So the other day I’m scrolling through my weather app and see this crazy storm warning for Sicily. Got me thinking – wait, does Italy even get hurricanes? Like Florida-style monsters? Decided to dig into it properly since we’re planning a Amalfi Coast trip next spring. Grabbed my laptop right there on the sofa with CNN playing in the background.
The Hurricane Hunt Begins
First thing I googled was “Italy hurricanes” obviously. Turns out they don’t get actual Caribbean-style hurricanes, but man those search results showed something called “medicanes”. Never heard that word before! Basically Mediterranean hurricanes that form differently but still spin like proper cyclones. Found satellite images showing these spiral cloud monsters hitting Sicily and Malta – looked straight out of disaster movie.
Prepping Like a Local
Knowing we might face one during rainy season, I called my Sicilian buddy Giuseppe. He laughed saying “Eh, we don’t board up windows like Americans!” but gave real local tips:
- Stocked up on plastic water bottles (not glass!) in case pipes get contaminated
- Bought cheap waterproof phone pouches after he told me about flooded streets in Catania
- Learned to park cars away from trees – apparently falling olives branches wreck more cars than wind!
Then I raided my basement for supplies. Made an emergency kit with:
- Hand-crank radio (that old hurricane season habit from Miami days)
- Extra power banks all charged up
- Non-perishable snacks – lots of taralli biscuits and tinned tomatoes
The Realization
After watching hours of Med cyclone footage, it hit me: flooding’s the real killer here, not wind. Those narrow stone streets turn into rivers crazy fast. Changed my whole prep focus to waterproofing – bought knee-high rubber boots and extra dry bags for our passports. Funny how you think you know storms till you research a new region, right?
Honestly glad I checked now. Would’ve been scrambling if we got caught in some medicane watching our rental car float down a Calabrian alleyway!
