After weeks of dry winter weather, scientists and environmental groups in Milan are concerned that Italy may face another drought after last summer’s emergency, with the Alps receiving less than half their average snowfall.

Overview

The warning comes in as Venice; flooding usually is a significant concern and experiences shallow tides, making it impossible for ambulances to navigate some of the city’s famous canals. A combination of factors is being blamed for the problems in Venice, including a high-pressure system, a full moon, and sea currents.

According to the environmental group Legambiente, Italy’s rivers and lakes are suffering from a massive lack of water, with the north of the country receiving special attention.

According to the report, The Po, Italy’s longest river from the Alps in the north-west to the Adriatic, has 61% less water than usual at this time of year.

Last July, Italy declared an emergency in areas surrounding the Po, which accounts for roughly one-third of the country’s agricultural output and has experienced the worst drought in 70 years.

End Note

“We’ve been building up a water deficit since the winter of 2020-21. “We need 500 millimeters of rain in the northwestern regions. We need 50 days of rain.” Climate Expert Massimiliano Pasqui of the Italian scientific research institute CNR told the daily Corriere della Sera.