If you thought winter had decided to skip its turn this year, well, looking out the window this morning, you’ll have realized that wasn’t the case at all. Did you feel that tingling in your nose typical of the harshest mornings? It’s not just your imagination: Lombardy has ended up in an open-air freezer, and Milan is rediscovering what it really means to “chatter your teeth.”
Northern Italy is experiencing a period of stable weather characterized by winter temperatures, which are widely below 0 °C in the morning across most of the region.
Milan at the foot of the ice: shock temperatures and Amsa alerts in the neighborhoods
Currently, the situation is frozen (literally). While Cyclone Harry is putting Sicily and Calabria to the test in the south, here in the north, atmospheric stability is giving us clear skies but temperatures that seem to come straight from Siberia.
The Arpa Lombardia monitoring network has taken a merciless snapshot: in Livigno, temperatures reached -22 °C, the lowest recorded since 2019.
But you don’t have to go up to 1,800 meters to feel the cold. Even if you live in the shadow of the Madonnina, you will have noticed that the air has changed. In the plains, temperatures have dropped well below zero, with lows of -8°C northwest of Milan and -5°C in Varese.
To cope with this scenario,Amsa has already activated its anti-icing plan in over 200 streets in Milan, with salt spreaders working non-stop to make the roads safe.
Weekend forecast: the arrival of Cyclone Kirstin and the risk of snow
If you are wondering whether you can plan a trip out of town or an outdoor aperitif (perhaps with patio heaters), the answer is complex. A vast area of low pressure over Western Europe is about to change the situation. Cyclone Kirstin, an Atlantic disturbance that will bring with it a load of humidity and instability, is entering the scene.
Here are the details for the next few days:
- Friday, January 23: the sky will be dark and overcast. Light precipitation will begin in the late morning. The snow level? Very low: between 300 and 600 meters, but be careful on Friday night and Saturday morning, because a few white flakes could make a choreographic appearance even between Milan and Turin.
- Saturday, January 24: it will be an in-between day. You will see some sunshine in the morning, but the clouds will return in the evening. The snow line will rise to around 800 meters, turning the snow in the plains into annoying drizzle.
- Sunday, January 25: this is the day most at risk. Models predict gray skies and widespread rain across the Lombardy plains, with heavy snowfall in the Alps and Prealps above 800 meters. In short, the weekend does not seem to be offering any respite for those seeking sunshine.
Unusually cold? No, it’s the ‘cold of yesteryear’ (waiting for the Merla)
Many of us are surprised by these temperatures, but the truth is that we have been ‘spoiled’ in recent years. Do you remember Christmas 2023? It was almost 20 °C in the Po Valley, a climate more suited to an autumn outing than presents under the tree. That was the real anomaly.
As several meteorologists have explained,the cold weather we are experiencing these days is simply what used to be normal until the end of the last century.
Since 2000, similar episodes have become rare, making us forget that having -5°C in Milan in January is not an apocalyptic event, but the very essence of winter in the Po Valley.
Furthermore, we are approaching the famous Giorni della Merla (January 29, 30, and 31). Popular tradition considers these days to be the coldest of the year, and judging by the polar currents arriving, this year the legend could be fully confirmed.
What to do in Milan when it’s cold? Tips for surviving the weekend
Photo by Joao Sócola on Pexels
Given the uncertain weather and the risk of ice, the main advice is to move with caution, especially at night and early in the morning, when shaded areas can hide treacherous patches of ice.
If you had a walk in mind, why not opt for a museum tour? Milan offers warm, cultural refuges that are perfect for ignoring the Sunday rain.
If, on the other hand, you are a lover of good food, this is the perfect weather to enjoy a Milanese risotto with ossobuco or a cotoletta in one of the city’s historic taverns: nothing warms the heart like traditional dishes when the thermometer outside reads zero.
Next week will begin with a brief improvement on Monday, the 26th, but it will only be a pause before a new disturbance expected on Tuesday, the 27th. In short, keep your scarf and umbrella handy: winter has decided to get serious this year.