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Danube · km 71 · ROMANIA

Tulcea

Historical Danube levels at Tulcea, Romania

LowFalling · −2 cm today

19cmlevel of the day, 4 November 2026▼ −5 cm in 7 days

Gauge zero: 0.559 m (Black Sea)

Catchment area: 807,000 km²

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Compared with normal
23 of 23
years had more water on 4 November
Navigation threshold
−40 cm
vs LDC (59 cm)
Forecast peak
40 cm
Sun 8

Water level (cm)

04/11/2026 07:00 EET

+48h: 31 cm+72h: 34 cm+96h: 37 cm+120h: 40 cm
06/10/2026Date08/11/2026
  • Water level (cm)
  • Water temperature (°C) · right axis
  • Forecast
  • normal for the date (previous years)
  • Older series from another gauge, converted to this gauge
  • LDC 59 cm
06/10/2026 – 04/11/2026 · 30 days · Alert level 320 cm — above the displayed range · HDC 393 cm — above the displayed range · Flood level 410 cm — above the displayed range · Danger level 440 cm — above the displayed range · Forecast 03/11/2026· Older series from another gauge, converted to this gauge· Water temperature (°C), on the right axis. · Source: national hydrological institutes

Full series: download CSV

On 4 November, the water at Tulcea is at 19 cm, 2 cm lower than yesterday. The current level is 40 cm below LDC* and 374 cm below HDC**.

* LDC: Low water level Danube Commission - the minimum acceptable level (59 cm). ** HDC: High water level Danube Commission - the maximum acceptable level (393 cm).

Next 5 days

Forecast for the next 24–120 hours. Glossary

The forecast for the next day was within 10 cm on 100% of the days in the last 90 days.

How close the forecast was over the last 90 days, on average: for the next day 3.2 cm · for the second day 4.1 cm · for the third day 4.8 cm.

The station usually reports once a day; the latest reading came 43 hours ago.

On the Danube, upstream and downstream

At a glance

The Tulcea gauge measures the Danube at river km 71 (Romania). The Danube level on 4 November 2026 is 19 cm, below the low-water mark. This is 40 cm below the low-water level LDC (59 cm). The level has fallen by 5 cm over the last 7 days. The official forecast covers 2 days: +24 h: 26 cm, +48 h: 31 cm. Compared with the same day over the past 30 years, the level on 4 November 2026 is among the lowest 5% (percentile 0). In 24 years of measurements, the highest level was 439 cm (6 July 2010) and the lowest 0 cm (19 October 2026). On the Danube, the neighbours are Isaccea upstream and Sulina downstream. How close the forecast was over the last 90 days, on average: for the next day 3.2 cm · for the second day 4.1 cm · for the third day 4.8 cm. The station usually reports once a day; the latest reading came 43 hours ago.

Frequently searched

What does today's water level mean?
The Danube level on 4 November 2026 is 19 cm, below the low-water mark. This is 40 cm below the low-water level LDC (59 cm). The level has fallen by 5 cm over the last 7 days. The station usually reports once a day; the latest reading came 43 hours ago.

Conditions

Forecast +24 h
26 cm · +7 cm vs today
Forecast +72 h
34 cm · +15 cm vs today

Nearby gauges

Upstream on the Danube: Isaccea water level (32 km). Downstream on the Danube: Sulina (71 km). The nearest large city on the river: Danube river level at Galați (79 km).

Station map

Tulcea — 19 cmIsaccea — 22 cmSulina — 50 cm
Stations on the map: 3

Statistics

Minimum, mean and maximum of the daily levels, with the days spent below LDC or above HDC — useful for navigation, agriculture and flood history.

Download the series (CSV)

Last 30 days

30 station-days with data

Minimum
0cm19/10/2026
Mean
8cm
Maximum
24cm28/10/2026

30 days below LDC0 days above HDC

Last 12 months

365 station-days with data

Minimum
0cm19/10/2026
Mean
93cm
Maximum
250cm06/03/2026

127 days below LDC0 days above HDC

Whole history (2002–2026)

8,651 station-days with data

Minimum
0cm19/10/2026
Mean
170cm
Maximum
439cm06/07/2010

872 days below LDC39 days above HDC

Record high
439 cm06/07/2010
Record low
0 cm19/10/2026

By year

By year
YearMinimumMeanMaximumdays below LDCdays above HDCstation-days with data
20260902501240308
202518952511210365
202445165300280364
202322195328330365
202224113223910365
20215717831610365
20205013228680366
201925152387570365
201821181402516362
201750141291210361
201644186366120366
201537176336510360
20147222339100365
201340204391320365
201231138309320366
201112139347800357
2010156286439021365
200946185342110365
20085416731520366
200744152275130365
200598259399012365
20046219235900366
200351293071040365
20027719428600329

