High heat and severe drought push European river levels to historic lows

A fresh heatwave is sweeping across Western Europe, with temperatures in Germany projected to hit 39 degrees Celsius alongside anticipated severe thunderstorms. The German Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings across central and southern federal states, cautioning against potential health hazards.

Simultaneously, prolonged drought conditions have driven major European waterways, including the Rhine and Danube, to historic lows. At the Kaub gauge on the Rhine, water levels dropped to their lowest point since 1880, severely hindering commercial freight shipping, threatening drinking water supplies, and endangering river ecosystems. The receding waters have also uncovered historic shipwrecks and ancient mammoth fossils. Firefighters and emergency services across the continent remain on alert as high temperatures exacerbate wildfire risks.

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