Last night's flooding in Venice
02/17/2011
Last night, Venice had its first acqua alta (high water) of 2011. The 112-cm water level was relatively minor, compared to some acqua alta tides, but it was enough to inundate the Piazza San Marco and other low-lying areas of the city.
Below is a short video that was taken around 11 p.m., at the high point of the acqua alta in our San Polo neighborhood. (If you've spent time in Venice, you'll probably recognize the Fondamenta del Vin, a pedestrian street near the Rialto Bridge where several restaurants have outdoor tables alongside the Grand Canal.)
Friday update: We noticed that the city's warning sirens didn't sound before the acqua alta, as they're supposed to do when the tide is expected to reach 110 cm. A local newspaper, Il Gazzettino, is now reporting that the sirens weren't working because the Centro Maree (Tide Center) hadn't received maintenance funds.