The water level of Lake Constance is continually falling – no all-time record in sight
Due to persistent drought and a winter with little snow, the water level of Lake Constance is steadily falling and is approaching the 2.50 meter mark.
Quick Look
- The level of Lake Constance is falling sharply due to drought and a lack of meltwater and is approaching the 2.50 meter mark.
- The German Weather Service is forecasting rainfall, but there is no lasting relief in sight.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Lake Constance follows a natural annual rhythm with lower water levels in late summer, autumn and winter.
He sinks and sinks and sinks. So much so that holidaymakers who had booked accommodation on the shores of Lake Constance have to complete a short walk in some places in order to feel water on their feet. Germany's largest inland body of water is becoming smaller and smaller.
The level of Lake Constance could soon even fall below the 2.50 meter mark. Most recently, 2.53 meters were measured at the Konstanz gauge. This means that there are only three centimeters left to reach this mark.
The water level is currently extremely low for the time of year. Due to the ongoing drought and the natural course of the year, the State Environmental Agency (LUBW) is expecting a further decline in the coming weeks.
According to the German Weather Service (DWD), there is no relief in sight for the time being. The DWD is forecasting a cold front with increased showers on Thursday night.
It is likely to rain again at least temporarily - in some places an estimated 20 liters per square meter is possible in a few hours. “It can also be quite weak,” said a DWD meteorologist.
There are several reasons for the unusual situation. According to the LUBW, there was a lack of meltwater from the Alps after a winter with little snow. In addition, there has been low rainfall for months and high evaporation during the warm summer.
However, the current water level is not an all-time record: Lake Constance usually only reaches its lowest water levels in winter. According to the Baden-Württemberg Low Water Information Center, the lowest water level since the evaluation began in 1850 was measured at 2.26 meters at the end of February and beginning of March 1858.
Lake Constance follows a natural annual rhythm. After the usually high water levels in early summer and summer, the inflows decrease in late summer.
In autumn and winter, a large part of the precipitation in the Alps falls as snow and is initially stored. Accordingly, the water level usually continues to fall before rising again as the snow melts in spring.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The level of Lake Constance could fall below the 2.50 meter mark.
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- How much will the water level continue to fall in the coming weeks?
- Will the forecast rainfall be enough for a noticeable relaxation?
