Hello Steve,
We are booked for Sicily Sept. 5th to Sept. 18th in Cefalu. I am wondering if it's still a good idea to go there because of the mount etna eruptions and water shortage. We are just worried about all the sulphur etc in the air and if the hotels have water estrictions.
Thank you
Donna
Thank you very much!
Was in Taormina during one of Etna’s frequent eruptions and was not aware of any smells; Cefalu is the opposite end of the Island from Etna, if it does erupt when you are there I doubt if you will notice anything. Stromboli, an island with an always active volcano north of Sicily, is also experiencing activity and evacuating people, but again any impact on Cefalu is unlikely. Of more concern is the water shortage, an ongoing problem on a dry island, particularly for the farmers. This year is seeing record high temps in southern Europe and certainly some water restrictions will likely be in place for everyone..ie no long showers, watering restrictions on gardens etc.
Dear Donna,
I did find this info which may be some help Siracusa Air Quality Index (AQI) and Italy Air Pollution | IQAir https://www.iqair.com/italy/sicily/siracusa But it does state that Syracuse doesn't have air sensor data. Nevertheless, the ratings for Syracuse today go from Good to moderate with increasing numbers. So there is some basis for making determinations. You can download an air quality app from here: https://www.iqair.com/us/air-quality-monitors/air-quality-app
I'm headed to Sicily on Sept 20. I'll arrive in Palermo, travel down the West Coast but intend to go to Syracuse. Can anyone tell me if the air quality in Syracuse has been impacted by Etna's eruptions? I have asthma so I've cancelled my visit to Taormina and Etna, But will stay in Syracuse for 10 days unless I can't breathe. I'd also like to visit Tindari if the ash doesn't reach there. If anyone is in Sicily now, could you let me know about volcanic ash impacts in Syrcuse, Ragusa, Noto, Tindari if you have any info or can give me a webpage that I can check? [I'm not interested in impacts in Catania since I've changed my departure From CAT to PMO instead]
I'll check back for answers. I leave Wednesday for Germany and will be on the road.
Thanks
Dear Donna,
I forgot to address the water restriction issues you were concerned about. The short answer is Sicily has decided to Prioritize tourism over agriculture. They have three inoperable desalinization plants. They need the money. Here are a few relevant articles. Hope it isn't TMI, but it gives you a full picture:
1-3-24 Sicily declares state of emergency amid worst drought in almost 20 years | Euronews https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/03/01/state-of-emergency-declared-in-sicily-due-to-drought
4-26-24 Water Shortage In Palermo, With Taps Closed In Some Areas And Fields In The Province - SicilyLab https://sicilylab.com/water-shortage-in-palermo-with-taps-closed-in-some-areas-and-fields-in-the-province/
6-24-22 Dire Italian drought worsening, breaking records, water authority says | Reuters https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/dire-italian-drought-worsening-breaking-records-water-authority-2022-06-23/
7-7-24 Sicily Faces Tourism Dilemma as Water Shortages Intensify : News : TravelersToday https://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/50694/20240707/sicily-faces-tourism-dilemma-as-water-shortages-intensify.htm
7-24-24 Mediterranean Drought Forces a Hard Choice: Who Gets the Water? - The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/24/world/europe/drought-farming-tourism.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-E0.jzlz.um615EDXeSQV&smid=url-share
7-30-24 Sicilians deal so well with drought that tourists don’t notice. A record dry year could alter that | AP News https://apnews.com/article/italy-sicily-drought-tourism-climate-change-water-63b272f105b49b78e59d6bd6fa1754c9#
Hope this helps.
