Federico Pavan
@federicopavan.bsky.social
Just an Italian nerd who spends too much time searching for his country's tornadoes - Part of PRETEMP
Tornadoes have mostly calmed down over the last month or so here in Italy, but today a waterspout, part of a family of three, managed to reach land W of Salerno, Campania. Damage very unlikely. Photos by Carlo de Felice
November 3, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Tornadoes have mostly calmed down over the last month or so here in Italy, but today a waterspout, part of a family of three, managed to reach land W of Salerno, Campania. Damage very unlikely. Photos by Carlo de Felice
A second tornado formed in the Catania plain and struck the city's industrial area, military base and civil airport, killing 3 and injuring at least 98 more. Once again, buildings were destroyed and cars lofted and tossed, trees were also severely damaged (same thing rating-wise)
October 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A second tornado formed in the Catania plain and struck the city's industrial area, military base and civil airport, killing 3 and injuring at least 98 more. Once again, buildings were destroyed and cars lofted and tossed, trees were also severely damaged (same thing rating-wise)
OTD in 1964 one of Sicily's black tornado days: a first twister developed in the sea and impacted the town of Santa Croce Camerina, where it killed 5 people and injured 70+. Cars were lofted and homes/farms destroyed (rating pending, further documentation can be gathered)
October 31, 2025 at 10:34 AM
OTD in 1964 one of Sicily's black tornado days: a first twister developed in the sea and impacted the town of Santa Croce Camerina, where it killed 5 people and injured 70+. Cars were lofted and homes/farms destroyed (rating pending, further documentation can be gathered)
OTD in 1961 a pair of significant nighttime tornadoes struck Lazio coming from the sea. One impacted Ostia and the other ran for over 20 km striking the Pomezia area, becoming the strongest known Lazio tornado (IF3). 3 people died and at least 115 more were injured
October 30, 2025 at 12:53 PM
OTD in 1961 a pair of significant nighttime tornadoes struck Lazio coming from the sea. One impacted Ostia and the other ran for over 20 km striking the Pomezia area, becoming the strongest known Lazio tornado (IF3). 3 people died and at least 115 more were injured
On Tuesday afternoon a waterspout was observed off the Licata, Sicily, coastline. It then made landfall in far southern Butera where it left a cut through greenhouses which went up to 3 km inland
October 25, 2025 at 2:42 PM
On Tuesday afternoon a waterspout was observed off the Licata, Sicily, coastline. It then made landfall in far southern Butera where it left a cut through greenhouses which went up to 3 km inland
OTD in 1872 SE Sicily experienced an impressive tornadic event: two tornadoes (potentially just one) devastated eastern Modica and Palazzolo Acreide killing at least 63 people and potentially up to 86. To this day it's still hard to understand if this was a single event or two as sources are not...
October 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
OTD in 1872 SE Sicily experienced an impressive tornadic event: two tornadoes (potentially just one) devastated eastern Modica and Palazzolo Acreide killing at least 63 people and potentially up to 86. To this day it's still hard to understand if this was a single event or two as sources are not...
Let's see if you can spot the waterspout in this shot before it got to land
October 23, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Let's see if you can spot the waterspout in this shot before it got to land
OTD in 1961 the Ragusa province woke up to destruction, as a powerful overnight tornado came from the sea and ran for about 40 km up to Giarratana causing very heavy damage, killing 7 people and injuring 20+ more. At least three more tornadoes occurred in those days in Italy
October 19, 2025 at 10:11 AM
OTD in 1961 the Ragusa province woke up to destruction, as a powerful overnight tornado came from the sea and ran for about 40 km up to Giarratana causing very heavy damage, killing 7 people and injuring 20+ more. At least three more tornadoes occurred in those days in Italy
It's not as old as this representation of a family of waterspouts off the northern Sicilian coast from 1827, but it seems to be the oldest for what would later become an actual tornado (as it made landfall, unlike the Sicily ones as far as we know)
October 11, 2025 at 12:02 PM
It's not as old as this representation of a family of waterspouts off the northern Sicilian coast from 1827, but it seems to be the oldest for what would later become an actual tornado (as it made landfall, unlike the Sicily ones as far as we know)
The waterspout developed in the gulf in the morning and headed NE tracking into the city. While passing through the port, rooftiles from a building were lofted and hit a few workers, killing one and injuring at least two more
October 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The waterspout developed in the gulf in the morning and headed NE tracking into the city. While passing through the port, rooftiles from a building were lofted and hit a few workers, killing one and injuring at least two more
Yesterday I got notified of this, which could be the earliest representation of an actual Italian tornado. Created by Norwegian painter Thomas Fearnley, this painting represents a waterspout in the Naples Gulf on July 8th 1833. The event is 100% real and not an harmless one
October 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Yesterday I got notified of this, which could be the earliest representation of an actual Italian tornado. Created by Norwegian painter Thomas Fearnley, this painting represents a waterspout in the Naples Gulf on July 8th 1833. The event is 100% real and not an harmless one
Also, it's not the only one
October 8, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Also, it's not the only one
OTD in 1884 the likely most violent tornado known in Sicily struck northern Catania. Through the research conducted by our friend Paolo Torrisi and working closely with @essl-ecss.bsky.social staff, the tornado, which killed 28 people and injured up to 600 more, has been rated IF4 but the rating...
October 7, 2025 at 7:53 PM
OTD in 1884 the likely most violent tornado known in Sicily struck northern Catania. Through the research conducted by our friend Paolo Torrisi and working closely with @essl-ecss.bsky.social staff, the tornado, which killed 28 people and injured up to 600 more, has been rated IF4 but the rating...
