Heatwave and historic low river levels strain Western Europe

Extreme heat and prolonged drought continue to strain Western Europe, with temperatures in Germany projected to reach up to 39 degrees Celsius. The German Weather Service issued severe heat warnings across central and southern federal states, cautioning against serious health risks and predicting incoming heavy thunderstorms.

Major rivers across the continent face critical drops in water levels. The Danube and the Rhine have hit historic lows, with the Kaub gauge on the Rhine falling to its lowest reading since 1880. The severe low water has disrupted commercial freight navigation, threatened groundwater supplies, and damaged river ecosystems. Receding waters have also exposed historic shipwrecks and ancient mammoth fossils, while firefighters battle heightened wildfire risks across the region.

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