Earthquakes Rocks Italy as Stormy Rainfall Continues

As Italy was rocked by four strong earthquakes in an hour on Wednesday, the nation and the Balkan Peninsula will face more heavy snow and rain through Thursday.

While most of central and southern Italy will receive rain and thunderstorms, heavy snow will further bury the higher terrain.

"Traveling will be difficult in the higher terrain of central Italy with a meter (39 inches) or more of new snow falling in the north-central Apennines," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Tyler Roys.

The same areas being buried by the snow were rocked by three strong earthquakes in a matter of an hour on Wednesday

The magnitude of the earthquakes ranged from 5.3 to 5.7 and struck the higher terrain of Italy's eastern Lazio region, according to the USGS.

A fourth earthquake of a similar magnitude followed a few hours later.

"The threat for avalanches has increased with the earthquakes," Roys said.

There are no reports of human deaths or injuries due to the earthquakes, according to The Local. However, dozens of animals were injured and killed when two stables collapsed.

Travel to areas affected by the earthquakes remains difficult to the snow. Ambulances have been unable to enter the town of Amatrice, which suffered a devastating blow from earthquakes last year.

The mayor of Amatrice told RaiNews24 that the town is experiencing the worst snow in more than 50 years, The Local reported.