Rhine records warmest October water temperature since 2002

November 1, 2026

In October 2026, the Rhine water temperature at Weil am Rhein averaged 17.6°C, making it the warmest October in the available record since 2002. Temperatures declined over the month from 20.7°C to 13.6°C, leaving the water still relatively cool for swimming.

Photo: Sabine Schneeberger, Rheinschwimmen, on Multimedia-Datenbank BS, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0..

Rhine water quality is continuously monitored at the Rheinüberwachungsstation Weil am Rhein (RÜS). This monthly insight focuses on the water temperature parameter in October 2026.

In October 2026, the average water temperature was 17.6°C. The minimum temperature recorded during the month was 13.3°C, and the maximum was 21.0°C. The month began with a relatively warm temperature of 20.7°C on October 1, but by the end of the month, on October 31, the temperature had dropped to 13.6°C. The warmest average daily temperature occurred on October 3, reaching 21.0°C, while the coldest average daily temperature was recorded on October 31 at 13.3°C.

Looking at the historical record for October since 2002, the average monthly temperature has typically ranged between about 13.2°C and 17.6°C. The highest October mean temperature in the available record was in 2026 at 17.6°C, while the lowest was in 2002 and 2003, both at 13.2°C. October 2026 was therefore a relatively warm month compared to the long-term average, with the highest mean temperature observed in the dataset. Given that the temperature on the last day of the month was 13.6°C, the water is still a little low for swimming in the river. If you do consider entering the water, please be cautious and check current conditions. For safety advice, see Schwimmen im Rhein or install the BachApp. 🥶


Table 1: Summary of October 2026 Water Temperature in the Rhine River
metric date value
Average temperature October 2026 17.6
Lowest temperature 2026-10-31 13.3
Highest temperature 2026-10-03 21.0
Temperature on first day of month 2026-10-01 20.7
Temperature on last day of month 2026-10-31 13.6

Figure 1: October Rhine Water Temperatures [°C] since 2002

Figure 2: Rhine River average October Temperature [°C] since 2002

Figure 4: Heatmap of Rhine River Temperatures [°C]

Data source: Rheinmesswerte kontinuierlich
Additional resources: Ryh Gfühl

🤖 This text was generated with the assistance of AI. All quantitative statements are derived directly from the dataset listed under Data Source.