Image copyright BARD-CAGLIOR Image caption Rescue workers near Margherita (lower right) and Pescara (lower left) after they were hit by floods on Thursday
Up to 18cm (6in) of rain hit southern Italy, causing landslides, flooding streets and leaving two people dead.
Minor flooding was seen in Rome as it was hit by lightning. Forecasters said tropical moisture had led to the “medicane”.
The deaths happened in the city of Margherita and the town of Pescara as the storm was moving north.
A woman died after her house was hit by a landslide in the Abruzzo region. A child was killed after being swept away in storm waters.
Video posted to social media showed a car perched against a steep cliff in Margherita as a boat was forced to rescue motorists.
In Pescara, a house was swept away by floodwaters and a mother and her daughter became trapped in their car by floodwaters.
Flooding also hit Piedmont and Rome as the storm moved northwards.
The flooding in Pescara also caused a 3km (two-mile) stretch of road to shut.
At least two million people were left without power, but most power has been restored to homes and businesses, according to local power company Sarni.
Heavy rain will continue in southern Italy on Friday but the Italian meteorological service forecasts a drop in the pressure as the storm moves to the north.
