Venice is investigating the appearance of a patch of fluorescent green water in the Grand Canal, authorities confirmed Wednesday. The discovery prompted an immediate inquiry into the cause of the discoloration, which was first observed earlier this week.
The incident coincides with a period of fluctuating water levels in the Veneto region of Italy. According to data released by ARPA Veneto, the regional environmental agency, January 2026 saw approximately 73mm of precipitation, a 36% increase compared to the 1991-2020 average of 53mm. However, when considering the entire 2025-26 hydrological year (October to January), rainfall totals remain 32% below average, at around 269mm.
ARPA Veneto has begun incorporating infographics alongside its monthly water resource reports, visually presenting key indicators such as rainfall, snow water equivalent (SWE), groundwater levels, river flow rates, and reservoir levels. Similar infographics have been used for its monthly and seasonal weather and climate reports for over a year, summarizing information on temperatures, precipitation, and snow cover.
January’s weather in Veneto was characterized by an initial dry spell followed by intense precipitation towards the end of the month. Average temperatures began cold but ultimately settled at or slightly below the seasonal average.
These communication tools, designed for both the agency’s website and social media channels, aim to convey the main findings of the reports in a concise manner. The full reports remain available on the ARPA Veneto website, arpa.veneto.it.
