Inland shipping will look at the weather forecasts with dismay. For the holidaymaker, next week’s summer weather is a continuation of a wonderful summer, but for water transport it is a drama. Due to the record low water level, transport by water simply threatens to become unprofitable. The industry in the hinterland of Rotterdam is suffering from a declining supply, because ships have to sail across the river half empty.
Nevertheless, there is hope, at least temporarily, for the skippers who are struggling with the shallows. And that thanks to the violent storm that caused terrible storms in Corsica and Austria, among other places. “A lot of water has fallen in the Alps. Near Lake Constance, where the Rhine originates, about 150 millimeters of rain fell.”
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That ‘bubble’ with water is now slowly sinking down the Rhine. At Basel, the river rose about a meter. According to Rijkswaterstaat’s prognosis, the water at Lobith will also rise from 650 cm to 750 centimeters on Friday. At the same time, it is still low, and the water level is expected to drop again after that. ,,Because in Germany the weather will be 30 degrees, dry and plenty of sunshine. So it all helps, but not much”, says Weeronline.
And the drought in our country is also increasing. Last week heavy showers provided some relief, but the precipitation deficit is now rising again. The national deficit will probably increase to 290 millimeters, which this year will be in line with 2018. Only record year 1976 is still significantly above this with 350 millimeters.