Lombardy Alpine snow deficit sparks water shortage warning

A severe lack of snow on the Lombardy Alps this winter has alarmed farmers. Measurements of Snow Water Equivalent show a 30‑60% reduction compared with the ten‑year average, while glacier water storage is down 39%. Regional water reserves are 26% below historic levels, with snow‑related storage down 68%.

The shortfall is worsened by a heat wave accelerating melt, threatening the Valtellina valley and the downstream Po basin. Coldiretti Sondrio warns that reduced snow reservoirs jeopardise irrigation, pasture and the broader agricultural output of the Po plain, a key national food‑production area.