Overview
- An African-origin anticyclone continues to block Atlantic fronts and cold air, extending stable, unseasonably mild weather through the weekend.
- Temperatures remain above average nationwide, with many northern areas near 11–12°C and parts of the South and major islands approaching 20°C.
- Clear, milder conditions prevail over the Alps and much of the South, while the Po Valley and some Ligurian and Tuscan coasts see persistent low clouds and fog.
- Air quality is deteriorating as fine particulates accumulate, raising health concerns and reducing visibility, especially at night and early morning on the plains.
- Multiple outlets forecast a pattern shift from Dec. 16 with Atlantic rain—initially favoring the Center-South and islands and possibly parts of the North—though the extent and any later cold push near Dec. 19–20 remain uncertain.