Danube water levels in October

Right now a Danube cruise in October 2026 has a 56% chance of running into low water at the shallowest stretch: high risk. This comes from the live forecast and is updated every morning.

October swings widest: if autumn rain arrives, the rivers recover fast; if it holds off, the summer drawdown deepens. The gap between good and bad Octobers is the largest of the year.

Across thirty years of records, October brought low water to the Danube in about 53% of years, 10th calmest of the twelve months. The calmest months here are May and April; the most exposed are August and September.

The last five Octobers, from the official record: 2025 7 low water days · 2024 clear · 2023 23 low water days · 2022 clear · 2021 4 low water days. Recent Octobers split: 2024 and 2022 stayed clear, while 2025, 2023 and 2021 hit low water.

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.