Rome was hit by a severe storm, described as a "water bomb," on the morning of September 18, 2026. The tempest, which began around 11:40 AM local time in the northern area of the Italian capital, brought intense rain, wind, and hail.
In just over 30 minutes, approximately 54.7 mm of precipitation fell in the northern zone, overwhelming drainage systems and leading to rapid flooding on streets, avenues, and underpasses. Areas like Ponte Milvio, Corso Francia, and Tor di Quinto were severely affected, with vehicles partially submerged and drivers stranded. Major roads including Via Cristoforo Colombo and the Grande Raccordo Anulare also became inundated.
Italy's Civil Protection, which had already issued a yellow alert for storms, conducted around 100 interventions with firefighters and emergency teams. Approximately one thousand customers experienced localized power outages.
