Italy's Po River Faces Drought Due to Snow Shortage

Italy's Po River is facing a desperately dry summer due to a lack of snow, with the winter snow fields that normally save it from drying up over the warmer months having receded by 75%. The river is already as low as it was last summer, causing problems for those reliant on it, including fishers, farmers, and tourism. The low flows let the Adriatic sea seep up the Po and Adige rivers for tens of kilometers, endangering crops, clam farms, aquifers, and even the drinking water of some villages. Italian farmers are investing in precision irrigation to save water during the hottest months of the year, but the region is still set to struggle if the rain doesn't come.