A severe thunderstorm swept across the province of Monza and Brianza during the afternoon of June 10, bringing torrential rainfall, strong wind gusts, intense lightning activity, and large amounts of hail. The storm erupted around 4:00 PM local time, rapidly darkening the sky before unleashing a burst of extreme weather that affected some of the hardest-hit areas in Lombardy.
Forecasts had already warned of thunderstorms capable of producing heavy rainfall, hail, and damaging winds, and those predictions proved accurate as the convective system crossed the region from southwest to northeast.
In less than five hours, firefighters from the Monza provincial command responded to more than 70 emergencies, while dozens of additional calls remained pending. Rescue crews dealt with flooded roads, basements, garages, and underpasses, fallen trees, damaged roofs, and motorists trapped inside vehicles by rapidly rising water.
Bellusco was among the municipalities most severely impacted. Exceptional hail accumulations blanketed parts of the town, clogging drainage systems and preventing stormwater from flowing away during the peak of the rainfall.
Mayor Mauro Colombo said the combination of intense precipitation and blocked drainage infrastructure created the most significant problems. Large volumes of hail accumulated particularly in the southern part of the municipality, where runoff waters further concentrated the ice.
Several underground levels, basements, and garages were flooded. The most critical situation occurred in Vicolo Muggiasca, where an entire underground parking area became completely inundated after drainage channels were obstructed by accumulated hail deposits.
Local authorities described the storm as potentially the most severe weather event experienced by the town in recent years. As a precaution, the local kindergarten remained closed on June 11 to allow cleaning operations and structural inspections.
The neighboring municipality of Mezzago was also heavily affected as roads turned into rivers of water and hail. Residents, volunteers, and members of the Rio Vallone Civil Protection organization worked together after the storm to remove hail accumulations and clear blocked drains.
In Ornago, authorities reported widespread flooding and fallen trees. Emergency responders, firefighters, civil protection teams, law enforcement personnel, and local volunteers were mobilized to address storm-related incidents throughout the town.
The city of Monza experienced extensive flooding, particularly near the Sanctuary of Madonna delle Grazie, where streets became inundated following the intense rainfall.
In Via Foscolo, a falling tree struck a traffic light, although no injuries were reported. Damage was also recorded at the U-Power Stadium, where the venue’s giant video screen reportedly collapsed during the storm.
In Concorezzo, local authorities activated civil protection teams to assist residents trapped inside vehicles as floodwaters rapidly accumulated on roads. Rescue operations continued for several hours after the storm’s passage.
Villasanta was hit by severe flooding that affected streets and underpasses, causing major traffic disruptions. A large tree fell across a roadway near the Rovagnati industrial facility, prompting an immediate emergency response.
Forecast Had Warned of Severe Conditions
According to the weather bulletin issued by the Lombardy Regional Civil Protection Agency, meteorologists had anticipated the development of strong thunderstorms during the afternoon of June 10.
Forecasters highlighted the formation of a convergence zone between northerly winds advancing across western Lombardy and southerly airflow present over the southern sectors of the region. This setup was expected to trigger thunderstorms across the plains, with storms moving from southwest to northeast throughout the afternoon and evening.
The bulletin warned of local rainfall totals between 30 and 50 mm (1.2 to 2.0 inches) within a 12-hour period, along with the possibility of hail and strong wind gusts. Wind speeds were forecast to reach 35-60 km/h (22-37 mph), including localized stronger gusts near thunderstorms.
