On 17 September 2026, the average daily discharge of the Rhine at Basel-Kleinhüningen was lower than 1% of all measured daily discharges since 2020. The daily minimum was 366 m³/s, the daily maximum was 522 m³/s, and the daily mean was 421 m³/s. These values are exceptionally low: the maximum discharge on 17 September ranked 22nd over the last 30 days, 9th among all September days since 2020, and also 9th among all days since 2020.

Over the past 30 days, the highest discharge was 817 m³/s on 22 August 2026, while the lowest was 291 m³/s on 8 September 2026. Table 2 lists the months with the lowest flow conditions since 2020; August 2026 and September 2026 currently have the lowest minimum monthly daily flows on record, with 413 m³/s and 415 m³/s respectively. The current flow is therefore among the lowest recorded in the entire period since 2020.

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.