Rivers in Texas
Colorado River (TX) at Columbus
Below flood stage
9.96ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 8:15 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 34.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 10.10 ftWed, Sep 23, 12:00 PM CDT
- Record crest
- 48.40 ft1938
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 43.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 39.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 34.00 ft |
| Action | 30.00 ft |
- 48.00 ftAt levels above 48.0 feet, flow escapes into the right floodplain near Columbus with widespread flooding of crop and pasture land downstream near Eagle Lake. In past floods, U.S. Highway 90 in Columbus and FM 950 downstream of the gage were inundated and closed with many homes in the vicinity of the gage flooded.
- 47.00 ftAt levels above 47.0 feet, routed flow may overtop levees 110 miles downstream near Bay City. Significant flows will escape the channel near Garwood into the left floodplain with large volume loss as a large over bank storage area forms. In past floods, U.S. Highway 90 in Columbus and FM 950 below the gage are inundated and closed with many homes near the gage flooded.
- 45.00 ftAt levels above 45.0 feet, major flooding of crop and pasture land downstream near Eagle Lake occurs. In past floods, U.S. Highway 90 near Columbus was closed with many homes flooded, and FM 950 below the gage is closed.
- 43.00 ftAt levels above 43.0 feet, major lowland flooding occurs as U.S. Highway 90 floods. In past floods, many homes in the area flooded. FM 950 downstream from the gage is flooded.
- 41.30 ftAt levels above 41.3 feet, widespread flooding of the left floodplain occurs. In past floods, some homes near U.S. Highway 90 had up to 2 feet of water in them, and FM 950 downstream from the gage was inundated and closed.
- 39.00 ftAt levels above 39.0 feet, moderate lowland flooding begins as water from Columbus routes to near 18.0 feet downstream near Eagle Lake and Garwood closing FM 950 with significant lowland flooding.
- 34.00 ftAt levels above 34.0 feet, minor lowland flooding begins as the floodplain in the vicinity of the gage is inundated.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 16% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.
Crest history
37 crests on NOAA’s list since 1908.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 26, 1938 | 48.40 ft |
| 2 | August 29, 2017 | 48.17 ft |
| 3 | July 1, 1940 | 46.20 ft |
| 4 | April 19, 2016 | 45.67 ft |
| 5 | November 24, 1940 | 45.40 ft |
| 6 | May 5, 1922 | 45.30 ft |
| 7 | June 1, 1929 | 45.00 ft |
| 8 | October 21, 1998 | 43.56 ft |
| 9 | April 22, 1926 | 43.40 ft |
| 10 | May 29, 2016 | 43.07 ft |
| 11 | November 24, 2004 | 43.05 ft |
| 12 | April 27, 1908 | 42.80 ft |
| 13 | October 14, 1919 | 41.60 ft |
| 14 | December 25, 1991 | 41.28 ft |
| 15 | July 29, 1938 | 41.28 ft |
| 16 | November 14, 1918 | 40.90 ft |
| 17 | September 13, 1921 | 40.80 ft |
| 18 | May 28, 2015 | 40.21 ft |
| 19 | November 1, 1981 | 39.50 ft |
| 20 | June 19, 1935 | 38.52 ft |
| 21 | June 16, 1987 | 37.57 ft |
| 22 | October 18, 1994 | 37.57 ft |
| 23 | November 6, 2002 | 36.45 ft |
| 24 | February 23, 2003 | 36.11 ft |
| 25 | June 16, 1981 | 35.25 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 29, 2017: 48.17 ft
- May 29, 2016: 43.07 ft
- April 19, 2016: 45.67 ft
- May 28, 2015: 40.21 ft
- November 3, 2013: 32.64 ft
- April 18, 2009: 30.25 ft
- July 8, 2007: 32.65 ft
- November 24, 2004: 43.05 ft
- February 23, 2003: 36.11 ft
- November 6, 2002: 36.45 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the West Gulf River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.