Federico Pavan
@federicopavan.bsky.social
Just an Italian nerd who spends too much time searching for his country's tornadoes - Part of PRETEMP
So, after ECSS2025, last weekend I took part in Italy's Meteorology Festival and, for some unknown reason, the audience thought that my oral presentation on my work on historical Italian tornadoes was the best one among so much high quality work
December 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
So, after ECSS2025, last weekend I took part in Italy's Meteorology Festival and, for some unknown reason, the audience thought that my oral presentation on my work on historical Italian tornadoes was the best one among so much high quality work
Finally we managed to finish all the tornadoes! One more was found on November 21st near Ravenna (a rarity for this time of year) and most importantly, two more landfalling waterspouts in Genoa from the November 15th outbreak bringing the total of that day to seven!
November 28, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Finally we managed to finish all the tornadoes! One more was found on November 21st near Ravenna (a rarity for this time of year) and most importantly, two more landfalling waterspouts in Genoa from the November 15th outbreak bringing the total of that day to seven!
After compiling the most recent tornadoes in Italy of just before-to-while I was away, this has become a truly record year. And we still have a few events to confirm and evaluate + all the uncertain cases. Wow!
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
After compiling the most recent tornadoes in Italy of just before-to-while I was away, this has become a truly record year. And we still have a few events to confirm and evaluate + all the uncertain cases. Wow!
So thankful to have taken part in this #ecss2025 edition. So many great experts to meet, so much interesting research to look at and listen to... Utrecht was such a nice city to go around! As my first travel abroad and my first conference, not bad at all!
November 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
So thankful to have taken part in this #ecss2025 edition. So many great experts to meet, so much interesting research to look at and listen to... Utrecht was such a nice city to go around! As my first travel abroad and my first conference, not bad at all!
Today was poster day at #ecss2025! So glad to have seen (in the little time I had, there's so much to see!) so many interesting posters and to have brought our work on the 2023 Alfonsine tornado with @francescodemartin.bsky.social!
November 18, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Today was poster day at #ecss2025! So glad to have seen (in the little time I had, there's so much to see!) so many interesting posters and to have brought our work on the 2023 Alfonsine tornado with @francescodemartin.bsky.social!
Time to day goodbye to home for a bit. HOPEFULLY SOME REGIONS DON'T PRODUCE ANOTHER OUTBREAK WHILE I'M AWAY
November 16, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Time to day goodbye to home for a bit. HOPEFULLY SOME REGIONS DON'T PRODUCE ANOTHER OUTBREAK WHILE I'M AWAY
In the end, today we confirmed five tornadoes (landfalling waterspouts), three of which can be rated (IF0.5, IF1 and IF1.5). Two more additional possible tornadoes occurred, but those will have to wait
November 15, 2025 at 6:11 PM
In the end, today we confirmed five tornadoes (landfalling waterspouts), three of which can be rated (IF0.5, IF1 and IF1.5). Two more additional possible tornadoes occurred, but those will have to wait
Too bad this "indirect survey" isn't really helpful, but still
November 14, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Too bad this "indirect survey" isn't really helpful, but still
Tornadoes have mostly calmed down over the last month or so here in Italy, but today a waterspout, part of a family of three, managed to reach land W of Salerno, Campania. Damage very unlikely. Photos by Carlo de Felice
November 3, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Tornadoes have mostly calmed down over the last month or so here in Italy, but today a waterspout, part of a family of three, managed to reach land W of Salerno, Campania. Damage very unlikely. Photos by Carlo de Felice
A second tornado formed in the Catania plain and struck the city's industrial area, military base and civil airport, killing 3 and injuring at least 98 more. Once again, buildings were destroyed and cars lofted and tossed, trees were also severely damaged (same thing rating-wise)
October 31, 2025 at 10:36 AM
A second tornado formed in the Catania plain and struck the city's industrial area, military base and civil airport, killing 3 and injuring at least 98 more. Once again, buildings were destroyed and cars lofted and tossed, trees were also severely damaged (same thing rating-wise)
OTD in 1964 one of Sicily's black tornado days: a first twister developed in the sea and impacted the town of Santa Croce Camerina, where it killed 5 people and injured 70+. Cars were lofted and homes/farms destroyed (rating pending, further documentation can be gathered)
October 31, 2025 at 10:34 AM
OTD in 1964 one of Sicily's black tornado days: a first twister developed in the sea and impacted the town of Santa Croce Camerina, where it killed 5 people and injured 70+. Cars were lofted and homes/farms destroyed (rating pending, further documentation can be gathered)
OTD in 1961 a pair of significant nighttime tornadoes struck Lazio coming from the sea. One impacted Ostia and the other ran for over 20 km striking the Pomezia area, becoming the strongest known Lazio tornado (IF3). 3 people died and at least 115 more were injured
October 30, 2025 at 12:53 PM
OTD in 1961 a pair of significant nighttime tornadoes struck Lazio coming from the sea. One impacted Ostia and the other ran for over 20 km striking the Pomezia area, becoming the strongest known Lazio tornado (IF3). 3 people died and at least 115 more were injured
On Tuesday afternoon a waterspout was observed off the Licata, Sicily, coastline. It then made landfall in far southern Butera where it left a cut through greenhouses which went up to 3 km inland
October 25, 2025 at 2:42 PM
On Tuesday afternoon a waterspout was observed off the Licata, Sicily, coastline. It then made landfall in far southern Butera where it left a cut through greenhouses which went up to 3 km inland
OTD in 1872 SE Sicily experienced an impressive tornadic event: two tornadoes (potentially just one) devastated eastern Modica and Palazzolo Acreide killing at least 63 people and potentially up to 86. To this day it's still hard to understand if this was a single event or two as sources are not...
