A weather alert is in effect across all of northern Italy for the arrival of the “Immaculate Conception Storm”, which will bring intense cold and the first snowfalls in the plains.
On Friday, December 7, significant snowfalls are expected across all of northern Italy extending down to the plains; snow is forecast in Turin, Milan, Padua, Bologna, and Udine, with the weather front arriving early in the morning in the mountains and the first flakes falling in the cities in the early afternoon hours.
Although the weather system will affect all of northern Italy, the area hardest hit by this front will be the northeast, where snowfalls will continue throughout Friday night into Saturday, bringing snow especially to lower Veneto, Emilia, and Friuli, where accumulations could exceed 10cm.
What causes the greatest concern, however, is the freezing cold, which combined with these snowfalls could create problems for road traffic, especially on secondary roads where maintenance and salt spreading are less frequent. Low temperatures could lead to the formation of significant sheets of ice, causing potential problems for anyone whose vehicle is not equipped with winter tires.
It is worth remembering that on most road sections ordinances requiring motorists to drive vehicles equipped with winter tires or carry snow chains on board are already in force; failure to comply carries the risk of fines of up to €300.
It is therefore advisable to exercise the utmost caution and make sure you are equipped with the “anti-snow” gear required by the highway code (tires or chains, not snow socks or other devices).
If you want to check whether these ordinances are in effect in your area, we recommend reading these articles, which provide a good summary of the various ordinances active on the Italian road network for the 2012/2013 winter:
Lombardy > http://news.mondoneve.it/ordinanze-lombardia-obbligo-pneumatici-invernali-catene-neve_5404.html
Veneto > http://news.mondoneve.it/ordinanze-veneto-obbligo-catene-pneumatici-neve-2012-2013_5378.html
Other regions > http://news.mondoneve.it/obbligo-catene-a-bordo-inverno-2012-2013_5011.html
It is also worth remembering that even 4×4 cars must use winter tires or snow chains: if you decide to fit chains, it is sufficient to install them on the drive wheels, whereas if you opt for winter tires, they must be fitted on all 4 wheels.
No comments yet