Nueces River at Cotulla

1. 38.00 ftThe base of us Highway 81 bridge is flooded.
2. 20.00 ftMajor and massive lowland flooding occurs. Evacuations of livestock and a few residential properties along the river required. Many roads near the river will flood, including FM 3408 from I-35, Valley Wells Road, the frontage road near mile marker 67. Flooding also occurs on Dobie Road including in and around Highway 624. FM 624 also floods south of Highway 97 toward Fowlerton.
3. 18.00 ftMajor widespread lowland flooding occurs, and many cattle have to be evacuated. Many roads near the river begin or are near flood, including FM 3408 from I-35, Valley Wells Road, the frontage road at mile marker 67. Flooding occurs on portions of Dobie Road including in and around Highway 624, and South of Highway 97.
4. 17.00 ftMajor lowland flooding above Cotulla to below Tilden. Irrigation equipment, oil well pump jacks and tank batteries, hunting cabins and livestock cut off in wide areas of the flood plain.
5. 15.00 ftModerate lowland flooding occurs. The peripheral channels between Cotulla and Tilden cut off areas of the flood plain, and isolate or drown cattle. Irrigation pumps, oil field tanks, and hunting cabins are flooded near the river.
6. 12.00 ftOverbank conditions occur as the flow reaches low areas of the flood plain. The river overbanks the flow in marshy land downstream, and cuts off areas of the flood plain. Some livestock are potentially affected downstream.
7. 9.00 ftThe river flows over its banks in the marshy land downstream, and cuts off areas of the flood plain. Some livestock are potentially affected downstream.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Most recent crests

• July 22, 2026: 29.03 ft
• September 11, 2022: 11.67 ft
• August 11, 2021: 9.91 ft
• July 6, 2021: 7.99 ft
• June 8, 2021: 10.29 ft
• June 4, 2021: 8.17 ft
• June 1, 2021: 5.88 ft
• June 2, 2020: 10.85 ft
• October 23, 2018: 20.82 ft
• September 16, 2018: 15.30 ft

• UpstreamNueces River at Asherton
• DownstreamNueces River at Tilden
• Frio River at Derby
• San Casimiro Creek at Freer
• Frio River at Tilden
• Nueces River at FM 1025 Near Crystal City
• San Miguel Creek at Tilden
• Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge

Forecasts by the West Gulf River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. 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.

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.