Germany's July heatwave sets temperature records; rivers hit historic lows

Germany is grappling with extreme weather as new July temperature records were set in three federal states, while the Rhine and Danube rivers reached historic low levels. In Sachsen-Anhalt, Bavaria, and Baden-Württemberg, thermometers climbed above 40 degrees Celsius, according to preliminary data from the German Weather Service (DWD).

The heatwave also saw temperatures surpass the 40-degree mark in Hesse and Baden-Württemberg. The national heat record remains 41.8 degrees Celsius, recorded in Drewitz, Sachsen-Anhalt, during a previous heatwave. The Robert Koch Institute estimates that nearly 10,000 people have died in Germany this year due to high temperatures, highlighting the severe health impact of the ongoing climate crisis.

Simultaneously, critically low water levels are plaguing major European rivers. The Rhine River at the crucial Kaub chokepoint in Rhineland-Palatinate dropped to 29 centimeters, with projections indicating a further fall to 26 centimeters, nearing the 2018 record low. The Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure reported an unprecedented low water level at Lobith, west of Emmerich, on the Rhine.

These low water levels are severely impacting inland shipping, with vessels operating at only about 20% capacity. This necessitates using four to five times more ships to transport usual cargo volumes, significantly increasing transport costs. The situation also affects power generation, forcing nuclear power plants in Hungary and Romania to shut down. In Austria, several hydropower plants have reduced production, and cruise ship traffic has been curtailed, with voyages from Passau to Vienna ending prematurely.