Prolonged drought and successive heat waves across Central Europe have driven the Danube to record lows in Hungary and Romania as of early August 2026, curtailing shipping, hydropower, and nuclear cooling operations. Trader consensus favors recovery in the September 15–October window because seasonal cooling and autumn precipitation patterns historically replenish alpine and tributary inflows. The narrow gap between the two leading intervals reflects uncertainty over rainfall timing and volume, as extended dry spells or delayed fronts could push normalization later while early storms might accelerate rebound. Scheduled meteorological shifts and any confirmed heavy precipitation events in the coming weeks represent the clearest catalysts for odds movement.