Recent rainfall in southern Germany has begun lifting Rhine levels from August's record lows at key gauges like Kaub, where depths remain well below navigation thresholds for fully loaded barges. Hydrological forecasts and official assessments indicate gradual recovery, with normal conditions for shipping unlikely before late September or early October at the earliest, though sustained precipitation could accelerate the process. Persistent low flows—roughly half normal volume in early September—stem from reduced Alpine snowmelt, spring dryness, and summer evaporation, creating uncertainty around whether improvement materializes in the final weeks of September or extends into October. Trader consensus reflects this narrow window, with any short-term weather shifts or updated discharge projections likely to separate the closely matched September and October intervals.