Danube water levels in December

The current figure for December 2026 on the Danube is 51%: the chance a sailing runs into low water at the shallowest stretch. In short, high risk. It comes from the live forecast, which updates each morning.

In December winter takes the mountains: precipitation falls as snow and stays there, so the rivers run on rain alone through the Christmas market weeks, the busiest of the year.

The long record puts December at low water in about 83% of years, 7th calmest of the twelve months on the Danube. Book May or April for the calmest water; August and September carry the most risk.

The last five Decembers, from the official record: 2025 13 low water days · 2024 clear · 2023 clear · 2022 13 low water days · 2021 3 low water days. Year to year it swings: 2025, 2022 and 2021 met low water in December, and 2024 and 2023 stayed clear.

Affected rarely means canceled. On the Danube it means ship swaps or bus days on the shallow reach between Straubing and Vilshofen and through the Wachau valley.

To turn this into a date-specific answer, use the cruise checker. The wider picture is on the Danube page and in when to go.