The interannual and decadal variability of seasonal precipitation (October through April) over Sardinia (Italy) is analysed for the years 1940–1995. It is shown that the area‐average seasonal rainfall total can vary greatly from one year to the next. The spatial correlation of Sardinia seasonal rainfall with that of neighbouring Mediterranean regions is generally high, though the correlation is less to the south of Sardinia, suggesting other teleconnection structures may operate there. Over a slightly shorter period (1946–1993), correlations between precipitation and large‐scale variables (sea level pressures (SLP), 500 hPa geopotential heights (Z500) and sea surface temperatures (SST)) are calculated and analysed. Clear connections between the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and Sardinian precipitation are found and studied. Contrasting Atlantic storm tracks were found for the wet and dry seasons. In the wet years, the track is weaker over the North Atlantic (consistent with the NAO association), while over Europe there emerges a second minor storm track that enters the Mediterranean basin. In dry years this latter feature is less evident and is diverted to the lee of Sardinia, probably because of stronger intensity of the Azores High. Some apparent associations with other Northern Hemisphere remote teleconnections and large‐scale structures also emerge, including the North Pacific and across North Africa. Copyright © 2000 Royal Meteorological Society

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Abstract.A survey of four years of local newspapers over the island of Sardinia was conducted. Articles were compared against meteorological observations in order to understand how efficiently intense precipitation events are perceived.The comparison showed that, on a wide and heterogeneous area, public opinion perceives correctly 44% of events and its perception is unbiased. If, however, the focus is placed upon urban areas, the ability to perceive grows to 66%, but an "overperception" of 33% arises. If focus is finally placed upon rural areas, skills worsen, several events are missed and a significant negative bias is detected.

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