Danube water levels in September

The current figure for September 2026 on the Danube is 3%: the chance a sailing goes ahead as planned, without low water interfering. In short, high risk. 26 days of this September are already on record. The figure counts what the river actually did on those days and the live forecast for the days left.

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.

September runs on rain, and early autumn storms often begin the refill. A wet start to the season can make it a lovely, quiet month on the water.

The long record has September running as planned in about 57% of years, the most weather-dependent of the twelve months on the Danube. Book May or April for the calmest water; September and October are the months to check before you commit.

The last five Septembers, from the official record: 2025 clear · 2024 clear · 2023 clear · 2022 clear · 2021 clear. None of the last five Septembers hit low water.

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.