Danube water levels in May

The current figure for May 2027 on the Danube is 7%: the chance a sailing runs into low water at the shallowest stretch. In short, low risk. Until the live forecast reaches May, about seven months ahead, this is the thirty-year record.

May is snowmelt season proper: the Alps are shedding winter into the rivers and levels are reliably at their fullest. This is the water the spring cruise season is built on.

May has hit low water in roughly 7% of the past thirty years on this river, the calmest of the twelve months. May and April run calmest on the Danube, August and September riskiest.

The last five Mays, from the official record: 2026 15 low water days · 2025 clear · 2024 clear · 2023 clear · 2022 clear. Year to year it swings: 2026 met low water in May, and 2025, 2024, 2023 and 2022 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.

Sailing on specific dates? The cruise checker scores your exact window, day by day. For the whole season, see when to go or the full Danube page.