Water level of Lake Balaton is getting lower and lower. Is it something to worry about?
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The water level of Lake Balaton has been steadily dropping over the past few days, reaching just 81 centimetres as of Thursday morning.
Water level of Lake Balaton is lower again
This represents a decrease from 84 centimetres measured on Monday, continuing a recent downward trend in the lake’s water levels. On the northern shore, water temperatures remain relatively cool, generally below 20 degrees Celsius, although near the Tihany ferry, the water has warmed slightly to 22 degrees.
Accorgin to Infostart, experts from the National Directorate General for Water Management (Országos VÃzügyi FÅ‘igazgatóság) have noted that while the overall annual precipitation has not significantly changed in recent years, the pattern of rainfall has shifted. Rain tends to fall in intense bursts over short periods rather than as prolonged soaking rain. This change reduces the replenishment needed for rivers, lakes, watersheds, soils, and groundwater, adversely affecting water bodies like Balaton.
Despite the current water level being 81 centimetres, it is not considered unusual or extreme; in fact, similar or lower levels have been recorded in early August in past years. The spokesman, Gabriella Siklós, emphasised that this current level does not signify an exceptional event but rather the kind of fluctuations typical for this season.
Beaches closed on the Danube riverside
In related water level developments along the Danube, some riverside public beaches have been closed due to high water levels and water pollution. For example, at Alsógöd and Felsőgöd, bathing prohibitions were imposed following the Danube reaching around 470 centimetres in Budapest on 1 August.