Po River at historic low as fourth heatwave grips northern Italy

The Po River has fallen to historically low levels as Italy endures its fourth heatwave of the summer, according to a report by Euronews published on Tuesday. The river's dry bed is now exposed in wide stretches near Pavia, in Lombardy, raising fresh concerns over water supplies and farming across northern Italy.

The report comes as forecasters warn that the latest heatwave will continue into the Ferragosto weekend, with highs of 40C expected in parts of the country before temperatures ease early next week. The prolonged heat has left the Po — Italy's longest river — running at levels that threaten the irrigation-dependent agriculture of the Po Valley, one of Europe's most productive farming regions.

For the Veneto, the river's decline is more than a distant meteorological curiosity. The Po forms the region's southern border with Emilia-Romagna, and its waters feed a network of canals that sustain the plains where Prosecco vineyards, maize fields and orchards draw their life. A parched Po means a parched Veneto.