Low water: Experts do not expect the level of Lake Constance to recover any time soon

The Baden-Württemberg State Environmental Agency (LUBW) does not expect the low water levels in Lake Constance to recover any time soon. According to the authority's assessment, rainfall in autumn and winter would have to be "significantly above the normal level for this time of year" in order for water levels to recover sustainably.

Lake Constance received exceptionally little water this year. The water level in Konstanz is currently 248 centimeters - around 89 centimeters below the long-term average for this point in time, as stated in the management report from the low water information center.

According to LUBW, there are several factors behind the tense situation. Comparatively little snow fell in the Alps last winter. This means that there was a lack of meltwater in the spring that reaches Lake Constance via the Alpine Rhine. In addition, there was low rainfall and high evaporation in the warm months. September was also unusually dry in Baden-Württemberg. According to preliminary information from the German Weather Service, only around 19 liters of rain fell per square meter in the state - only around 27 percent of the long-term September average.

Lake Constance usually only reaches its lowest water levels in winter. In the second half of the year, less water enters the lake. In late summer the inflows decrease. A large proportion of precipitation falls as snow in autumn and winter.

Climate change affects Lake Constance

According to current forecasts, the water level will rise slightly in the coming days. But overall it remains too dry. Switzerland's National Drought Platform reported drought level 4 (major danger) for parts of the Lake Constance catchment area. Shipping was partially suspended on the German-Swiss border last week due to low water levels.

According to LUBW, it is currently impossible to predict how quickly Lake Constance will fill up again. A lot of rain could provide relief in the short term. What is also crucial for the coming spring is how much precipitation is stored as snow in the Alpine catchment area in winter and later reaches Lake Constance as meltwater.

However, according to LUBW, it is certain that climate change will change the conditions in the Lake Constance area in the long term. Rising temperatures influence, among other things, snow and melting processes in the Alpine catchment area. However, the LUBW emphasizes that extreme water levels are possible in both directions - from high water to extremely low water. The fact that the lake currently has exceptionally little water does not mean that Lake Constance will dry out in the future.