Heat will swathe large parts of Germany and the Alps through the weekend, threatening to lower water levels in the Rhine River further while driving up energy demand for cooling.
Temperatures will peak at 35C (95F) on Sunday in Frankfurt, almost 7C above normal, and will remain higher than average through next week, according to Maxar Technologies Inc. The heat will also scorch parts of the Netherlands and southwestern Spain.
Water levels in parts of the Rhine — a vital artery for the transport of commodities into inland Europe — have plunged in recent weeks, a reminder of both the effects of climate change and last summer’s historic drought. The marker at Kaub, a key waypoint west of Frankfurt, is now at the lowest for the time of year in at least three decades.
The Rhine, which snakes about 800 miles from the Swiss Alps down to the North Sea, is key for the shipment of goods including coal and oil products. If water levels fall too low, barges can’t navigate the waterway at key points, straining energy and transportation networks. Last August, the level at Kaub withered to a crisis level.
The low water is already disrupting navigation. Barges going to Upper Rhine now having to sail only half full, Interstream Barging, an operator, said on Tuesday. Vessels that carry lighter loads are able to pass through shallower depths.
Read more: Upper Rhine Can Only Handle Half-Full Barges as Water Levels Dip
Weather forecaster Deutscher Wetterdienst flagged the high temperatures set to dominate the country this weekend, warning of “tropical nights.” Last summer’s drought across parts of Europe and deadly heat waves dried up rivers, caused wildfires and stressed the region’s infrastructure.
--With assistance from Alaric Nightingale and Rachel Graham.
(Updates with additional details throughout.)