October 24, 2025 at 7:55 PM
OTD in 1872 SE Sicily experienced an impressive tornadic event: two tornadoes (potentially just one) devastated eastern Modica and Palazzolo Acreide killing at least 63 people and potentially up to 86. To this day it's still hard to understand if this was a single event or two as sources are not...
Let's see if you can spot the waterspout in this shot before it got to land
October 23, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Let's see if you can spot the waterspout in this shot before it got to land
OTD in 1961 the Ragusa province woke up to destruction, as a powerful overnight tornado came from the sea and ran for about 40 km up to Giarratana causing very heavy damage, killing 7 people and injuring 20+ more. At least three more tornadoes occurred in those days in Italy
October 19, 2025 at 10:11 AM
OTD in 1961 the Ragusa province woke up to destruction, as a powerful overnight tornado came from the sea and ran for about 40 km up to Giarratana causing very heavy damage, killing 7 people and injuring 20+ more. At least three more tornadoes occurred in those days in Italy
It's not as old as this representation of a family of waterspouts off the northern Sicilian coast from 1827, but it seems to be the oldest for what would later become an actual tornado (as it made landfall, unlike the Sicily ones as far as we know)
October 11, 2025 at 12:02 PM
It's not as old as this representation of a family of waterspouts off the northern Sicilian coast from 1827, but it seems to be the oldest for what would later become an actual tornado (as it made landfall, unlike the Sicily ones as far as we know)
The waterspout developed in the gulf in the morning and headed NE tracking into the city. While passing through the port, rooftiles from a building were lofted and hit a few workers, killing one and injuring at least two more
October 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
The waterspout developed in the gulf in the morning and headed NE tracking into the city. While passing through the port, rooftiles from a building were lofted and hit a few workers, killing one and injuring at least two more
Yesterday I got notified of this, which could be the earliest representation of an actual Italian tornado. Created by Norwegian painter Thomas Fearnley, this painting represents a waterspout in the Naples Gulf on July 8th 1833. The event is 100% real and not an harmless one
October 11, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Yesterday I got notified of this, which could be the earliest representation of an actual Italian tornado. Created by Norwegian painter Thomas Fearnley, this painting represents a waterspout in the Naples Gulf on July 8th 1833. The event is 100% real and not an harmless one
Also, it's not the only one
October 8, 2025 at 8:38 AM
Also, it's not the only one
OTD in 1884 the likely most violent tornado known in Sicily struck northern Catania. Through the research conducted by our friend Paolo Torrisi and working closely with @essl-ecss.bsky.social staff, the tornado, which killed 28 people and injured up to 600 more, has been rated IF4 but the rating...
October 7, 2025 at 7:53 PM
OTD in 1884 the likely most violent tornado known in Sicily struck northern Catania. Through the research conducted by our friend Paolo Torrisi and working closely with @essl-ecss.bsky.social staff, the tornado, which killed 28 people and injured up to 600 more, has been rated IF4 but the rating...
OTD in 2021 an impressive family of 10 landspouts (and numerous waterspouts along the Italian coasts) struck the Po Delta area. The strongest was an IF2 that impacted western Rosolina. Nobody was injured, fortunately
October 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM
OTD in 2021 an impressive family of 10 landspouts (and numerous waterspouts along the Italian coasts) struck the Po Delta area. The strongest was an IF2 that impacted western Rosolina. Nobody was injured, fortunately