Europe is facing one of its most severe low-water crises in recent decades as prolonged extreme heat and drought drive water levels in the Rhine and Danube to historic lows. The situation is disrupting freight transport, power generation and agricultural irrigation across multiple countries.
On the Rhine, gauges in Cologne recorded levels of 67–68 centimetres on 1–2 August 2026, 1–2 centimetres below the previous record set in October 2018. At the critical Kaub chokepoint between Mainz and Koblenz, the water level fell to 24–25 centimetres — potentially the lowest since records began in the late 19th century. Vessels are restricted to 15–40 per cent of normal capacity, in some cases carrying only 400–800 tonnes instead of the usual 2,000–5,000 tonnes. Freight costs have risen sharply as a result. The Rhine serves as a primary transport route for coal, ore, petroleum products, chemicals and grain. Analysts estimate that prolonged disruption could reduce German GDP growth by 0.1–0.2 percentage points.
Conditions on the Danube are more severe. In Budapest, water levels dropped to 23–24 centimetres, below the 2018 record of 33 centimetres. Cruise and cargo vessels have run aground, requiring passenger transfers by bus, while barges operate at approximately one-quarter of normal loads. Hungary is shutting down its sole nuclear power plant, Paks, for the first time in 44 years due to insufficient cooling water. Navigation restrictions in Romania, Serbia and Slovakia have interrupted fuel and grain shipments. Irrigation has also been significantly affected in Serbia’s Vojvodina agricultural region.
Agriculture faces additional pressure. Farmers along the Danube, particularly in Romania, are encountering major difficulties transporting harvests as many river ports become inaccessible to fully laden barges. Restrictions on water extraction for irrigation are already reducing fruit and grain yields. Market analysts warn of potential increases in food and energy prices.
The crisis is attributed to successive heatwaves with temperatures exceeding 40°C, limited rainfall and reduced Alpine runoff following a low-snow winter. Near-term forecasts remain unfavourable, with heat expected to persist and little significant precipitation anticipated, raising the likelihood of further declines in water levels. Comparable events in 2018 and 2022 resulted in billions of euros in economic losses. Climate scientists observe that extreme low-water episodes are becoming more frequent in the context of climate change.
Authorities in several countries have called for conservation of electricity and water. Logistics operators are redirecting cargo to road and rail networks, which are already operating under significant congestion.