Rhine water levels in April

The current figure for April 2027 on the Rhine is 60%: the chance a sailing goes ahead as planned, without low water interfering. In short, elevated. Until the live forecast reaches April, about seven months ahead, this is the thirty-year record.

Affected rarely means canceled. On the Rhine it usually means a ship swap, a rerouted day, or a stretch covered by bus, almost always at the gorge between Rüdesheim and Koblenz. That shallow reach decides every Amsterdam to Basel itinerary.

April rides the strengthening snowmelt. The mountains release winter's storage week by week, and levels build toward their early-summer best.

April has gone without low water in roughly 60% of the past thirty years on this river, 9th calmest of the twelve months. June and March run calmest on the Rhine; September and October reward flexible plans.

The last five Aprils, from the official record: 2026 clear · 2025 14 low water days · 2024 clear · 2023 clear · 2022 3 low water days. Year to year it swings: 2025 and 2022 met low water in April, and 2026, 2024 and 2023 stayed clear.

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