Monthly mean

2025-12: Mean 140 cm (61–205)14025/122026-01: Mean 113 cm (60–158)11326/012026-02: Mean 188 cm (137–240)18826/022026-03: Mean 189 cm (112–250)18926/032026-04: Mean 181 cm (130–226)18126/042026-05: Mean 96 cm (73–129)9626/052026-06: Mean 83 cm (71–108)8326/062026-07: Mean 39 cm (20–71)3926/072026-08: Mean 17 cm (9–24)1726/082026-09: Mean 9 cm (1–21)926/092026-10: Mean 9 cm (0–24)926/102026-11: Mean 13 cm (5–21)1326/11

This year against the historical range

IIIIIIIVVVIVIIVIIIIXXXIXII
Minimum–MaximumMean2026The band is the minimum–maximum of previous years for each calendar day; the line is the current year.

The daily series uses the first reading of each day.

Historical Danube levels at Tulcea

Historical Danube levels at Tulcea
DateWater level (cm)LDC*HDC**
1959393
2159393
859393
559393
959393
1359393
1759393

About the city

About Tulcea

Location: Tulcea is located in southeastern Romania, on the right bank of the Danube River, at the entrance to the Danube Delta. It serves as the gateway to the Danube Delta and is the administrative center of Tulcea County.

Coordinates: 45°11'24"N, 28°48'00"E

Area: Approximately 177.24 km² (68.43 sq mi)

Population: Approximately 73,000 inhabitants (as of recent census)

Administrative Division: Tulcea County, Romania

Historical Significance

Tulcea has a rich history dating back to ancient times. The area was originally settled by the Getae and Dacians, and later became part of the Roman Empire. The city was known as Aegyssus in ancient times and served as an important military and commercial outpost on the Danube frontier.

During the Middle Ages, Tulcea was part of the Byzantine Empire and later came under Ottoman rule. The city developed as an important trading center, benefiting from its strategic position at the entrance to the Danube Delta. Under Ottoman administration, Tulcea became a significant port and administrative center for the region.

After the Russo-Turkish War of 1877-1878, Tulcea became part of Romania. The city continued to develop as an important port and industrial center, particularly for fishing and shipbuilding. Today, Tulcea is a modern city that serves as the main gateway to the Danube Delta, one of Europe's most important natural reserves and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Importance on the Danube River

Tulcea holds a strategic position at the entrance to the Danube Delta, where the Danube River begins to split into its three main distributaries: the Chilia, Sulina, and Sfântu Gheorghe branches. This location makes Tulcea a critical monitoring point for Danube water levels and river conditions.

The city serves as the primary port for accessing the Danube Delta, with numerous boat tours and transportation services departing from Tulcea. Tulcea's port has an operational capacity of approximately 800,000 tons per year, with quays ranging from 100 to 400 meters in length, accommodating up to 8 vessels simultaneously. Water level monitoring at Tulcea is essential for navigation safety, as vessels must pass through this point before entering the delta's intricate network of channels. The city's port facilities accommodate both commercial shipping and tourist vessels, making it a crucial transportation hub for the region.

Tulcea is also an important industrial center, with shipbuilding and fishing industries that depend on the Danube. The city's location makes it a key point for managing water resources, flood control, and environmental protection in the delta region. Monitoring water levels at Tulcea provides crucial data for understanding the entire Danube River system's behavior before it enters the delta.

Tourism and Attractions

Tulcea is the main gateway to the Danube Delta, attracting thousands of visitors each year who come to explore this unique natural wonder. The city offers various tourist facilities, hotels, restaurants, and tour operators that organize boat trips into the delta.

Key attractions in Tulcea include the Danube Delta Museum (Muzeul Deltei Dunării), which provides comprehensive information about the delta's ecosystem, wildlife, and history through interactive exhibits and aquariums. The Tulcea Aquarium showcases native fish species from the Danube Delta. The Tulcea Art Museum, housed in a historic Ottoman-era building, displays regional art and cultural artifacts. The Aegyssus Fortress ruins, dating back to ancient times, offer panoramic views of the Danube and the surrounding area. The Independence Monument, located on a hill overlooking the city, commemorates Romania's independence. The city's waterfront promenade is a popular spot for walking and enjoying views of the river, with numerous restaurants and cafes offering traditional Romanian cuisine and fresh fish from the Danube.

From Tulcea, visitors can embark on boat tours to explore the delta's channels, lakes, and reed beds, observe the rich birdlife (over 300 species), visit traditional fishing villages, and experience the unique delta ecosystem. The city also hosts various cultural events and festivals related to the delta and local traditions.

Tulcea's strategic location makes it an ideal base for exploring the Danube Delta, with easy access to all three main branches of the delta and numerous tour options available for visitors of all interests.