Record low water level in Lake Zurich: Sailing yacht flown by helicopter to its winter storage facility

When Andreas Asfour realised that the water level in Lake Zurich was continuing to fall, he knew he had to act. He had already missed the opportunity to manoeuvre his yacht – which was around eight metres long, weighed two tonnes and had a draught of 1.66 metres – close enough to the standard crane to be lifted out. The situation was now coming to a head, as the yacht’s keel had become embedded in the silt. If the water level continued to fall, the boat could have capsized and the hull could have been seriously damaged.

Air rescue

On 5 October, the 65-year-old therefore had his boat lifted out of the water by helicopter. The nearby yacht yard, Portier AG in Meilen, made its premises available for the removal of the vessel. First, the rigging was detached and flown to the jetty. The yacht was then lifted into the air and guided using ropes attached to the bow and stern. Finally, it was lowered precisely onto a trailer and transported to its winter storage facility.

“The only way to prevent the ship from capsizing was to lift it out by helicopter,” Asfour told nau.ch. A large crane would have been more expensive. A K-Max K1200 helicopter was used, which is specially designed to carry external loads and can lift more weight than it weighs itself. The operation cost around 2,000 Swiss francs (approx. 2,150 euros). “Drastic times call for drastic measures,” said the owner, commenting on the unusual salvage operation.

Other boat owners on Lake Zurich had already removed their vessels from the water using conventional methods in the weeks leading up to this, when the water level was even higher. No further helicopter recoveries are currently planned. It remains to be seen when Asfour will be able to launch his yacht again.

Lake Zurich below the record low water level of 1952

On the day of the recovery, the water level stood at 405.24 metres above sea level. This was around 22 centimetres lower than the previous low-water record set in 1952. The official low-water limit for Lake Zurich is 405.45 metres. According to the available data, the water level has remained consistently below this mark since August.

A key reason for this trend is the ongoing drought. According to MeteoSwiss, the summer half-year of 2026, from April to September, saw the lowest rainfall since records began in 1864. During this period, only 56 per cent of the usual amount of rainfall fell. High temperatures exacerbated evaporation. This was compounded by a mild winter with little rainfall, which meant that less meltwater was available from the mountains in the spring.

In order to slow down the further drop in water levels, the Canton of Zurich and the Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) reduced the outflow from the lake into the Limmat with effect from 1 October. Since then, only 20 cubic metres of water per second have been flowing out, instead of 30. The measure is initially set to remain in place until the end of October. The situation will then be reassessed.

Lake Zurich boat services are operating with restrictions

It is not only private boat owners who are affected. The Lake Zurich Shipping Company (ZSG) has also adapted its operations to this exceptional situation. A restricted winter timetable has been in force since 1 October, as the risk of running aground increases when water levels are low.

Four ZSG vessels have been temporarily moved to winter storage at Bürkliplatz in Zurich. Instead of the usual grand lake cruise, there is a shortened service with stops only at Horgen and Meilen. Anyone interested can check the current water level via the Hydrological data from the Federal Office for the Environment track.

When Lake Zurich will recover depends largely on the amount of rainfall in the coming months. According to current meteorological forecasts, it is only winter rain and spring meltwater that could lead to a significant replenishment of the lake’s water levels.

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How are you finding the low water levels in your fishing grounds? Did you have to change your plans for the end of the season or take your boat out of the water earlier than usual? Let us know in the comments.