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Venice Lagoon Flood Map: Acqua Alta & MOSE Barrier Radar

Venice flood map intelligence platform monitors real-time Acqua Alta tidal forecasts, Adriatic Sea seiche waves, and the multi-billion-euro MOSE mobile flood barrier gates protecting the UNESCO World Heritage lagoon city.

Primary Threats:Sirocco Wind Adriatic Seiche Tidal ResonancesCenturies of Groundwater Extraction Ground SubsidenceAstronomical Spring King Tides & Lagoon LowlandsDeep Navigation Channel Morphological Sediment Erosion

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Mean Elevation
3.3 ft ASL
Coastal Exposure
340 Miles
High-Risk Parcels
180,000+
Monitored Metros
5 Zones
Topographic & Hydrological Profile

Why Venice Floods: Geological Inundation Mechanics

Venice sits inside a shallow, 550-square-kilometer coastal lagoon connected to the Adriatic Sea through three narrow inlets: Lido, Malamocco, and Chioggia. Throughout the 20th century, extensive industrial groundwater pumping in nearby Porto Marghera caused the historic city to sink approximately 12 cm, compounding natural tectonic subsidence of 3-4 cm. Combined with global eustatic sea-level rise, the net relative water level in Venice has risen over 30 cm since 1870. When strong southeasterly Sirocco winds blow along the length of the narrow Adriatic basin, they generate a standing wave (seiche) that pushes water through the inlets directly onto Piazza San Marco.

Venice Key Metropolitan Risk Tiers

Elevations above sea level, coordinates, and predominant FEMA/regional flood classifications.

San Marco / Historic Venice
3.2 ft ASL•Acqua Alta Zone 1 (>80cm)
Extreme
Chioggia
4 ft ASL•Southern Lagoon Inlet
Extreme
Mestre / Marghera
12 ft ASL•Mainland Lagoon Margin
High
Lido di Venezia
6.5 ft ASL•Coastal Barrier Island
High
Murano / Burano
3.5 ft ASL•Northern Lagoon Shallows
Extreme
Historical Benchmarks

Major Catastrophic Flood Disasters in Venice

1966+194 cm (6.36 ft) Surge

The Great Acqua Granda

An unprecedented tidal surge reached +194 cm above the zero tide benchmark, submerging over 80% of Venice in saltwater for over 22 hours and causing billions in art and architectural destruction.

2019+187 cm (6.13 ft) Tide

November Multi-Peak Deluge

Severe gale-force winds pushed tides to +187 cm, closely trailing the 1966 record. Four consecutive peaks over 140 cm in a single week caused over €1 billion in damage across historic churches and residences.

2020+135 cm Prevented

Historic First MOSE Barrier Deployment

On October 3, 2020, all 78 MOSE flood gates were raised simultaneously during an anticipated +135 cm Adriatic surge, successfully keeping Venice dry for the first time in modern history.

Regional Underwriting & Regulatory Mandate

Private commercial flood insurance for ground-floor retail shops and residential historic palazzi in Venice is extremely scarce and subject to high deductibles due to recurring Acqua Alta exposure. Restoration of flood damage is subsidized through state cultural heritage emergency funds and municipal resilience initiatives.

People Also Ask (Venice)

Frequently Asked Questions About Venice Flood Maps

State-specific answers on flood insurance regulations, storm surges, and high-risk elevation certificates.

Acqua Alta (high water) refers to exceptional tidal peaks in the Venetian Lagoon caused by astronomical spring tides, low barometric pressure, and Sirocco winds. Piazza San Marco is the lowest point in the historic city, submerging when tides reach just +80 cm above the Punta della Salute datum.
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