Record water levels on Rhine and Mosel reached - Rhine and Moselle floodwaters recede after record-high peaks this week

Floodwaters along the Rhine and Moselle rivers have begun to recede after reaching their highest levels in recent days. Authorities report that water levels peaked on Friday, with gradual declines now expected through the weekend.

On Friday morning, the Middle Rhine saw water levels rise above 500 centimeters. By the afternoon, they reached a maximum of between 505 and 510 centimeters. Meanwhile, the Moselle gauge in Trier recorded a peak of 662 centimeters.

Forecasters now predict a steady drop in water levels. In Trier, the Moselle is expected to fall below 600 centimeters by Saturday. Both rivers should continue receding through Sunday.

Recent years have seen more frequent and severe flooding along the Rhine and Moselle. Major events occurred in 2021 (Ahr Valley, Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, and North Rhine-Westphalia), 2023 (Upper and Lower Rhine), and 2024 (Moselle and Koblenz region). The 2021 floods in the Ahr Valley alone caused over 180 deaths, while other affected areas included South Hessian Bergstraße, the Lower Rhine, and border regions in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

With water levels now declining, the immediate flood threat is easing. However, the trend of more frequent and intense flooding in recent years remains a concern for the Rhine and Moselle regions. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.