Rhine water levels in December

Right now a Rhine cruise in December 2026 has a 32% chance of running into low water at the shallowest stretch: elevated. This comes from the live forecast and is updated every morning.

In December winter takes the mountains: precipitation falls as snow and stays there, so the rivers run on rain alone through the Christmas market weeks, the busiest of the year.

Across thirty years of records, December brought low water to the Rhine in about 57% of years, 6th calmest of the twelve months. The calmest months here are June and May; the most exposed are August and September.

The last five Decembers, from the official record: 2025 8 low water days · 2024 clear · 2023 clear · 2022 15 low water days · 2021 6 low water days. Recent Decembers split: 2024 and 2023 stayed clear, while 2025, 2022 and 2021 hit low water.

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.

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 Rhine page.