On 24 July 2026, the average daily discharge of the Rhine at Basel‑Kleinhüningen was only 467 m³/s, placing it in the lowest 1 % of all daily values since 2020. The flow varied between a minimum of 370 m³/s and a maximum of 550 m³/s, and none of these figures are notably high; on the contrary, they are extremely subdued. The maximum discharge of 550 m³/s was the lowest recorded in the past 30 days (rank 30 out of 30) and the second lowest of any July day since 2020 (rank 2 out of 210). Overall, the day’s discharge was remarkably low for the season.

Over the last 30 days, the Rhine at this station peaked at 1068 m³/s on 2 July 2026 and dropped to a minimum of 377 m³/s on 13 July 2026, with a mean of 610 m³/s. Table 2 lists the months with the lowest minimum monthly flows since 2020: August 2022 (436 m³/s), July 2026 (467 m³/s), April 2025 (470 m³/s), March 2023 (471 m³/s), and March 2022 (477 m³/s). The average discharge on 24 July matches the second‑lowest monthly minimum on record, highlighting the persistent low‑flow conditions that have defined July 2026.

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.