Venice in November - high tides, flooding, and the MOSE Project

it happens when several events happen simultaneously: high tide, rivers pouring more water than usual in the lagoon (after rain), and Scirocco wind (southeasterly wind) pushing sea waves north.
It usually affects limited parts of the city and only for a few hours. It would be a great thing to see it.

It would be something to remember alright. I think it could also ruin your vacation, your shoes, and make it very uncomfortable to travel if you can't keep your luggage above water level! So I guess I can look on a map for another town along the train or bus route, or maybe someone can tell me which parts of town are affected?

Depends on when you are going as to whether it will be an issue.

My daughter was there in when there was some minor "flooding".. St Marks puts out elevated walkways.

There are also many merchants that sell boot and poncho sets quite reasonably.

Your hotel room where your luggage will be will be high and dry.

Joe is right. The elevated walkways were helpful and there are boots, umbrellas and ponchos to be had on every street corner.
A couple of years ago our water taxi took us to about a block from our hotel and we had to slosh through ankle deep water to get there. We had not given flooding a thought, and were unprepared, but for the most part the water receeded overnight. All and all it was quite an adventure that provided fun pictures for our scrapbook, and best of all truly lasting memories!

Joe, yes in your room, but when trying to leave it could be more difficult (referenced in the Aeon article). The terrible smell would also make it unpleasant. There are several cities on the mainland adjacent to access to Venice that I wondered if anyone had stayed in. It's also probably less expensive.

I experienced the aqua alta for 2 days December 2012 when it was "bad". Saint Mark's square was watery. There were planks, there were shops selling limited strength Japanese import Wellies for about 12 euros ( more now I am sure). You could get thru the square and it did not affect our sightseeing at all save for that one area. Daytripping is not the same as being there- wandering back to your hotel after dark or lingering in one of the churches or sitting on steps, waiting for sunset... no comparison at all- I have been there three times for about 2 weeks total.

The aqua alta does not last that long, a few hours was my experience, and usually you could just take a different route. I think that possibly information has been exaggerated.

There is no "terrible" smell and acqua alta lasts a couple of hours mostly around San Marco: the city is not flooded for days. Who writes these articles, opera librettists?

Do You really want to miss the pleasure of walking around Venice during the night, when crowds of day trippers have finally left, because of the possibility of an exceptional high tide at the exact moment you're leaving?

If you have to, stay on the mainland for a real reason like saving money. That's ok.

Wendy
I note you live in LA. It seems you have come to grips with the prospect of "the big one" hitting at any moment and leveling half the city.

Why/how an abnormal rare high tide has you so freaked out, is puzzling.

Plan your trip to Venice like you live your everyday life. Expect things to be "OK".

A high tide causing you to spend $15-20 for boots is much less a problem than a quake that levels freeway overpasses.

Think Positive and enjoy Venice!

I don't remember the terrible smell either.. Acqua Alta is something to see and participate in as well.

Get the app for your Iphone called "water on the Venice floor". It gives predicted tide levels (right now, 8cm), and gives a map of which areas will have "water on the floor". It is very accurate, given the difficulties of predicting the weather impact on tidal levels. The streets of Venice have been surveyed to an accuracy of one centimetre, half an inch, and the door sill of every doorway has also been surveyed.

The app allows you to plan in advance, and in any case you can buy overboots that are good for six inches of water.

Just a hint. On no account take your shoes off to wade through water. Venetians very much like dogs. Dogs are dogs the world over. Ditto dog droppings.

Broken glass also is not unknown, not so much in the Piazza, more common in other areas.

When we were there in 2013 we went for dinner one night - when we finished we went outside to find the street and several shops flooded. Some folks pants were wet up to their knees! Yes - there were bags for sale Euro 5 - & boots Euro 15. I pulled up google maps on my phone and was able to find a way back to our hotel that was dry. All was fine in the morning.

Don't let this deter you from a very unique city.

Thanks everyone for the info.

I am from Seattle, which has a lot of rain and occasional flooding. So I am no stranger to water. I'd just rather not ruin my boots and walk thru the filth if I don't have to.

I will avoid the San Marco area, that is helpful information, as well as the app. Climate change sucks!

We were on our first trip to Venice when an unexpected high tide + rain meant that St. Mark's was flooded. Coming down the steps from a bridge meant being knee deep in water. It was gone by the next day, and many establishments did have temporary walkways up so that you could reach them in the interim.

But I ruined a pair of shoes that way. I chalked it up to part of the travel adventure! Have a good trip!

Wendy, Venice has battled water challenges for a very long time due to multiple factors - rising seas being just one of them - and the average acqua alta isn't a big enough concern to choose either to avoid the city altogether or to stay elsewhere. Venice proper is where you want to be.

https://www.ricksteves.com/watch-read-listen/read/articles/is-venice-sinking

Shoot, it's sadly the flood of tourists, rising tourists prices, conversion of many houses/flats to holiday rental properties and sale of real estate to wealthy foreign investors which has driven so many Venetians from the old city and not water problems. Too many simply can't afford to live there anymore. :O(