Venice canals run dry amid fears of prolonged lack of rain in Italy

Winter weeks without rain have raised concerns that Italy could face another drought after last summer’s emergency, in which the Alps received less than half of their normal snowfall, according to scientists and environmental groups.

The warning comes as Venice, where flooding is normally the main concern, is grappling with unusually low tides that make it impossible for gondolas, water taxis and ambulances to navigate some of its famous canals.

The problems in Venice are being attributed to a combination of factors: lack of rain, high pressure system, full moon and sea currents.

“Italian rivers and lakes suffer from severe water shortages, with attention focused on the north of the country,” said environmental group Legambiente on Monday (20).

The Po, Italy’s longest river, running from the Alps in the northwest to the Adriatic, has 61% less water than normal for this time of year, he added in a statement.

In July last year, Italy declared a state of emergency for the areas around the Po River, which accounts for a third of the country’s agricultural production and suffered its worst drought in 70 years.

“We are in a water deficit situation that has been accumulating since the winter of 2020-2021,” climate expert Massimiliano Pasqui of the Italian scientific research institute CNR was quoted as saying by the daily Corriere della Sera.

“We need to recover 500 millimeters in the northwest regions: we need 50 days of rain,” he added.

Water levels in Lake Garda in northern Italy have dropped to record lows, making it possible to reach the small island of San Biagio via an exposed path.

An anticyclone has dominated the weather in Western Europe for 15 days, bringing mild temperatures normally seen in late spring.

The latest weather forecasts, however, signal the arrival of much-needed precipitation and snow in the Alps in the coming days.