Po River hits historic low as heatwave strains Lombardy farms

Italy's Po River has fallen to historically low levels as the country endures its fourth heatwave of the summer, exposing wide stretches of dry riverbed near Pavia and raising fresh concerns over water supplies and farming across northern Italy, according to Euronews.

The low water levels come just days before the Ferragosto holiday weekend, when forecasters predict highs of 40C across much of the country, according to The Local Italy. The prolonged heat has compounded stress on the Po basin, which irrigates vast tracts of the country's most productive agricultural land.

The Po is Italy's longest river, running from the Alps through Piedmont, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna before reaching the Adriatic. Its watershed sustains roughly a third of the country's agricultural output, including rice paddies in the provinces of Pavia and Vercelli, maize fields and fruit orchards that supply both domestic markets and export chains.

For Lombardy, the region's economy depends heavily on the Po's water: advanced manufacturing in Milan and its hinterland draws on the river's hydroelectric plants and industrial cooling systems, while the province of Pavia — where the riverbed is now exposed — is a centre for rice cultivation. A sustained drought would push up input costs for farmers and strain the logistics of food processing companies headquartered in the region.

Euronews reported that the fourth heatwave of the summer has exacerbated the situation, with no significant rainfall forecast in the coming days. The footage showed wide stretches of dry riverbed near Pavia, a visual marker of how far the water level has dropped from seasonal norms.

The situation echoes the severe drought of 2022, when the Po fell to its lowest level in 70 years, prompting emergency water rationing across northern Italy. That episode forced the government to declare a state of emergency in five regions and highlighted the region's vulnerability to climate stress, a theme foreign press has returned to repeatedly in coverage of Italy.

Looking ahead, forecasters expect the heat to ease early next week, according to The Local Italy, but the lack of rainfall means the Po's recovery will be slow. Local water management authorities have not yet imposed rationing, but the continuing heatwave raises the prospect of restrictions on agricultural and industrial users if levels keep falling.

The drought also carries a broader economic dimension for Milan's financial district: agricultural insurers and food companies listed on Piazza Affari face potential losses, and prolonged water stress could feed into higher food prices across Italy — a concern the international press has flagged in past drought years.