Italy heat wave deepens drought in northern, central regions

Italy's Po River basin has seen water flows plummet by up to 80% amid an intensifying heat wave and deepening drought that is threatening agricultural production across the country's northern and central regions, according to broadcaster Sky TG24.

Po River basin records critical water losses

The Po River basin — Italy's longest river system — has experienced water flow reductions averaging 65% across the region, with some areas recording declines of up to 80%, according to environmental authorities. In Isola Sant'Antonio, located in the Alessandria province of northwestern Piedmont, the river's flow has dropped by approximately 75%. A regional water crisis task force said rainfall across the basin in June measured 36% below the 1991-2020 average, while temperatures soared 3.5 degrees Celsius above normal levels.

Agricultural production under severe threat

The National Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA) warned that the summer of 2026 is showing an unusual pattern, with drought risks concentrated mainly in northern and central Italy, particularly affecting the Po River basin. The combination of below-average rainfall and extreme heat has reduced surface water resources by up to 37%, with conditions deteriorating further in July as several monitored areas recorded declines in water availability of around 40%. The drought is threatening agricultural production especially in the Veneto region, where water authorities have introduced emergency irrigation schedules to manage scarcity.

Farmers' association Coldiretti stated that water shortages could reduce forage supplies and lead to significant losses in corn and grain production. In the Po Delta, falling river levels have increased the risk of seawater intrusion, threatening farmland and crops along the coast.

Crisis extends across northern regions

The water shortage has spread to parts of Emilia-Romagna and the Po Valley, where tributaries feeding Italy's longest river have fallen to critically low levels. Conditions are also worsening in Lombardy, where available water resources have fallen by more than one-third since the beginning of the dry season.