Lake Constance Reaches Record Low: Konstanz Gauge Falls Below 1976 Level

According to the LUBW, precipitation was significantly below average, particularly in May and June. „Das Niedrigwasser ist Folge der anhaltenden Trockenheit der vergangenen Monate. Across the entire gauge level, it was thus 81 centimeters below the long-term average for that day on 7 July.

Natural Annual Rhythm Being Broken

„Seine höchsten Wasserstände erreicht der See laut LUBW normalerweise Ende Juni, wenn Schmelzwasser aus den Alpen zufließt. Anfang Juli führt der Bodensee eigentlich vergleichsweise viel Wasser. Instead, the downward trend continues: „Ohne länger anhaltende und flächendeckende Regenfälle dürfte der Wasserstand in den kommenden Tagen weiter sinken, according to the authority.

„Am Pegel Konstanz liegt der Wasserstand aktuell bei 318 Zentimeter. The lowest value of the current year was measured on 9 February at 276 centimeters, according to the LUBW – a value that is typical for winter. „Die niedrigsten Wasserstände erreicht der Bodensee üblicherweise erst im Winter, wenn ein Teil der Niederschläge in den Alpen als Schnee gebunden ist und dem See erst im Frühjahr wieder zufließt.

Visible Consequences at Reichenau and Mannenbach

The consequences are already visible: „Vor der Insel Reichenau ist der Seegrund an einigen Stellen freigelegt. In addition, the excursion ships of the Weiße Flotte can currently no longer dock at the Mannenbach landing stage on the Swiss side of the lake opposite the island. „Weitere Einschränkungen für die Schifffahrt gibt es nach Angaben der Bodensee-Schiffsbetriebe bisher nicht.

The drought does not only affect Lake Constance. The gauges of the Danube and Neckar rivers are also continuing to drop. Statewide, according to the LUBW, 34 percent of measurement stations currently show extremely low water levels. „Laut Deutschem Wetterdienst (DWD) ist in den kommenden Tagen nicht mit Regen zu rechnen – im Gegenteil: For the weekend, another heatwave is expected in Baden-Württemberg.

Heat Instead of Rain: Outlook for the Weekend

According to the DWD, up to 35 degrees are possible in the Rhine Valley on Friday, and 28 degrees in the highlands. On Saturday, the meteorologists expect 28 degrees on the Swabian Alb, 31 degrees in Upper Swabia, and 35 to 36 degrees in the Kurpfalz and Upper Rhine regions. „Der Deutsche Wetterdienst (DWD) erwartet am Samstagnachmittag und -abend ein geringes Risiko für einzelne Schauer oder Gewitter über dem Südschwarzwald und der Südwestalb.

Weather expert Gernot Schütz of SWR expects the peak of the heat during the weekend. This means that precisely in a phase when the lake is usually fed by snowmelt from the Alps, the otherwise abundant supply from precipitation in the Alps and the Alpine foothills is missing.

That the July record is being undercut in the middle of high summer is considered exceptional by experts. The previous lowest value came from the drought year 1976, which is regarded as a turning point in European environmental policy. Whether the current figure is just an episode or part of a longer-term trend will become clear in the coming weeks.

For the Lake Constance region, the situation is also economically relevant: Shipping is one of the most important tourism sectors on the lake. If the excursion ships were permanently unable to serve the Mannenbach landing stage, the Swiss shoreline section around Reichenau Island would only be reachable from there to a limited extent.

The LUBW is closely monitoring developments at the Konstanz gauge and updates its readings daily. Should the announced heatwave pass without notable precipitation, a new all-time low is likely, in the authority's assessment.