How Extreme Heat Affects Europe's Key Rivers

Europe's key rivers, especially the Rhine and Danube, are experiencing record-low water levels due to prolonged heat waves, resulting in higher freight shipping costs and forced shutdowns of nuclear power plants, highlighting risks to the region's industrial and energy infrastructure. - Rhine River water levels dropping to near-record lows - Vessels forced to carry reduced cargo, pushing freight rates higher - Hungary shut its only nuclear plant due to insufficient cooling water from the Danube - First such shutdown at the Hungarian plant in 44 years - Romania also saw nuclear output reductions - Past French heat waves similarly forced nuclear plant reductions - The situation underscores climate risks to European industry and power generation