Gales that began sweeping in from the Atlantic on Tuesday night struck western Italy, with the wind at its strongest in the north-western mountains of Piedmont.
La Repubblica reported winds of up to 200 km/hour which caused the closure of several of Piedmont’s ski pistes.
The wild weather proved fatal in Calabria, where a man fell to his death from the roof of a building.
The man, identified as Giuseppe Talarico, had climbed up to check for damage on the roof and fell off as gales continued to lash the building.
Meanwhile in Rome, at least three trees fell onto cars, injuring two people, while a tile was blown off the roof of a high school, striking a 15-year-old girl in the head.
Rough seas lashed the coastline to the west of the capital, crashing over protective barriers and damaging some beachside buildings.
On the island of Sardinia, gales caused a tree to fall and injure a 28-year-old woman, while a school near Cagliari was closed after the roof was blown off.
Firefighters all over Italy were on hand to deal with fallen trees and other debris blocking roads and causing disruptions.
With ANSA
