rainfall totals of 50-100 mm (2-4 inches) have been common across parts of Spain with higher totals likely in the mountains. Strong winds were also reported across Spain, including in Izana where gusts reached 94 mph (152 km/h).
AccuWeather forecasters will be monitoring a storm system that is expected to spin to the west of the Iberian Peninsula into the beginning of next week. The outer edges can bring rounds of rain to western areas through this time frame before it begins tracking to the east later next week.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo