Low water levels in the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia are reaching new lows

The low water level of the Rhine, which has been prevailing for weeks, is heading towards its lowest levels in North Rhine-Westphalia. The water level in Düsseldorf on Saturday afternoon was -3 centimeters below the previous record value from August by two centimeters, according to data from the Federal Waterways and Shipping Administration (WSV). It is expected that water levels could fall again on Sunday and Monday.

In Cologne the water level fell to its previous low of 45 centimeters on Saturday. According to the data, record values ​​of 126 centimeters could be reached further up the Rhine near Duisburg-Ruhrort on Sunday. The water level there is currently 130 centimeters, just above the record low of 129 centimeters. The water levels of the Rhine at the various measuring stations cannot be directly compared with one another because there is no uniform zero point for all of them.

There is no lasting improvement in the situation in sight

On Friday, a spokesman for the Rhine Waterways and Shipping Authority (WSA) reported that the situation remained tense. The low water has been causing problems for shipping for months. Cargo ships can only sail with significantly reduced cargo. “The available channel depth remains limited and will therefore continue to reduce as water levels develop,” said the WSA spokesman.

According to the Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG) on Friday, there is still no lasting improvement in the low water situation in sight. Precipitation forecast for the first week of October could possibly provide some temporary relief.