WIND AND RAIN LASH ITALY

WIND AND RAIN LASH ITALY

(ANSA) - Rome, November 3 - Heavy winds and rain continued to batter Italy on Tuesday as an Atlantic storm front made its way down the peninsula.

Local authorities on the Aeolian islands north of Sicily said gale force winds and high waves had cut the archipelago off from the rest of the country.

Local residents who work in Sicily were reported to be stranded at ferry landings near Messina while a number of tourists are reportedly trapped on the islands.

The storm front also dumped around 40cm of snow in the northeastern Alps closing a number of mountain roads.

Officials in Venice said the heavy rains brought on tides 100cm above sea level flooding much of the city, with even higher waters expected later this week.

Forecasters said the downpours this week could be the heaviest in six months, with flooding and mudslides possible in areas where rainfall was scarce this summer.

Farmers Union Coldiretti on Monday warned that some 70% of Italian towns were under flood watch.

A second storm front is expected to hit Italy on Wednesday with two more expected this weekend.

Aside from the rain and wind, forecasters also expect temperatures to fall throughout the country, bringing other areas the first snows of the year.