Europe faces renewed heatwave as Rhine drops to historic low

Europe continues to face severe summer heat and prolonged drought, with temperatures in Germany expected to reach up to 39 degrees Celsius. The German Weather Service issued extreme heat warnings across southern and central federal states, cautioning against severe health risks and forecasting incoming heavy thunderstorms.

Record-low water levels along major waterways such as the Danube and Rhine have disrupted commercial river shipping and threatened regional groundwater supplies. At the Kaub measuring station, the Rhine dropped to its lowest level recorded since 1880. The receding waters have also exposed historical artifacts, including ancient shipwrecks and mammoth fossils. Emergency services remain on high alert across the continent, with active wildfires reported near the German-Dutch border.

Sources: DW, Die Zeit, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau