This paper reviews the state-of-the-art in storm surge forecasting and its particular application in the northern
Adriatic Sea. The city of Venice relies crucially on a good flood forecasting system in order to protect the extensive cultural
heritage, their population, and their economic activities. Storm surge forecasting systems are in place to warn the population
of imminent flood threats. In the future, it will be of paramount importance to increase the reliability of these forecasting
systems, especially with the new MOSE mobile barriers that will be completed by 2021, and will depend on accurate storm
35 surge forecasting to control their operation. In this paper, the physics behind the flooding of Venice is discussed, and the state
of the art of European storm surge forecasting is reviewed. The challenges that lie ahead for Venice and its forecasting systems
are analyzed, especially in view of uncertainty. Some extreme events that happened in the past and were particularly difficult
to forecast are also described
