River Po

The River Po in northern Italy is currently experiencing critically low water levels and reduced flow due to persistent drought conditions and a shortage of rainfall throughout 2025. The flow into the Adriatic Sea has dropped to as low as 300 m³/s in recent months, which is about five times less than the seasonal average for this time of year. This situation threatens agriculture, drinking water supplies, and natural ecosystems across the Po Valley.ecohubmap+2​youtube​

River Po Flow Trends

• The average flow at main gauging stations (such as Pontelagoscuro) can vary from a historical mean of about 1,370 m³/s to current lows around 300 m³/s during severe drought.britannica+1​

• The river’s depth in the most affected regions has reached 2.7 meters below the seasonal average, forcing local governments to declare states of emergency and, in some cases, truck in drinking water.copernicus+1​

• The region is expected to remain at risk for the remainder of 2025 unless rainfall recovers, due to climate-driven dry periods and high agricultural water demand.stars4water+1​

Drought Outlook and Impacts

• Studies indicate that the Po Basin’s future droughts may be even more severe, with flow projected to drop by another 10% over coming decades and dry periods potentially becoming longer and more impactful due to rising temperatures and water use.youtube​news.cornell+2​

• Water shortages have forced reductions in energy production and disrupted hydroelectric plants, in addition to agricultural and municipal water supply cuts.facta+1​

The Po River is at a historic low for this season, and conditions are predicted to remain critical into the winter unless there is a significant shift in weather patterns.ecohubmap+2​

1. https://www.ecohubmap.com/hot-spot/the-longest-river-in-italy-po-valley-is-drying-up/1hjw1ml6dk3444
2. https://www.copernicus.eu/en/media/image-day-gallery/northern-italy-continues-be-severely-affected-drought
3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUorNljBW_Q
4. https://facta.eu/the-po-river-water-crisis-and-the-future-it-faces/
5. https://www.britannica.com/place/Po-River
6. https://stars4water.eu/europe-faces-intensifying-mid-2025-drought-across-regions/
7. https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/04/study-warns-future-drought-italys-alpine-region
8. https://hess.copernicus.org/articles/29/2255/2025/
9. https://icf-fri.org/addressing-water-scarcity-and-climate-change-in-the-po-river-basin/
10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Po_(river)
11. https://www.europeanwaterways.com/blog/po-river-italy-guide/
12. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/the-po-valley-an-italian-paradox/
13. https://earlyfloodalert.com/en/river.php?river=Po
14. https://visitpiacenza.it/en/nature-and-outdoor/the-river-po-flowing-in-villanova-darda/
15. https://www.pofishing.com/en/water_level
16. https://www.tours-italy.com/blog/about-river-po
17. https://dahiti.dgfi.tum.de/en/19864/water-level-altimetry/
18. https://rivercruiseadvisor.com/water-levels-for-river-cruises-in-europe/
19. https://rivers.alberta.ca
20. https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/drought-over-large-parts-europe-raises-concern-2025-05-05_en