(Bloomberg) -- Thunderstorms packing torrential rains triggered flooding across a number of Italian cities, disrupting flights and forcing the authorities to close schools, markets and other public areas.

The civil protection and local environment protection agency Arpae have extended an extreme weather 'red alert' over the risk of rivers overflowing their banks and floods to Romagna on Friday. The 'red alert' will remain in place on Saturday along the coast and in the region's plain areas,