A historical record low in water flow has been recorded on the Dnister River in western regions of Ukraine. According to detailed measurements carried out on 27 August 2026 by specialists from the Ternopil and Chernivtsi regional hydroметеороlogy centers in the area of the town of Zaleschychky, the water flow rate was 23.7 m³/s. The very next day, on 28 August, the daily flow rate at the Zaleschychky hydrological station cross-section reached 24 m³/s, corresponding to just 12% of the standard value. As emphasized by the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, the recorded figure is lower than the historical minimum levels over the entire observation period, which has been ongoing since 1895 — that is, over the past 131 years.
Active Phase of Hydrological Drought
The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center (UkrGMC) confirmed that the active phase of hydrological drought continues on the Dnister. According to experts, on 27 August 2026 a record low in water inflow to the Dnister Reservoir was once again recorded — 30 m³/s. The press service of the Chernivtsi regional hydroметеороlogy center had earlier issued a warning about extreme hydrological phenomena: by 31 August, water levels in the Dnister basin are expected to fall further to the lowest values over the long-term observation period. On some stretches of small rivers, a complete absence of flow is forecast, which, according to hydrologists, will complicate the operation of the region's water management complex. The danger level is designated as "brown."
