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Venice, otherwise hit by flooding, is currently experiencing unusually low water levels. Sometimes the water level at low tide dropped 60 centimeters below the normal level. Acqua bassa (low tide) is expected again in the weekend.

On smaller canals, traffic had to be stopped, sometimes the gondolas stood in the mud, the authorities said. Experts attribute this state of emergency to a special weather situation: high pressure above Italy, combined with new moon phase and special wind conditions. A large high-pressure area over northern Italy is currently a barrier to disturbances, preventing precipitation.

It hasn’t rained for weeks, some rivers have run dry at the moment. The spring weather around carnival, which is fantastic for many people, is becoming more and more of a problem. The wind usually blows weakly from the northwest, pushing the sea water away from Venice, and tourists in the masked bustle of the carnival anxiously photograph the dried-up canals.

How far the water has sunk can be clearly seen from the moorings of the «Vaporetti», the typical water boats in Venice. The wooden jetties protrude high from the water, some motor boats almost disappear under them.

Flooding is usually a problem in the lagoon city. On the night of November 13, 2019, Venice was hit by a catastrophic tidal wave. The water – propelled by the sirocco wind – then rose to 1.87 meters above sea level. That was the highest level since a devastating flood in 1966, when it reached 1.94 meters.

In 2021, the MOSE dam system was activated to protect the lagoon city from a flood. Located at three entrances to the lagoon city’s harbor, the flood gates were built in a controversial multi-billion-dollar marine construction project. (sda/apa)