We're all going rusty up here!
Over the last few weeks the weather here has been totally unbelievable. Quite literally we were 'cooking to death' one minute and 'going rusty' the next!
I know the recent rain in the UK was bad too, but because it happened over such a short period of time, the drains, rivers, sewers etc. just couldn't cope with that volume of water, hence the devastation.
But here in Italy - especially in the mountain regions it has been a disastrous month so far. Where I am we have had twelve straight days with from two to five thunder storms every day. A week ago last Thursday there was one that lasted for two hours - stuck at the top of the lake by the mountains. Then there was another short one in the early evening - and then about 9.30pm 'the big one' (or so we thought), which 'seemed' to be directly overhead but it was so huge it must have been everywhere. This one lasted until just before 3am - a total of over FIVE hours!
The advantage that we have here is that over the centuries they have understood where the 'flash points' are for the rain which runs off the mountains and have built storm trenches at the base of all the mountains. There is one right along the side of my house which leads (ultimately) into Lake Como. It is fed by a tiny waterfall on the opposite side of my lane. These are our safety valves, but they are normally dry from April until the winter being used mainly for the snow melt. But here we are in mid June and the one at the side of my house is going mad!!! I actually took a very short film of it (on my camera), but I don't know how to upload it anywhere!
But the storms have caused considerable devastation up here. Just one tiny example in the scheme of things is the state of this beautiful hydrangea in my garden..
But the other evening there was another 'biggie' and it was like a cloudburst.
I took the next two photos with my window closed, so I'm sorry if they are a bit blurry, but you can see the rain and the hailstones literally bouncing off the road and the roof opposite
This final picture I snapped at 4pm yesterday just as the storm was about to break somewhere over Gravedona on the opposite side of the lake. It looked so dramatic I just had to snap it. Needless to say, within 30 minutes it was here - over us again...
I know the recent rain in the UK was bad too, but because it happened over such a short period of time, the drains, rivers, sewers etc. just couldn't cope with that volume of water, hence the devastation.
But here in Italy - especially in the mountain regions it has been a disastrous month so far. Where I am we have had twelve straight days with from two to five thunder storms every day. A week ago last Thursday there was one that lasted for two hours - stuck at the top of the lake by the mountains. Then there was another short one in the early evening - and then about 9.30pm 'the big one' (or so we thought), which 'seemed' to be directly overhead but it was so huge it must have been everywhere. This one lasted until just before 3am - a total of over FIVE hours!
The advantage that we have here is that over the centuries they have understood where the 'flash points' are for the rain which runs off the mountains and have built storm trenches at the base of all the mountains. There is one right along the side of my house which leads (ultimately) into Lake Como. It is fed by a tiny waterfall on the opposite side of my lane. These are our safety valves, but they are normally dry from April until the winter being used mainly for the snow melt. But here we are in mid June and the one at the side of my house is going mad!!! I actually took a very short film of it (on my camera), but I don't know how to upload it anywhere!
But the storms have caused considerable devastation up here. Just one tiny example in the scheme of things is the state of this beautiful hydrangea in my garden..
But the other evening there was another 'biggie' and it was like a cloudburst.
I took the next two photos with my window closed, so I'm sorry if they are a bit blurry, but you can see the rain and the hailstones literally bouncing off the road and the roof opposite
This final picture I snapped at 4pm yesterday just as the storm was about to break somewhere over Gravedona on the opposite side of the lake. It looked so dramatic I just had to snap it. Needless to say, within 30 minutes it was here - over us again...
posted by Carole B at
11:16 PM
2 Comments:
Hi Carole,
It seems alpine Italy and Ireland have one thing in common - the weather. We have (as of today) had two weeks solid of rain and grim weather. Nothing quite as dramatic as the UK but heavy rain and low temperatures for this time of year is most unusual.
So much so that the tomatoes I stuck out in the garden in anticipation of a hot summer are dying.
The one thing that you have to console yourself with is that wonderful view from your home. I wish he had something as pretty to use as a backdrop to the leaden sky and incessant rain.
Carole, your poor flowers! But wow, what a storm . I have not seen large hail here in NJ for many years.
But your mountains do look lovely even with brooding clouds!
Deb
xxoo
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