Rivers and lakes
The amount of water in rivers and lakes depends in particular on precipitation, temperature, evaporation and the characteristics of the area from which the water comes (catchment area). The CH2018 climate scenarios for Switzerland predict higher temperatures and more evaporation in the summer months. There will be less precipitation in summer and more in winter. The snowmelt will begin earlier in the year and the amount of will snow decrease. More precipitation will fall in the form of rain rather than snow. Discharge and water levels in Swiss surface waters will decrease in the summer months, as shown by the Hydro-CH2018 hydrological scenarios. Meanwhile, water consumption during this period will increase, e.g. for agricultural irrigation.
Further links and information:
Current information on Reservoir levels
For shipping: Current water levels on the Rhine at Basel and Neuhausen