In brief
Germany and the Netherlands saw the Rhine drop to its lowest ever readings, while the Danube and Italy’s Po are also running dry. The drought cuts ship loading, pushes freight costs up, and risks shutting down Hungary’s only nuclear plant. Heatwaves, rising temperatures and high demand for water keep spots like the Rhine’s Kaub chokepoint at record‑low depths. Climate experts say hotter weather fuels evaporation, making droughts more likely even if rainfall is unchanged. The map below shows the rivers in the affected zone and the cities that could face shortages.
Rhine levels at record lows
The Rhine, Europe's busiest waterway, fell to its lowest reading in Cologne and the Dutch border town of Lobith as a heatwave roasts the continent. A 25‑cm depth at Kaub near Koblenz can cripple shipping supplies, according to the Rhine Waterways Authority.
Vessels are now forced to split cargo over more ships to keep them from sinking, driving transportation costs higher and threatening delivery bottlenecks. The slow‑moving confluence of water and logistics has already pushed grain producers in the Po Valley to reduce irrigated farmland.
The Danube’s strategic drop threatens Hungary’s only nuclear power plant, Paks, which has had to lower its output. Romanian energy firms also lowered coal‑plant activity because cooling water became scarce. These shortages could ripple through Europe’s power grid.
Climate scientists say higher temperatures increase evaporation, which in turn sharpens drought risks even if rainfall does not fall. The EU’s Copernicus report links last year’s 2022 drought to a surge in wildfires and higher carbon emissions.
