Tornado Strikes Italy, Two Women Dead After Record-Breaking Summer

ROME – Severe weather battered Italy on Thursday, September 10, 2026, bringing torrential rain, flooding, powerful winds and a tornado. At least two women were killed, while parts of northern and central Italy faced transport disruptions and widespread storm damage.

One of the victims died in Sinalunga, near Siena in Tuscany, after a tornado struck the area. Local reports said homes and infrastructure were damaged as the storm moved through the region.

The second victim was an 83-year-old woman who died after her car became trapped in a flooded underpass in Latisana, in the northeastern province of Udine. A police officer attempted to rescue her, but she could not be saved.

Tuscany Hit by Violent Storms

Tuscany was among the hardest-hit regions.

More than 63,000 lightning strikes were recorded across the region within 12 hours, while torrential rainfall triggered flooding and damage in several areas.

Italy's Civil Protection Department had issued an orange weather alert for Tuscany on September 10, warning of heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, strong wind gusts and associated risks.

The storm system also affected northern Italy. In Piedmont, some areas received 50–80 millimeters of rain within a few hours, with rainfall approaching 120 millimeters in one location. Wind gusts exceeded 80 kilometers per hour in some areas.

From Extreme Heat to Violent Storms

The storms arrived only days after Italy recorded an extraordinary summer heat record.

According to analysis cited by Reuters from the Institute for BioEconomy, Italy experienced its hottest summer since 1950 in 2026. The average summer temperature reached 24.3°C, while August averaged 25.6°C—5.2°C above the 1951–1980 average.

The abrupt transition from extreme heat to torrential rain and violent storms highlights the growing challenge of weather extremes across Europe.

For Italy, the problem is no longer simply about surviving hotter summers.

The country is also having to prepare for increasingly volatile and extreme weather.