Muggy heat in one area. Heavy rain and hail just a few kilometers away. Sardinia's weather map for the past few hours has revealed a patchy picture. And the forecast for the next few hours (projected over several days) suggests alternating sunshine and intense thunderstorms, at least until July 2nd.
The data
Today, to begin with. In the afternoon, severe weather conditions unfolded, accompanied by gusts of wind, especially in some well-defined areas of the southern part of the island.
Cedoc rainfall data (covering the last 48 hours but mostly based on today's rainfall) shows that Senorbì received over 39 millimeters of rain, Mandas 36, Aritzo even more than 58, Laconi 13, and the Is Barroccus dam only 2.40. To find other areas in the south affected by storms today, you have to go to Siliqua, which received over 15 millimeters in a short time.
Bad weather and fires
Heavy rains have also fallen in Alà dei Sardi in the last 24 hours: the rain gauge reports 23.4 millimeters of rain in 48 hours. But this is in the north: the entire region in between has seen only a few occasional drops in very small areas. Meanwhile, fires, caused by lightning—according to the Forestry Department—have broken out in the countryside of Luras.
The forecasts
And what about the next few days? The Ministry of Health is warning Cagliari of a maximum heat alert tomorrow. Rain will follow. A few isolated thunderstorms are also expected on July 1st, especially in the eastern areas near the mountains. The following day, July 2nd, "irregular cloud cover is possible, worsening from late morning, starting from the north: scattered showers and thunderstorms, locally moderate in intensity, tending to persist more in the eastern parts of the region; rapid improvement in the evening. Temperatures? Minimum and maximum temperatures decreasing, more marked in the eastern areas."