Italy is under siege from Storm Ciaran, a powerful Atlantic disturbance that has already devastated parts of Europe with winds of up to 180 km/h. The extratropical cyclone only touched Italy on Thursday, November 2, enough to bring with it torrential rains, raging winds and heavy snowfall in the Alps. The hardest hit regions are Friuli Venezia Giulia and Veneto, where a red alert for hydrogeological risk has been issued. Rainfall has reached peaks of 300 millimeters in 24 hours, causing flooding, landslides, mudslides and the flooding of rivers and streams. Friuli Governor Fedriga ordered the closure of schools, public transportation, and public parks throughout the region, except in Trieste. In Veneto, Luca Zaia has urged fellow residents to avoid unnecessary travel. Liguria is also on orange alert for the risk of historic storm surges that could damage coastlines and prevent waterways from flowing. The last one of similar magnitude was in 2018, when part of the Rapallo harbor dam collapsed. Critical situation also in Emilia-Romagna, Lombardy, Piedmont, and Tuscany, where heavy rains and even persistent thunderstorms are expected, which may cause criticality in areas near the reservoirs. Winds are blowing strongly over Italian seas, with gusts exceeding 100 km/h over the Triveneto and the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Civil Protection has issued a yellow alert bulletin over Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise and Campania. The bad weather is expected to continue at least through today.
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