Record-low river levels have been reported across parts of Europe as prolonged heatwaves and drought continue to affect major waterways. The Rhine reached unprecedented lows at Cologne and Lobith, while extremely low levels were recorded at many monitoring stations along both the Rhine and Danube. Reduced water depth threatens commercial shipping, potentially forcing vessels to carry lighter loads and increasing transport costs. The Danube’s decline has also disrupted electricity generation in Serbia and Romania and threatened operations at Hungary’s only nuclear power plant. In Italy, the Po reached a historic low near Cremona, raising concerns about drinking water, agriculture and ecosystems as seawater moves farther upstream. Scientists say rainfall trends alone do not explain the severity of the drought: rising temperatures caused by climate change increase evaporation, while hot weather also raises demand for water. Continued extreme heat could place further pressure on European transport, energy, agriculture and freshwater supplies.