A violent storm struck the island of Elba around midday on Tuesday September 9, bringing heavy rain and widespread flooding. In Portoferraio, where more than 34 millimeters of rain fell in just 15 minutes, the municipality urged residents to stay indoors and avoid using vehicles.
Several streets in the lower part of the historic center, between Via Carducci and Piazza Cavour, as well as the artisan district, were left underwater. A landslide was also reported along the provincial road SP 26 in the Le Grotte area.
According to Civil Protection authorities, nearly 70 millimeters of rain fell in less than an hour, forcing emergency teams to intervene across the affected areas. Weather forecasts warn of further scattered thunderstorms, locally intense, especially over the western provinces in the next few hours.
Travelers and visitors are advised to limit movements, avoid low-lying areas, and follow instructions from local authorities until conditions improve.
Update: Portoferraio Activates Civil Protection Operations
In Portoferraio, Mayor Tiziano Nocentini signed an ordinance to activate the municipal Civil Protection Operations Center following the violent storm and the ongoing orange weather alert. By late afternoon, waters had begun to recede, but the mayor continued to urge residents to remain at home, warning that traffic was blocked in all directions and emergency teams were working intensively to restore safety before more rain forecast for the evening.
This marks the third episode of severe flooding on Elba in less than a month, after similar cloudbursts hit the island on August 20 and 22.
Update: Heavy Rain Also Hits Giglio Island
Later in the evening, severe weather also struck Giglio Island, off the Maremma coast. Local authorities reported 67 millimeters of rain falling in less than an hour, causing flooding and disruption. The storm followed the earlier downpour on Elba, where 70 millimeters of rain had already been recorded in Portoferraio.
The Tuscan regional government has confirmed that an orange weather alert for heavy thunderstorms remains in effect across much of the region until Wednesday September 10, 2025.
Update: Landslide and New Flooding on Elba
On Tuesday, heavy rain triggered a landslide in the Forno area of Elba, cutting off road access and temporarily isolating around 200 residents, according to firefighters. Additional rainfall brought another 50 millimeters in just a few hours, causing the Valle di Lazzaro and Concia streams in Portoferraio to overflow and flood surrounding areas. The Tuscan Civil Protection reported widespread but uneven rainfall across the region, with the heaviest accumulations in Elba, the southern Livorno area, and parts of Lucca province.
Support Florence Daily News
Florence Daily News is an independent news site covering the stories, culture, and life of Florence and Tuscany. We don’t rely on clickbait, invasive or hidden advertising, or paywalls. Instead, we believe in quality journalism that respects our readers and serves those who care about thoughtful, local reporting.
If you value our work, consider supporting us with a donation.
Donate securely via Stripe below.
Make a one-time donation
Make a monthly donation
Make a yearly donation
Choose an amount
Or enter a custom amount
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
Your contribution is appreciated.
DonateDonate monthlyDonate yearlyDiscover more from Florence Daily News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.