Europe’s Rivers Are Drying Up: Heat Shatters Records, Nazi Shipwrecks Surface, and Nuclear Plants Cut Power

Western Europe has just recorded its hottest June and July on record, and the consequences are now visible across the continent [215726]. In early August, Austria hit a record 41.2°C (106.2°F), Slovakia reached 42.2°C, and Hungary peaked at 41.8°C, breaking a national record that had stood since 1905 [215805]. The heat is caused by a “heat dome”—a strong area of high pressure that traps warm air close to the ground [215805]. Some areas saw overnight temperatures stay above 28°C, a condition known as a “tropical night” [215805].

The dry conditions have pushed soil moisture in Western Europe to levels even lower than those recorded in July 2022, the last summer marked by a severe drought across the region [215701]. The Copernicus Climate Change Service, the European Union’s Earth monitoring program, warns that current ground conditions are more parched than during that historic dry period [215701]. When soil moisture drops too low, plants struggle to grow, drinking water supplies can tighten, and the risk of fires increases [215701].

The drought has exposed Nazi-era shipwrecks in the Danube River, which have emerged from the riverbed following the intense heat [214819]. The vessels, sunk during World War II, are now visible above the waterline near the Serbian-Romanian border [214819]. Officials have recovered unexploded ordnance and a military motorcycle from the exposed wrecks [214819]. Authorities have warned that some of the sunken vessels may still contain live ammunition, posing a safety risk [214819]. Local officials also warn that the decaying hulls may contain unexploded ordnance, posing a safety risk [215624].

Germany’s inland waterways are also under severe strain. The Rhine River has dropped to a critically low level, threatening to sever a key freight route that carries vital goods across the country [215723]. The German inland shipping association has warned that the river may soon become effectively divided into two separate sections as water levels continue to fall [215723]. The Rhine serves as a major transport route for raw materials like coal, chemicals, and grain [215710]. When water levels drop, ships must carry lighter loads, making deliveries slower and more expensive [215710]. Several German states are now allowing trucks to use motorways on Sundays and public holidays to keep freight moving as record-low river levels disrupt cargo shipping [214794].

The crisis is also affecting Europe’s nuclear power plants. Warm rivers and falling water levels are pushing nuclear plants across Europe to reduce their electricity output [215721]. Nuclear reactors rely on river water for cooling; when the water gets too warm, or the flow too weak, plants must dial back production to stay within safety limits [215721]. The losses over a full year are small, but on critical days—usually during a summer heatwave when air conditioners are running at full power—the sudden drop in power can strain national grids and drive up energy prices [215721]. The pattern has repeated across France, Germany, and other European nations in recent summers [215721].

A strengthening El Niño is expected to push global temperatures even higher later this year, which could worsen the current dry spell and set new heat records before 2023 ends [215726]. Authorities are urging residents and industries to conserve water as the continent braces for more extreme weather [215726].