Lack of rain and low tides have caused many of Venice’s famous channels to become practically dry, plenty of them full of mud. A sad image in one of the key times of the year for the Italian destination.
Until now, floods were the main problem in the city; in fact, the phenomenon known as acqua alta was a reason for many to postpone a trip to Venice. The mythical image of St. Mark’s Square flooded by water left the explorer aghast. The city has invested in climate adaptation systems to prevent future extreme events from causing so much damage.
The high tide of 2019 was the second highest ever recorded in Venice, causing damage of over €300 million. The lagoon city is already prone to irreparable damage from rising sea levels and waves and while high tides are common they are being exacerbated by climate change.
Today the situation is the opposite. As a general rule, the water level in the city should be around 80 centimeters and these days the tide would be between 55 and 60. As a result, many of the canals are a sad sight and navigation is not possible. Beyond the inconvenience of not being able to enjoy a gondola ride, things are getting serious. Fire and emergency services are having real problems accessing some areas of the city that are normally accessible through the various canals.
What has happened to bring about this situation? It is usual that at the beginning of the year the phenomenon known as acqua bassa occurs, but normally, when the Carnival season arrives, the waters have already returned to their course.
There have been a number of factors that have caused the water to reach historic lows. On the one hand, the lack of rainfall is causing a major drought in Italy; on the other, a period of low tides coupled with high atmospheric pressure has caused Venice to dry up.
Climate change is also a key factor. In a winter with 40% less rainfall compared to other years, northern Italy is suffering the consequences and its agricultural losses are worrying. In addition to the economic problems caused by this lack of water, it also has a major impact on the fish that live in the lagoon and its canals, as their survival has been jeopardized.
The forecasts of the Tide Warning Center of the Municipality of Venice are not very promising. Although the water is expected to flood the city’s canals again once the carnival is over,
According to CNN, water levels on Lake Garda in northern Italy have fallen to record lows. According to the Tide Warning Center of the Municipality of Venice, there are still several days ahead in which the water level will not exceed 70 centimeters at best. The most recent weather forecasts show the potential the arrival of rain and snow in the Alps in coming days.
