Okay, first. What we're looking at here is a screenshot of a frame from a short video posted on a news site. This is Borgomanero, last Thursday afternoon. Borgomanero is about a 30-minute drive from Stresa, heading southwest. This photo shows crowded rush-hour roads flooded with high water, and then, floating on top of the water, is ICE. The ice is a result of hail that fell as part of the storm, freezing together in these mini sheets on top of the water. 

At the same time, over in the Pallanza part of Verbania, which is to the east of Stresa on Lago Maggiore, what you see above was happening.The storm caused some major damage in the marina. Throughout the region there were similar unfortunate incidents. 

Perhaps the only ones who were happy about the many centimeters of precipitation were the folks atop Mt. Mottarone, who each year hope for a good, early ski season. If temperatures stay chilly up there, then this 20 cm of snow that just fell is a really nice start. These two photos were taken at the very summit, near Ristorante Casa della Neve.

And so, you may be wondering about Stresa. Well it rained, A LOT, but there was nothing as dramatic or damaging or cold as the photos seen here. And after the storm passed the weather returned to crisp autumn days. There are still many tourists in town; in fact, all the islands and other main attractions will be open until the first week of November. And another benefit: The first views of this year of the snow returned to the tops of the mountains.

So, as a reminder, The Borromeo Islands, Villa Taranto, and the Rocca Angera will all close their doors this year on Sunday, November 3.