Severe thunderstorms have swept across the Mediterranean this week, with notable impacts in north Africa — On Monday, a surface low-pressure system in the Mediterranean combined with an upper air cut-off low to generate thunderstorms over the region. The intensity of these storms was amplified by the preceding hot weather conditions, according to The Guardian.

Thunderstorms Bring Hail to Algeria and Tunisia

Algeria and Tunisia were particularly affected by the thunderstorms, with hail accumulation layers forming in some areas — When a large amount of hail is produced, it can lay down sheets of hail on the ground, covering it like snow. In Oum Ladjoul and Hammam Sokhna in Algeria, hail accumulations reached up to 3cm, and In Makthar, Tunisia, hailstones with a diameter of up to 3cm were also reported.

Thunderstorms continued in the region the following day, with further hail accumulations recorded, while In Ouled Bousmir, Tunisia, a hail layer about 2cm deep was noted. These events highlight the intensity of the storm system that affected the area.

Central Italy and Sicily Face Heavy Rainfall

Late in the week. Another surface low developed over Sicily, leading to thunderstorms in parts of central Italy on Wednesday morning — these storms brought severe downpours, with 52.1mm of rain recorded in just over 1 hour and 10 minutes in Ascoli Piceno. In Mosciano Sant’Angelo, 62.3mm of rain fell in less than 1 hour and 50 minutes.

Other regions were also affected, with 46mm of rain falling in 36 minutes in the Sicilian town of Bagheria. Heavy rain was also reported in Algeria and Tunisia, adding to the already challenging weather conditions in the area.

Severe Weather Across the North-East US

Severe thunderstorms were also reported in parts of the north-east US this week. On Tuesday evening, a supercell affected Dane county, Wisconsin, prompting a tornado warning. According to radar, a tornado did occur, but there were no confirmed reports of it touching the ground. The storm also produced severe hail, with baseball-sized stones reported around Madison.

These hailstones, at 7cm in diameter, were twice the size of those reported in Tunisia. The following day, severe storms continued in the north-east US, spreading into Ohio. During this outbreak, even larger hail was reported, with softball-sized stones seen near Kansas City, where some hailstones reached 11.5cm in diameter.

Tornadoes were also a significant part of these storm outbreaks, with about 20 reported across the US this week. These tornadoes were primarily concentrated in Wisconsin, Kansas, Iowa, and Minnesota, according to The Guardian.

The combination of thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and severe hail has created a complex weather pattern across multiple regions, affecting both Europe and the United States. These events highlight the importance of weather tracking and preparedness for severe weather conditions.