After france, severe thunderstorms and large hail across northern italy
As thunderstorms continue to make headlines across Europe, Northern Italy experienced a particularly active outbreak on 18 July 2026, just days after the severe thunderstorms that affected France between 15 and 17 July.
Meteorage, a subsidiary of Météo-France and one of Europe’s leading lightning detection experts, analysed this remarkable post-heatwave event, which produced intense electrical activity, giant hail and widespread impacts across the Po Valley.
On 18 July, Northern Italy remained under a dynamic southwesterly flow combined with strong atmospheric instability. During the afternoon and evening, severe thunderstorms developed across Lombardy, Veneto and neighbouring regions.
Meteorage’s lightning detection network recorded 36,186 lightning flashes, including 3,836 cloud-to-ground lightning strikes and 32,350 intra-cloud flashes.
The Veneto region was the most electrically active area of the day, accounting for 2,692 cloud-to-ground lightning flashes.
The most impacted provinces included Padova, Verona, Rovigo, Venezia and Vicenza, while some of the highest lightning concentrations were observed around Cavarzere, Venezia and Chioggia.
Beyond the electrical activity itself, the thunderstorms generated significant impacts across Northern Italy.