OTD in 2021 an impressive family of 10 landspouts (and numerous waterspouts along the Italian coasts) struck the Po Delta area. The strongest was an IF2 that impacted western Rosolina. Nobody was injured, fortunately
October 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
OTD in 2021 an impressive family of 10 landspouts (and numerous waterspouts along the Italian coasts) struck the Po Delta area. The strongest was an IF2 that impacted western Rosolina. Nobody was injured, fortunately
With the recent uptick in tornado activity, Italy is once again in a record-pace year in this regard, with 78 known twisters as of today (and many uncertain events). Given how it's only October 2nd, we have plenty of time to increase that number, especially if Ionian outbreaks start to occur
October 2, 2025 at 8:28 PM
With the recent uptick in tornado activity, Italy is once again in a record-pace year in this regard, with 78 known twisters as of today (and many uncertain events). Given how it's only October 2nd, we have plenty of time to increase that number, especially if Ionian outbreaks start to occur
All the while, more experienced people help you fall in love with that field and push you to follow what you get passionate about, it's fantastic! In a 2025 where people often treat science like trash, THIS is what we need. I HIGHLY suggest it if you're into natural sciences! It reminded me of my...
September 29, 2025 at 4:55 AM
All the while, more experienced people help you fall in love with that field and push you to follow what you get passionate about, it's fantastic! In a 2025 where people often treat science like trash, THIS is what we need. I HIGHLY suggest it if you're into natural sciences! It reminded me of my...
Yesterday I finished the anime Ruri Rocks which I started out of pure curiosity of what a mineralogy anime would be like. Well, I loved it. The emotions of someone who gets introduced to a field of science they know nothing about to the point of completely falling in love with it, so well presented!
September 29, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Yesterday I finished the anime Ruri Rocks which I started out of pure curiosity of what a mineralogy anime would be like. Well, I loved it. The emotions of someone who gets introduced to a field of science they know nothing about to the point of completely falling in love with it, so well presented!
Today we got two landspout tornadoes in Apulia, one of them was anticyclonic, bringing the yearly total (for now) of this kind of tornadoes in Italy up to three. Impressive
September 28, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Today we got two landspout tornadoes in Apulia, one of them was anticyclonic, bringing the yearly total (for now) of this kind of tornadoes in Italy up to three. Impressive
Phew. I cannot believe we actually managed to put all of these reports in with me being so much out of the house lately. But here we are. Tons of flooding, large to very large hail and numerous waterspouts, some making landfall, and one weak tornado in this week
September 27, 2025 at 6:26 AM
Phew. I cannot believe we actually managed to put all of these reports in with me being so much out of the house lately. But here we are. Tons of flooding, large to very large hail and numerous waterspouts, some making landfall, and one weak tornado in this week
In the end today we confirmed 8 landfalls, which means we had 8 known tornadoes. Despite them being either IFUs or IF0.5s, it's still an extremely meaningful number, among the most productive single days we've had since we started keeping track of them
September 22, 2025 at 8:53 PM
In the end today we confirmed 8 landfalls, which means we had 8 known tornadoes. Despite them being either IFUs or IF0.5s, it's still an extremely meaningful number, among the most productive single days we've had since we started keeping track of them
Together with nasty flooding in northwest Italy, a spammer of waterspout landfalls occured in the Versilia area of Tuscany. A fifth waterspout made landfall in Liguria and potentially more did as well further south towards Marina di Pisa
September 22, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Together with nasty flooding in northwest Italy, a spammer of waterspout landfalls occured in the Versilia area of Tuscany. A fifth waterspout made landfall in Liguria and potentially more did as well further south towards Marina di Pisa
OTD in 1897 the worst known Apulia tornado left a 40 km long path of devastation, impacting especially the towns of Sava and Oria. Homes were leveled while others got their furniture sucked out of windows, grass and dirt were scoured and olive trees were debarked
September 21, 2025 at 7:55 AM
OTD in 1897 the worst known Apulia tornado left a 40 km long path of devastation, impacting especially the towns of Sava and Oria. Homes were leveled while others got their furniture sucked out of windows, grass and dirt were scoured and olive trees were debarked
OTD an outbreak of 7 tornadoes struck the Po Valley, four of them can be rated as IF2.5. Despite towns and villages being directly struck, as well as close calls at the Fossoli di Carpi airfield, incredibly nobody was injured
September 19, 2025 at 8:22 AM
OTD an outbreak of 7 tornadoes struck the Po Valley, four of them can be rated as IF2.5. Despite towns and villages being directly struck, as well as close calls at the Fossoli di Carpi airfield, incredibly nobody was injured
Probably one of the craziest views ever for an Italian webcam: a waterspout developed east of Varazze, Liguria, and tracked all the way in front of town showing off before making landfall in the port. Unknown damage at this time
September 13, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Probably one of the craziest views ever for an Italian webcam: a waterspout developed east of Varazze, Liguria, and tracked all the way in front of town showing off before making landfall in the port. Unknown damage at this time
Finally putting September 1st behind us. After analyzing damage patterns from surveys, a surveillance video and radar imagery, we believe two tornadoes impacted the Lonigo area in between downbursts inside a comma head behind a bow echo, which impacted the main part of town
September 13, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Finally putting September 1st behind us. After analyzing damage patterns from surveys, a surveillance video and radar imagery, we believe two tornadoes impacted the Lonigo area in between downbursts inside a comma head behind a bow echo, which impacted the main part of town