Water shortages in Europe, warning of extreme drought

In France, Switzerland, Italy and parts of Austria, there is much less snow than the average, said meteorologist Klaus Haslinger from the state weather service in Austria.

In Italy, nongovernmental organisations, Legambite, are warning that 53 percent less snow has fallen in the Italian Alps in recent months.

The problem lies not only with snow shortages but also with a lack of rain.

In France, after weeks of rain, there are concerns about a second summer of drought and water restrictions.

Haslinger has said that data shows global warming is favouring these temperatures, creating more conditions for drought in the future.

“If spring weather is similar to that of 2022, drought will be much worse”, Joseph Eitzinger, meteorologist at the University of Natural Resources in Vienna, has warned.

It has recently been reported that the most famous channels in Venice have dried up and that Italy's entire north is facing weather-related problems.

According to the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, after a month without rainfall in the Emilia-Romana region, there is the risk of a 40 - percent decline in national food production. / REL/

* Photo illustration