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Gironde River Water Levels Outlook, Week of August 11, 2025

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3 min read
Cordouan Lighthouse rising above the deep aqua Gironde Estuary at low tide, rippled tidal pools in the foreground, subtle seashell texture overlay, bright midday sun and crisp shadows.

Gironde navigation is tide-dominated and running normally. The Bordeaux gauge on the Garonne arm is around 11.0 ft (3.36 m) with green status at the station as of this update.1,2 Spring tides peak August 11 to 12, bringing larger tidal ranges and stronger currents but routine windowing for calls at Bordeaux, Blaye, and Pauillac.4,5 Travelers should coordinate pier times with their advisor a few days before embarkation and consider a Cancel For Any Reason upgrade if extra flexibility matters.7

Current Conditions

Primary gauge: Bordeaux, Pont de Pierre [La Garonne à Bordeaux]. 11.0 ft (3.36 m), normal range data unavailable. Risk level Normal for Bordeaux to Pauillac based on the station's green vigilance and typical spring-tide variability rather than river-runoff swings.1,2,3

Seven-Day Outlook

Chart unavailable. Tide tables show spring tides on August 11 with predicted high-water heights near Pauillac around 17.6 to 18.5 ft (5.35 to 5.65 m), with coefficients 93 to 95, then a gradual easing mid-week.4,5 A regional heat wave limits widespread rain, so water-level risk this week is driven by tides and wind setup, not runoff.6 Risk call for the next 7 days: Normal.

Three-Week Risk Forecast

PeriodLikelihood of DisruptionConfidence
Days 1 to 7NormalHigh
Days 8 to 14NormalMedium
Days 15 to 21NormalLow

A strong, warm ridge keeps the southwest mostly dry while spring tides early in the period amplify currents and scheduling windows on the estuary.6,4 If you want maximum flexibility, remember that Cancel For Any Reason policies have time-sensitive purchase windows and reimburse only part of trip cost if used.7

Traveler Advice

Booked guests should expect Normal operations on Bordeaux-based itineraries. Spring tides early in the week can shift boarding times or short tender windows, so watch pre-departure emails for any same-day pier timing notes. Operators handle these within normal procedures when levels are stable.

Near-term shoppers can plan day tours normally. Allow a little slack around coach departures because gangway slopes change with the tide, and currents are livelier near peak coefficients. If a temporary mooring adjustment occurs, lines typically tweak transfer times rather than cancel calls.

Looking beyond three weeks, keep expectations steady. Build flexibility into flight timing, and price a policy with a Cancel For Any Reason option soon after your first payment if you want broad coverage, noting reimbursement is partial.

Methodology

We combine France's gauge network for the Bordeaux station, SHOM tide predictions for the estuary, and regional weather guidance, then convert meters to feet using standard factors; station identity and datum context are cross-checked on HydroPortail.2,4,6,3

Disclaimer

Forecasts beyond ten days are probabilistic and may change without notice. This information does not constitute financial or insurance advice.

Sources

  1. [Sentival, Bordeaux (Garonne) station, latest level and status]
  2. Vigicrues, Bordeaux station page (O972001001)
  3. HydroPortail, station identity for "La Garonne à Bordeaux" (O972001001)
  4. SHOM, official tide tables, Pauillac harbor
  5. maree.info, Pauillac and Bordeaux tide times and coefficients, August 2025
  6. Météo-France, Nouvelle-Aquitaine forecast overview noting heat peak on August 11
  7. Squaremouth, Cancel For Any Reason basics and purchase windows