The River Rhine has reached record low water levels in several locations across Germany and the Netherlands due to ongoing heatwaves affecting Europe. Measurements taken last week in Cologne, Germany, and Lobith, where the Rhine crosses into the Netherlands, were the lowest since records began.

Other major European rivers critical for transport, industry, and agriculture have also experienced unprecedented low levels. This includes the Danube, which flows through 10 countries, and Italy's Po river.

According to Germany's Low Water Information System (NIWIS), at the end of July, 44% of Rhine measuring stations and 78% of those on the Danube recorded extremely low water levels. On Friday, the navigable water depth at Kaub near Koblenz—a key point for Rhine cargo vessel loading—hit the 2018 record low of 25cm before slightly recovering on Monday.

Drought conditions have remained stable and critical across most of Europe, worsening in central-western regions in mid-July, as reported by the EU's Drought Observatories. Renewed heatwave conditions are expected to persist for at least another week, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in many central and southern European countries.

The drought has also impacted energy production. Prime Minister Peter Magyar stated on Monday, "We don't know when we will be able to restart [the plant]." He added hopes for cooling rain, which forecasters do not yet predict, to alleviate the situation.

The EU's Copernicus climate service linked the 2022 European drought to increased wildfire activity, which in turn caused higher than average carbon emissions.

There is concern that cargo loads on rivers are becoming too small to be economically viable, or that vessel owners fear damaging their ships due to low water levels.

Sources