ITALY BRACES FOR WET WEEK

ITALY BRACES FOR WET WEEK

(ANSA) - Rome, November 2 - Italy is bracing for a wet week, with rainfall expected to be the heaviest in six months, forecasters said on Monday.

Four Atlantic fronts are set to sweep the peninsula from noprthwest to southeast by Sunday, the first of which began its passage Monday over the northwest and may dump as much as 40cm of snow in the northeastern Alps.

The Coldiretti farmers union has warned that this week's heavy rainfall, which will be accompanied by strong winds, may compromise the autumn planting season.

Intense downpours will also cause serious damage, the union added, because the ground is very dry from the summer months and the lack of rain this autumn and will be unable to absorb large amounts of water.

Coldiretti recalled that the intense rain increases the risk of landslides and floods in some 70% of Italian municipalities, for a total of over 21,000sq km.

The second Atlantic storm front is expected to hit Italy on Wednesday, the third on Friday and the fourth on Sunday.

Aside from the rain and wind, forecasters also expect temperatures to drop while seas will be rough, especially in the west.