Danube water levels in May

The current figure for May 2027 on the Danube is 93%: the chance a sailing goes ahead as planned, without low water interfering. In short, low risk. Until the live forecast reaches May, about seven months ahead, this is the thirty-year record.

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.

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 gone without low water in roughly 93% of the past thirty years on this river, the calmest of the twelve months. May and April run calmest on the Danube; September and October reward flexible plans.

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.

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.