# Rhine river low water levels and drought

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rhine-river-low-water-levels-and-drought
> Updated: 2026-08-14T04:47:51.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

The Rhine river has experienced record-breaking low water discharge at Lobith, falling to 614 cubic meters per second. This level breaks a 79-year-old record set in 1947. Experts attribute the decline to a combination of insufficient rainfall and exceptional warmth, which caused Swiss snow to melt three months earlier than usual.

The drought has caused economic and environmental strain, including increased inland shipping costs due to reduced cargo capacity, industrial cooling water shortages, and agricultural restrictions. 

In addition to these impacts, the low water levels near Koblenz have exposed historical artifacts on the riverbed. These finds include ancient fishing tools, 17th-century projectiles, and a Bronze Age garment pin that may be between 3,000 and 4,000 years old.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-14: Rhine river low water reveals ancient artifacts near Koblenz

Low water levels in the Rhine near Koblenz have revealed historical artifacts, including a potential Bronze Age garment pin and 17th-century projectiles.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rhine-river-low-water-reveals-ancient-artifacts-near-koblenz

### 2026-08-10: Rhine river discharge at Lobith hits record low

The Rhine's water discharge at Lobith has hit a record low of 614 cubic meters per second, breaking the 1947 record due to extreme drought and early snowmelt in Switzerland.

7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rhine-river-discharge-at-lobith-hits-record-low

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Cite as: Rhine river low water levels and drought. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rhine-river-low-water-levels-and-drought