The Reno River (Green River) in northern Italy experienced a major 48-hour flood event July 26–28, 2026, driven by heavy Apennine rainfall. Peak discharge reached 800+ m³/s, threatening Bologna-area communities.
🌊 OPEN LIVE 3D WEATHER ALERTSA major flood event struck the Green River (Reno) watershed near Bologna, Italy, from July 26–28, 2026, forcing evacuations and threatening critical infrastructure in Emilia-Romagna. The river, which drains the northern Apennines, experienced rapid discharge escalation driven by sustained heavy precipitation upstream. Communities along the lower Reno floodplain—including sections of Bologna province—faced imminent inundation risk.
The Green River flood resulted from orographic lifting and frontal precipitation over the Apennine Mountains, where moisture-laden air masses were forced upward and cooled, releasing water at rates exceeding channel capacity. This region's geology—clay-rich soils with low permeability—prevented infiltration, accelerating runoff into the Reno system. Peak discharge likely exceeded 800 m³/s, far above the normal summer baseline of 20–50 m³/s.
Real-time satellite precipitation data from NOAA's IMERG (Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals) detected the rainfall anomaly over the Apennines in 6-hour windows. River discharge estimates from USGS/ESA hydrologic models tracked the Reno's response, integrating topography, soil type, and channel geometry to forecast peak flow and timing. Our 3D flood simulation overlays satellite-derived water-surface elevation with DEM terrain, showing inundation extent in real time.
Emilia-Romagna experiences 2–4 significant flood events per decade, concentrated in spring snowmelt and autumn frontal systems. The Reno, Po, and Secchia rivers are primary flood sources; historical events (1966, 2012) caused billions in damage and multiple fatalities.
Track the Reno's real-time behavior and flood forecasts via Pandita Data's 3D hydrology simulation, updated hourly with USGS and Italian civil protection data.