Low water in Germany: 134 of 369 federal river gauges below mean low water
On 23/10/2026, 22:45 CEST, 134 of the 369 federal waterway gauges for which the German waterways administration (WSV) publishes a mean-low/mean-high classification reported low water – a level below the long-term mean low water (MNW). That is 36 %. Not a single gauge reported high water. On the Oder all 8 classified gauges are below MNW, on the Rhine 24 of 26, on the Elbe 32 of 36, on the Danube 11 of 13 and on the Weser 13 of 18. 13 gauges are even below the lowest level listed so far (NNW).
Where water is scarcest
The big rivers are hit hardest: Oder (100 %), Rhine (92 %), Elbe (89 %), Danube (85 %), Weser (72 %). Canals and impounded waterways in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania mostly report normal levels, because weirs and locks hold the water level there.
| River/waterway | Gauges | Low water | Share | Median change 18/10–22/10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oder | 8 | 8 | 100 % | −6.8 cm |
| Rhine | 26 | 24 | 92 % | +9.8 cm |
| Elbe | 36 | 32 | 89 % | −0.9 cm |
| Danube | 13 | 11 | 85 % | +1.5 cm |
| Weser | 18 | 13 | 72 % | −1.3 cm |
| Aller | 5 | 3 | 60 % | +1.9 cm |
| Obere Havel-Wasserstrasse | 12 | 6 | 50 % | +0.3 cm |
| Storkower Gewaesser | 6 | 3 | 50 % | −0.1 cm |
| Fulda | 4 | 2 | 50 % | +2.7 cm |
| Neckar | 5 | 2 | 40 % | −2.8 cm |
| Main | 11 | 4 | 36 % | +3.9 cm |
| Saale | 17 | 4 | 24 % | +0.3 cm |
| Lahn | 5 | 1 | 20 % | +4.5 cm |
| Moselle | 5 | 1 | 20 % | +0.2 cm |
| Spree-Oder-Wasserstrasse | 13 | 2 | 15 % | −0.2 cm |
| Untere Havel-Wasserstrasse | 22 | 3 | 14 % | +3 cm |
| Müritz-Elde-Wasserstrasse | 17 | 2 | 12 % | +0.4 cm |
| Ems | 8 | 1 | 12 % | −3.9 cm |
| Havel-Oder-Wasserstrasse | 11 | 0 | 0 % | −0.8 cm |
| Finowkanal | 8 | 0 | 0 % | −1.2 cm |
| Elbe-Havel-Kanal | 6 | 0 | 0 % | +1.4 cm |
| Ilmenau | 5 | 0 | 0 % | +3.3 cm |
| Landwehrkanal | 4 | 0 | 0 % | −0.2 cm |
| Peene | 4 | 0 | 0 % | −25 cm |
13 gauges below their record low
Of 290 gauges with an NNW listed in PEGELONLINE, 13 are currently below it, 10 of them on the Rhine – including Kaub, Cologne, Düsseldorf and Duisburg-Ruhrort, whose previous lows date from October 2018.
| Gauge | River | Now | NNW | NNW date | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dömitz Up | Müritz-Elde-Wasserstrasse | -5 cm | 3 cm | 21/08/2003 | −8 cm |
| Rees | Rhine | 30 cm | 38 cm | 18/08/2022 | −8 cm |
| Mannheim | Rhine | 81 cm | 85 cm | 20/10/2018 | −4 cm |
| Kaub | Rhine | 21 cm | 25 cm | 22/10/2018 | −4 cm |
| Düsseldorf | Rhine | 20 cm | 23 cm | 23/10/2018 | −3 cm |
| Rothenburg Up | Saale | 312 cm | 315 cm | 22/07/2018 | −3 cm |
| Worms | Rhine | 0 cm | 2 cm | 20/10/2018 | −2 cm |
| Köln | Rhine | 67 cm | 69 cm | 23/10/2018 | −2 cm |
| Emmerich | Rhine | -3 cm | -1 cm | 18/08/2022 | −2 cm |
| Coswig | Elbe | 98 cm | 99 cm | 26/08/2018 | −1 cm |
| Nierstein-Oppenheim | Rhine | 69 cm | 70 cm | 21/10/2018 | −1 cm |
| Duisburg-Ruhrort | Rhine | 152 cm | 153 cm | 23/10/2018 | −1 cm |
| Wesel | Rhine | 87 cm | 88 cm | 17/08/2022 | −1 cm |
What it means
MNW is the average of annual lowest levels over a series of years. A gauge below it is very low for the season, but not necessarily at a record. NNW is the lowest known level. For shipping, the fairway depths published by WSV via ELWIS are what counts; flood and drought warnings are issued by the state flood centres.
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FAQ
How many German rivers have low water?
134 of 369 classified federal gauges were below MNW on 23/10/2026, 22:45 CEST; hardest hit: Oder 8/8, Rhine 24/26, Elbe 32/36, Danube 11/13, Weser 13/18.
Which gauges are below their record low?
Dömitz Up (Müritz-Elde-Wasserstrasse, -5 cm / NNW 3 cm), Rees (Rhine, 30 cm / NNW 38 cm), Mannheim (Rhine, 81 cm / NNW 85 cm), Kaub (Rhine, 21 cm / NNW 25 cm), Düsseldorf (Rhine, 20 cm / NNW 23 cm), Rothenburg Up (Saale, 312 cm / NNW 315 cm), Worms (Rhine, 0 cm / NNW 2 cm), Köln (Rhine, 67 cm / NNW 69 cm), Emmerich (Rhine, -3 cm / NNW -1 cm), Coswig (Elbe, 98 cm / NNW 99 cm), Nierstein-Oppenheim (Rhine, 69 cm / NNW 70 cm), Duisburg-Ruhrort (Rhine, 152 cm / NNW 153 cm), Wesel (Rhine, 87 cm / NNW 88 cm).
Is the Elbe at low water?
Yes: 32 of 36 classified Elbe gauges were below MNW on 23/10/2026, 22:45 CEST.