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Cologne in danger of flooding: Current Rhine level is rising steadily!
On October 30, 2025, the Cologne Rhine level was measured at 4.45 m. Flood warnings and their impact on shipping traffic are explained.
Cologne in danger of flooding: Current Rhine level is rising steadily!
The water is surging again in Cologne - today, October 30, 2025, a water level of 4.45 meters was measured at the Cologne gauge at 7:00 a.m. But that is not the end result. According to current forecasts, the Rhine water level is expected to reach its peak of 4.70 meters during Friday, October 31st - a value that is still moderate compared to the critical flood limits. In order to keep an eye on all water level data, the level is updated every 15 minutes, as the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger ksta.de reports.
Cologne, with around 1.1 million inhabitants, the fourth largest city in Germany, is located on the left bank of the Rhine and, due to its location, has a problem with high and low water. The high water marks are clearly defined: from 6.20 meters it becomes tight for ships that are allowed to sail downstream at a maximum of 20 km/h. At 8.30 meters all shipping traffic stops, and from 10.70 meters there is a real alarm in the city. This problem is also a legacy of Cologne's history, which dates back to 38 BC. It was founded in the 1st century BC and was chosen as the capital of the Roman province of Germania Inferior, according to the historical data on Wikipedia.
Current water level and forecasts
The current water level development shows that Cologne continues to struggle with changeable conditions. While flooding is a constant challenge, low water levels should not be underestimated either. The historically lowest level was measured in October 2018 at just 67 cm. This creates logistical difficulties, as the ferry between Cologne-Langel and Leverkusen-Hitdorf cannot run during such times and large inland vessels have had to drastically reduce their load capacity - from the normal 2,200 tons to just 300 tons.
Interestingly, the authorities warn that low water also poses dangers: parts of the banks of the Rhine that are normally flooded are exposed and could reveal ammunition or unexploded bombs from the Second World War. The city of Cologne therefore recommends avoiding these areas to be on the safe side.
Cologne's flood protection measures
In view of the risk of flooding, Cologne has drawn up a detailed flood plan that includes a variety of measures. At steb-koeln.de anyone interested can find comprehensive information, including the available flood hazard maps. The experts from the Water and Shipping Office are available to answer questions about shipping or current water level policies.
The city of Cologne, which is also home to numerous cultural institutions and historical sites such as Cologne Cathedral, is patiently preparing for everything that the Rhine brings with it. An important aspect in this metropolitan region, which is part of the economically strong Rhine-Ruhr region and has an extensive network of transport connections.