The Garonne River, which flows through the region between the Pyrenees mountains and the city of Toulouse, has entered a "drought crisis," according to the Haute-Garonne prefecture. This declaration comes after a long stretch of extreme heat and prolonged drought, with the summer of 2026 being the hottest and driest on record for the area. Baptiste Mandard, the secretary general of the prefecture, mentioned that the Garonne has never before required any part of it to be placed in a crisis level, highlighting the severity of the current situation. The river was raised to an "enhanced alert level" on September 12, moving from level 2 (alert) to level 3 on a scale of four, with level 4 being a full crisis. On September 26, the river was officially declared to be in a crisis. The prefecture explained that a significant rainfall deficit since last spring, combined with high temperatures, has kept river levels unusually low. No major rain is expected in the near future, and water must be carefully preserved to maintain river flow until the end of October. Since the beginning of July, water releases from reservoirs have been at record levels to support the Garonne’s flow. As of now, 136 communes—mainly those in the western part of the Toulouse area—are in a crisis situation, compared to just six previously. The rainfall deficit has continued into September, with only eight millimeters of rain recorded so far, compared to an average of fifty millimeters for the same period. This lack of rainfall has significantly impacted the region's water resources. Jean-Michel Fabre, president of the Garonne public establishment, warned that the situation is critical and stressed the importance of collective action to prevent a potential shortage of potable water. He also noted that climate change is progressing more rapidly than current efforts to mitigate its effects, underscoring the urgency of addressing the crisis.