Danube river hits historic low flow at Devín station

The Danube river has reached a historic minimum daily flow at the Devín monitoring station near Bratislava, according to the Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMÚ). On Monday, October 5, the average daily flow was recorded at 575.9 cubic meters per second, breaking the previous record of 580 cubic meters per second set in January 1909.

This record-breaking low follows a period of significant drought. During the summer months of June, July, and August, average monthly flows at Danube monitoring stations reached only approximately 36 percent of long-term values. September was also classified as a significantly below-normal month, with the Devín station recording only 43 percent of its long-term average.

Meteorologists expect the hydrological situation on the Slovak section of the Danube to begin improving starting Friday, October 9, with rising water levels expected to reach the Štúrovo profile. While a slight decrease in levels is predicted between October 12 and 16 due to rainfall forecasts, a more significant rise is anticipated from October 17, which could bring the flow to approximately 1,384 cubic meters per second, or about 93 percent of the long-term norm.