Hailstorm hits the highway: crashes and devastated windshield

While fires have ravaged Sardinia for days, a hail storm hits Emilia, causing serious damage to agriculture, homes and cars in just a few minutes. Ice grains the size of tennis balls rained down with unprecedented force this afternoon, Monday 26 July 2021, on the provinces of Parma, Modena and Reggio Emilia.

The most affected area was the western lowlands of Parma, between Salsomaggiore, Colorno and Fidenza. Damage also in the Modena area, between Sassuolo and Finale Emilia, and in the Reggiano area, in particular in the Luzzara area.

On the A1 motorway, near Fidenza, the cars were forced to stop: there were rear-end collisions and several cars were seriously damaged. Some videos circulating on social networks show the windshields destroyed. The motorway section has been temporarily closed.

There are also uncovered roofs and heavy consequences on agriculture. “In the provinces of Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, Bologna and Ferrara, the violent hailstorm that struck in the afternoon caused millions of damage, including those caused to crops and those reported by agricultural equipment and structures”, says the Coldiretti association .