Anyone experience a flooded Venice in March?
We're thinking 2-3 days next March, but a friend who was there one March said it was the soggiest she's ever seen it.
Anyone have some experience with this time of year? We'd love to hear the good and the bad.
Thanks!
In recent years there is some flooding in Venice about 100 times a year. Some flooding on a hundred days works out to about 25% of the days. Flooding is more frequent in November and March.
Flooding there occurs when winds blowing from the south (Egypt) combine with high barometric pressure over the southern Adriatic Sea to push the sea water toward the sea's northern end (where Venice is).
Even if it does flood, it doesn't need to ruin your entire Venice trip. But if it does happen when you're there, it will become a factor that both locals and visitors have to workaround and adapt to. The flooding causes the crowds in certain areas to be worse, because people cluster on benches put down for the flood or in other places where the water isn't so deep.
And the market price of Wellington style rubber boots will go through the ceiling!
If it happens while you're there, you'll have a great story to tell when you get back. It's all material for stories, both the good and the bad.
More good news-if it floods it gives you a chance to use your handy zip off pant/shorts! Don't forget that your inflatable hangers can double as water wings!
From my internet research - the likelihood of flooding is at hide tide (duh) = which occurs during full and new moons. If you are there at quarter moon, chances are lower.
Oh my, thank you!!!
I nearly spit my morning coffee across the keyboard!
Great laughs.
I meant the good and the bad of this time of year (maybe less crowds, need more layers of clothing, things are closed, or there are no lines, etc)
Oh Kent, I really need to reread your post about making sure your question is clear, but then we wouldn't have had the laughs!
Take care!
There's a really good article in the August 2009 National Geographic about which flood is doing more damage to Venice - the flood of water or the flood of tourists. The Venetians themselves are much more concerned about the flood of tourists, since it has driven the cost of living up out of reach for most Venetians.
And just to add to the good news, the flooding isn't limited to November and March...we experienced a fairly good sized flood in mid October (2002). The water was up about 12 to 16 inches in Piazza San Marco and all of the major lanes and walkways had the raised platforms up so people without wellies could get around.
Good that Bill clarified that, for those who didn't know (see his above post): the Venice flooding is not limited to March and November, those are just the months in which the flooding is most frequent.
The flooding occurs about 100 times per year, that's 27% of the days (dividing 100 days by 365).
We ended our two week Italy vacation with three days in Venice. The day before our flight home, it started raining (the first rain in two weeks), and it didn't stop. San Marco was flooded with 6 inches of water and we were quite worried. The locals, just adjust - waiters wear boots and sweep the water out of the restaurants, some store keepers add little raised walkways, etc. Not much concern from them and they did explain that it happens. We were concerned at to what the water level would be after raining all night, and we were concerned about how we could get to the airport when it was lightning. Up most of the night worrying and got to the vap stop early. Stopped raining and sun came out. All was fine. But was still a huge surprise to us!
