Garonne at Marmande records 11.6-meter swing from winter flood to summer low

The Garonne river at Marmande has recorded its largest annual water-level swing in over 35 years, a 11.57-meter difference between record flood and summer low extremes. Water peaked at 10.35 meters on February 14 and fell to -1.22 meters on July 25. July's average of -1.06 meters was nearly 60 percent below normal, beating 2021's previous amplitude record of 11.39 meters. Rainfall from March through July was roughly half the seasonal norm, except May. Officials say rapid swings between flood and drought reflect climate change, though individual extremes were not all-time records.