Heavy Snowfall Paralyzes Mount Etna Access Following Cyclone Harry Aftermath

Significant and unseasonal heavy snowfall blanketed Mount Etna, Italy, on January 31, 2026, causing severe traffic congestion and paralyzing access routes near the Piano Provenzana station on the volcano's northern flank. This intense precipitation followed the passage of Cyclone 'Harry' across Sicily between January 19 and January 21, 2026, which had already severely impacted regional infrastructure, causing widespread disruption to road, rail, and maritime transport systems across the island.

The recent deluge, while providing a necessary snowpack for winter sports enthusiasts, immediately overwhelmed the limited infrastructure designated for tourists ascending the active volcano. Reports from the area on January 31 indicated that numerous vehicles were stranded for extended periods, some for hours, due to drivers lacking adequate winter equipment. This occurred despite provincial roads mandating the use of winter tires or chains for all motor vehicles, a requirement often enforced under Italy's 'Piano Neve' winter traffic management system, which had been activated earlier in January for central and northern regions.

Mount Etna, Europe's tallest active volcano and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, experienced extreme conditions following Cyclone Harry. Certified volcanological guides noted snow accumulations reaching approximately 2 meters at higher elevations following the subsequent storm. While the fresh snow cover prompted the opening of the Etna Nord ski facilities on January 31, the influx of visitors quickly exposed the fragility of the access routes under such heavy weather conditions.

Road access to the volcano's main tourist hubs had only gradually been restored following the initial cyclone; by January 23, access was limited to 1,600 meters on the south side (Rifugio Sapienza) and 1,400 meters on the north side (Piano Provenzana). The immediate gridlock near Piano Provenzana on January 31 suggests that the road network's capacity to handle sudden, heavy snow events remains a critical vulnerability, even after the initial recovery phase from the cyclone.

This situation is further complicated by the fact that Sicily is still managing the broader aftermath of Cyclone Harry, which caused estimated damage exceeding €500 million in Sicily alone and led the government of Italy to declare a state of emergency. The heavy rains from the cyclone also triggered a massive 2.5-mile landslide in Niscemi, forcing the evacuation of over 1,500 people and prompting an initial allocation of 100 million euros in emergency funding. The strain on regional emergency services and infrastructure maintenance underscores the challenges faced in the days leading up to the January 31 snowfall event.

Local authorities, including civil protection crews, have issued continuous advisories urging extreme caution for any travelers attempting to reach the tourist altitudes. For visitors planning excursions on Etna, proper equipment is essential, especially considering that temperatures at 2,000 meters can be 10 to 15 degrees colder than the coast. The current gridlock serves as a reminder that the island's transportation arteries are highly susceptible to cascading failures following extreme meteorological phenomena.