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Rhine water levels 2017 and similar topics


notamermaid
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After yesterday's snow the situation has eased on the roads as it has got warmer very quickly, forecast today is for up to 8 degrees. Rain has replaced the snow and in the valley, most of the snow will have melted by the end of the day. However, this sudden jump in temperatures causes snow melt also in the hills, i.e. higher terrain, and with the rain makes for sudden flooding in small rivers. The Moselle is predicted to rise to flooding level in same sections as well. The Rhine has obviously also reacted quickly. The station at Maxau is showing 517cm and will probably peak at the first flooding mark of 620cm (slowed down traffic at that point).

 

For future reference, as I cannot report much next week, please note: when Maxau gauging station reaches 750cm, the river section between Iffezheim and Germersheim is closed to all river traffic. Maxau geodata (approx.): 49°02'20.0"N 8°18'20.9"E

49.038901, 8.305808

 

Iffezheim is upstream from there, Germersheim downstream. No scenario in the tentative predictions shows such a high level yet. Tentative predictions give likely scenarios of up to six days.

 

The situation downstream from Mainz is still very good, will need to see what Main and Moselle contribute, the river level is predicted to peak just below flooding status (level I, slowed down traffic) at Koblenz, so is looking ok.

 

notamermaid

 

 

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More rain has let the rivers rise, Cologne city centre has slowed down river traffic but otherwise no major disruptions have been reported downstream from Koblenz. The figures: Maxau 705cm, Kaub 428cm, Koblenz 516cm. It looks like Maxau reached its peak this morning and is not likely to rise further before Christmas.

 

With Christmas coming soon weather predictions are getting more accurate and the meteorologists say that a white Christmas is very much a possibility at least in some parts of Germany. Sounds promising, but the valleys usually end up having rain or if it is not raining the snow has melted during the days just before the 23rd...

 

Enjoy the last week of markets (I know, some are open a bit longer) and Christmas shopping.

 

notamermaid

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Things are looking good on the Rhine. The water level is favourable, Maxau is currently at 550cm, so at a more pleasant level for sailing. It will rise a little again over the next 24 hours but next week is predicted to see not much change with a slight rise towards the end of the year.

 

I am off to do some serious food shopping, three days need to be provided for, just a few supermarkets are open tomorrow and on the 25th and 26th no shops are open.

 

No turkey in sight in this German household, by the way, lamb with oven-baked potatoes is the fayre. :) More traditional is goose or rabbit, though.

 

notamermaid

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Notamermaid,

Merry Christmas!!! Thanks for all the river info this past year. Also your information about the new ports and history of the area is so interesting.

Lamb is our traditional Easter meal. DH is not a fan of turkey. Am lucky that he will eat it on Thanksgiving. Christmas is a rib roast. When they were young my children called it roast beast, and as adults the name has continued.

Hope you continue your wonderful threads in the new year. Pat

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Thank you suspaul and pacmom.

 

Lamb is more traditional at Easter than at Christmas in Germany but my family likes lamb as a treat so I got some from a local dealer, rather than the standard New Zealand lamb from supermarkets. Turkey is eaten more all year round (parts, not the whole bird) than it used to be but chicken is still preferred. I never ate turkey as a child, probably the first time I ever tasted turkey was on my first or second trip to England as a teenager. Pat, "roast beast", I like that. :)

 

Thread for 2018, due to popular demand, thank you all :):), already planned. "Beyond the standard ports..." series to be continued in the new year as well.

 

24th is the usual celebration day with Mass and a nice dinner that is not too sumptuous followed by present giving. But in my family we have divided the present giving between 24th and 25th. The big lunch is tomorrow. Tonight's food is Kartoffelsalat mit Würstchen (potato salad with simmered sausages, sort of the Wiener type). And no doubt some biscuits that are temptingly lying around. Tonight is an invitation so I will be treated to it, not having to cook is great, but tomorrow's success of the lamb dish is in my hands (slight panic).

 

 

Yesterday, I had a last minute shopping trip to a local Christmas market, got a nice bargain (reduced price as it was the last day) and treated myself to a crepe. I am a bit sad to see the markets close, the season seemed too short.

 

But a few are open after Christmas still so if you are out there travelling you might see one, if not, the lights are beautiful...

 

Oh, nearly forgot, no White Christmas in the valley, it is hardly raining and too warm as well, up to 10 degrees tomorrow in Cologne. Boooh, fail, etc. in the heavens. :( The cats will start sweating in their winter fur. ;)

 

Need to do some present wrapping now.

 

Frohe Weihnachten Merry Christmas to you all

 

 

notamermaid

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Frohe Weihnachten to you to Notamermaid. I appreciate all the time you take to post the info about the rivers, and also all the little bits of history. I will really be looking forward to your report next year aw we will finally be on our cruise. We have started our Christmas days...breakfast this morning is our regular pannekoek, and tomorrow will be stollen. Dinner can come from anywhere in the world as we aren't big turkey eaters.

 

Wishing everyone a very happy Christmas, or what ever you celebrate (Hanukah was a bit early this year, and not sure when Eid is). May the new year bring rivers at the proper levels, flights that connect on time (although if it's the flight home, what's one more day of holiday?), and everything you want on your cruises!

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Thank you Daisi. Pannekoek and stollen that is truly international. I talked to relatives yesterday in Britain and found out that at least two British families are not having turkey at Christmas, one had lamb like me and the other pork! But I am sure there are others...

 

 

Father Rhine's little helpers

 

Most of the time things run smoothly on the Rhine but to ensure they do and to have help at hand when they do not, the authorities along the river have several specialist ships. A couple of weeks ago I saw the Peilschiff Hildegard von Bingen doing her important job of monitoring and accessing the river bed. She is a sounding vessel and has her home harbour in Bingen. Here she is at the bottom of the page with other little helpers that work in the Middle Rhine valley: http://www.wsa-bingen.wsv.de/wir_uber_uns/Wasserfahrzeuge.html

 

 

After some rain the sky has cleared and it is a little brighter but colder than yesterday. I realize that a few of you are still travelling so I will post at least once more before the end of the year.

 

notamermaid

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The year is drawing to a close and the Rhine valley is preparing for a New Year's Eve of rain with temperatures in the double digits! 14 degrees Celsius are possible in the warmest parts of the valley during the afternoon. We have had ice and snow with minus temperatures in past years.

 

But we have also had flooding which this year we are spared. The river level has fallen, Kaub is now at 491cm.

 

New Year's Eve is celebrated in Germany with large organized fireworks, festive restaurant menus or your own little party with fireworks display if one wishes to do so. I have good outdoor space so might meet up with neighbours. Or choose a quiet night in, a last minute decision...

 

One tradition that one can hardly escape watching TV on New Year's Eve is a show that is quite an oddity. I leave you with the story of the curious case of the English comedy sketch virtually unknown in Britain: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinner_for_One

 

Cheers!

 

Have a Happy New Year.

 

notamermaid

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  • 1 month later...
Hello Daisi,

 

I have found the "zucchini or WWII bomb" story: http://www.dw.com/en/wwii-bomb-scare-leads-german-police-to-heavy-zucchini/a-41229185

When you scroll down you will find some explanations on what is termed "unexploded ordnance" and if one wants to get to the real life stories on previously discovered bombs there are more to click on further down.

notamermaid

 

It isn't just in Germany:

World War II bomb discovered in London's River

Thames

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/02/11/world-war-ii-bomb-discovered-in-londons-river-thames-airport-shut-down-reports-say.html

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Just saw that to Jazzbeau...I've seen shows where they blew some up that had been found in the Thames, guess there are still quite a few around.

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