A high-pressure system is stuck over Venice, creating low tides, which has led to low water levels and dry canals. However, experts suggest the root cause behind the issue is the drought-like situation across Italy.

Venice's canals are "drying up" primarily due to a combination of exceptionally low tides and a lack of significant rainfall. While the city is famous for its "Acqua Alta" (high water) floods, it periodically experiences "Acqua Bassa" (low water) during the winter months. In 2026, this phenomenon has been exacerbated by prolonged high-pressure weather systems over Italy, which literally "push" the sea level down, preventing the usual influx of water into the Venetian Lagoon. Additionally, the lack of snowmelt from the Alps and reduced flow from the Po River has decreased the volume of freshwater entering the lagoon ecosystem. These extreme low tides can leave some of the smaller, secondary canals completely empty, exposing the ancient foundations of the buildings and making it impossible for water taxis, gondolas, and emergency "ambulance boats" to navigate certain neighborhoods. While climate change is causing long-term sea-level rise, these temporary "dry spells" are a seasonal environmental challenge that highlights the fragility of the city's relationship with the sea and its complex tidal dynamics.