Bad weather, Coldiretti: “Rainfall breaks drought, but big freeze sees Italy on alert”

Italy is running out of water, in March rainfall rates were halved (-52%) and in the North rates were about 70% less than the average. Rain is expected to ward off the undeniable risk of water rationing and to break the severe drought both in countryside and cities. What is worrying, according to Coldiretti, is cold and freezing weather which may damage fruit plants that are in the critical period of blossom time ending.

Most Italian central-north regions are in trouble due to the drought alert above all in Tuscany, Veneto and Umbria. Rainfalls must be constant, fine and last for a few days in order to be useful whereas heavy storms with hail cause severe damage to spring crops since the ground is not able to absorb water which falls heavily and tends to flow away.

Northern regions are in trouble as well. Cereals, fruit and vegetable plants are suffering as well as farming because of the lack of fresh forage.

In March 2012 rainfall rates were 10% less than in March 2011. The distribution of rainfall also changed, drought affects above all Northern Italy where rainfall rates were halved as Isac Cnr recorded in 1970-2000.

Source: www.coldiretti.it