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National Water Authority spokesperson Gabriella Siklós said the reading meant the water surface was 1 centimeter above the gauge’s artificially defined zero point, established by engineers in the 19th century. It did not indicate the river’s actual depth.
The Danube remained an average of 3-3.5 meters deep near Budapest, although the low water level prevented some larger vessels from navigating the river, she said.
Significant rainfall is expected in the river’s upper reaches, which should cause water levels to rise soon, Siklós added.
The gauge’s zero point originally corresponded to the lowest water level recorded at the time. Riverbed subsidence and droughts linked to climate change have since contributed to levels falling below those historical lows in recent decades, she explained.
The previous record low on the Budapest section of the Danube was 28 centimeters, recorded at the end of July 2026.
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