Did climate change contribute to May's flood disaster in Emilia-Romagna?
• A World Weather Attribution rapid assessment (not peer reviewed) found cumulative precipitation for first 21 days in May was wettest on record
• It also found no significant trend in 21-day spring rainfall in the region
• However according to Uni of Bologna hydrologist "climate models have limited reliability in simulating extreme rainfalls, especially at the local scale" and this type of rain event is particularly difficult to simulate as caused by convection
• Rain fell on dry and impermeable ground due to drought in Northern Italy leading to rapid run-off and flash flooding
• A Uni of Bologna civil engineer says land use change, changes in farming practices, narrowing of rivers likely played a role
