On 6 August 2026, the average daily discharge of the Rhine at Basel‑Kleinhüningen was 449 m³/s, which is lower than 1 % of all daily averages recorded since 2020. The flow ranged from a minimum of 377 m³/s to a maximum of 515 m³/s, and the maximum value ranked 29th over the last 30 days. Compared with all August days since 2020, the maximum discharge on 6 August 2026 was the lowest ever measured for this month, and across the entire record since 2020 it also ranks as the lowest maximum daily flow observed on any day.

Over the past 30 days, discharge peaked at 710 m³/s on 19 July 2026 and fell to its lowest point of 321 m³/s on 2 August 2026. The month of August 2026 now appears among the five months with the lowest flow conditions since 2020, with a minimum average daily flow of 442 m³/s, second only to August 2022 (436 m³/s). The current flow of 449 m³/s is only slightly above that monthly minimum, confirming that the river remains in an exceptionally low‑flow state.

Low water levels on the Rhine have consequences that reach well beyond the river itself. Cargo vessels have to reduce their load to stay clear of the riverbed, so more trips are needed to move the same volume and transport costs rise sharply, with the effect passed on to industries that depend on the waterway for coal, oil products, chemicals and grain. The shallower water also heats up faster in summer. Warmer water encourages bacterial growth, which can produce noticeable odors, and it holds less dissolved oxygen. The combination of higher temperatures, lower oxygen and more concentrated pollutants degrades water quality and can lead to fish kills. Swimming is generally discouraged under these conditions because of the higher bacterial load. Further effects include restrictions on power plants and industrial sites that draw river water for cooling, since they may no longer discharge warmed water without exceeding temperature limits, reduced dilution of treated wastewater, pressure on water supply and irrigation in the surrounding area, and falling groundwater levels along the river that affect riparian vegetation and wells.