M.T. Caccamo, Department of Mathematical and Informatics Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences(MIFT), University of Messina, Viale F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy

A. Cannuli, Department of Mathematical and Informatics Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences(MIFT), University of Messina, Viale F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy

G. Castorina, Department of Mathematical and Informatics Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences(MIFT), University of Messina, Viale F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy

F. Colombo, Department of Mathematical and Informatics Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences(MIFT), University of Messina, Viale F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy; Italian Air Force Meteorological Service – Comando Aeroporto - Sigonella

V. Insinga, Consorzio Interuniversitario Scienze Fisiche Applicate (CISFA),Viale F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy

E. Maiorana, Consorzio Interuniversitario Scienze Fisiche Applicate (CISFA),Viale F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy

S. Magazù, Department of Mathematical and Informatics Sciences, Physical Sciences and Earth Sciences(MIFT), University of Messina, Viale F. S. D’Alcontres 31, 98166 Messina, Italy

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to analyze the reasons for which the rainfall accumulations in Sicily do not follow the downward trend observed in the period from 1921 to 2002, but, mostly in the last ten years, show a substantial increase. The analysis has been performed by applying statistical methods to a wide ensemble of collected meteorological data. The observed increase of rainfall rates has been connected both to the “global warming”(according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the year 2015 promises globally the warmest from the beginning of the records) and to the positive thermal anomalies of Mediterranean sea which give rise to a frequency and intensity rise of severe meteorological events. From the present study it clearly emerges that, in order to forecast such severe events with sufficient advance, it is important to classify such phenomena as well as to monitor the contest environmental conditions that generate them.

Keywords
extreme meteorological events, extreme weather, rainfall, Sicily

Cite this paper
M.T. Caccamo, A. Cannuli, G. Castorina, F. Colombo, V. Insinga, E. Maiorana, S. Magazù, Highlights on Extreme Meteorological Events in Sicily , SCIREA Journal of Geosciences. Volume 1, Issue 2, December 2016 | PP. 78-87.

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