Danube Hits New Historic Low at Romania's Border; Cernavodă Nears Restriction Threshold

The Danube River is experiencing a historic low as it enters Romania, with flow rates measured at approximately 1,400 cubic meters per second at Baziaș. Romanian Waters (Apele Române) has designated this as a new historical minimum. According to the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management, this low level is expected to persist until August 17. Meanwhile, the water level at Cernavodă continues its decline. As of August 10, the level was recorded at -2.27 meters, with forecasts predicting a further drop to around -2.36 meters before stabilizing. This situation impacts the Cernavodă nuclear power plant, which is currently operating under the first stage of restrictions due to the low water levels. Only 25 centimeters separate the current level from the threshold for the second stage of restrictions. Authorities explain that recent rainfall in the upper Danube basin, particularly upstream of Budapest, has not significantly impacted the flow entering Romania. A contributing factor is the recent decrease in the flow of the Sava River, a major tributary in the middle basin. Substantial and sustained increases in the Danube's flow would require prolonged periods of significant rainfall across both the upper and middle basins, especially the Sava River's catchment area. Current sub-seasonal forecasts suggest a possibility of more notable increases in the Danube's flow after August 24-26, which could potentially lift the river out of its current historic low.