Shipping on the Elbe Continues Despite Low Water Levels

According to a forecast by the Saxony State Flood Center, the water level in the Elbe River will remain low over the weekend. According to the forecast, the water level in Dresden will be between approximately 50 and 60 centimeters. This places it in the “mid-low water range,” said Daniel Bachmann, professor of hydromechanics at Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. According to preliminary data from the German Weather Service, precipitation in Saxony in October was slightly below average at 43 liters per square meter.

The Elbe River basin can currently be imagined as a “dried-out sponge,” said expert Bachmann. When it rains, much of the water initially seeps into the groundwater. “Only once the soil in the Elbe River basin has absorbed the water can the water level rise significantly again.” Even isolated rain showers are therefore not enough to raise the water level. 

The water is often deeper than suggested

Nevertheless, the current low water levels do not mean that one can now wade across the Elbe without any problems. This is because the water level refers to the level above the zero mark, as Bachmann explained. And this is not necessarily the lowest point in a river’s cross-section. The navigation channel, for example, is often deeper and lies below the zero-level mark.

The water level does not appear to be causing any traffic restrictions at this time. Saxon Steamship Company continues to operate “as scheduled and with a watchful eye,” said a spokesperson. With nine historic paddle steamers, Saxon Steamship Company claims to have the oldest and largest fleet of paddle steamers in operation in the world. In 2026, the “White Fleet” will celebrate its 190th anniversary.