Low water: New historical record low at the Rhine gauges

Cologne. The water levels on the Rhine have fallen even further in North Rhine-Westphalia and have reached new historical lows at all four major measuring stations. In Düsseldorf, the water level was 15 centimeters, the lowest ever recorded, and significantly below the record low of 20 centimeters set just a few days ago, according to data from the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Authority.

At the Duisburg-Ruhrort gauge, the value was 145 centimeters, beating the previous low of 148 centimeters set on Sunday. The water levels at the individual measuring stations on the Rhine are not directly comparable, as there is no uniform zero point for all gauges. In Cologne, the water level had already fallen below the historical low of 67 centimeters measured just a few days ago on Thursday and then continued to fall to 60 centimeters.

In Emmerich, the water level has been in negative territory for days, and the gauge float is dry - a probe provides the data. The value has now fallen to a new low of minus six centimeters. According to forecasts, it is expected to drop to minus eight on Saturday. Relief is not in sight in the near term: up to and including Tuesday, the water levels are expected to rise by at most a few centimeters, according to forecasts, and thus remain at a low level.

The navigable channel in the Rhine is significantly deeper than the respective water level at the shore. In Cologne, for example, it is 1.11 meters more. Ships can continue to operate, but only with much less cargo than usual.