• Rhine is running dangerously low as Europe suffers through a drought forecast to be the worst in 500 years
  In other words, the models say so.
  
• River set to become impassable to barges by Friday, threatening crucial shipments of coal, oil and goods


• Last time the Rhine fell to this level - in 2018 - it closed for 132 days, almost tipping Germany into recession


• Meanwhile wildfires are once again raging in the south of France as temperatures climb above 100F (38C)

Authorities predict that water levels at Kaub will dip below the mark of 40 centimetres early on Friday and keep falling over the weekend.

While this is still higher than the record low of 27cm seen in October 2018, many large ships could struggle to safely pass the river at that spot, located roughly mid-way along the Rhine between Koblenz and Mainz.

'The situation is quite dramatic, but not as dramatic yet as in 2018,' said Christian Lorenz, a spokesman for the German logistics company HGK.