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Cargo ship on the Rhine near Leverkusen: water levels are not to be confused with the significantly deeper fairways
Photo:
Federico Gambarini / dpa
Heavy rain is falling in large parts of Germany, the weather service is already speaking of a risk of flooding - but the precipitation will probably only have a minor impact on the water level in the Rhine.
Experts only expect a small wave of rising water levels.
The 14-day forecast also indicates that the water levels will rise by around 50 centimeters over several days by the end of next week, said the responsible waterway and shipping office on the low water situation on the Middle and Lower Rhine.
Compared to the previous day, the water level there remained at a relatively constant level.
On Thursday there were still declines to lows on the Lower Rhine.
After the wave coming from the Upper Rhine has passed, the office estimates that the water levels will fall again.
How strong the decline will be after the wave is currently not foreseeable, said a spokesman for the office.
Level Emmerich at minus three centimeters
Even with the approximately 50 centimeters more, the water levels would probably still be in the range of an average low water level.
This is not yet a long-term relaxation.
Such a low water level in the Rhine early in the year is unusual, as the office has stated several times.
Historically, the low water phase extends into September and October.
The low water levels affect shipping, and due to the persistent drought, operations have already largely ceased in many places.
In Emmerich - the northernmost measuring point in Germany just before the Dutch border - the water level has meanwhile continued to fall.
He was on Thursday at a low of minus three centimeters.
That's an inch less than 24 hours earlier.
A historic low was already recorded there on Monday and the water level was zero on Tuesday.
The water levels are not to be confused with the lowest point in the river.
The fairways for commercial shipping are significantly deeper than the water level according to the gauge.
The fairway near Emmerich was still 1.93 meters deep on Thursday.
In Rees, too, a low of 37 centimeters was determined on Thursday morning.
That's three centimeters less in 24 hours.
At this measuring point south of Emmerich, the historical record low, which came from October 2018, was fallen below for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.
apr/dpa
