European heatwave brings record low river levels and health warnings

Record-high temperatures and persistent drought conditions continue to strain ecosystems, infrastructure, and public health across Europe. In Germany, the German Weather Service warned of temperatures reaching up to 39 degrees Celsius ahead of expected severe thunderstorms. Water levels along major European rivers, including the Rhine and Danube, have fallen to historic lows, with the Rhine gauge at Kaub dropping to its lowest level since 1880. The drop in water levels has disrupted commercial shipping, threatened groundwater reserves, and exposed long-submerged artifacts, including historic shipwrecks and mammoth bones.

In Southern Europe, Italian authorities issued red heat warnings for all 27 major cities, citing health risks for the general population. Austria recorded new temperature records, while emergency crews battled a large wildfire near the German-Dutch border.

Sources: Der Spiegel, DW, FAZ, ORF, Tagesschau