Nueces River near Three Rivers

1. 49.21 ftThis is the flood of record, occuring on September 23, 1967 - Hurricane Beulah. At this level, flow occurred through 3 channels and in the downtown area. The downtown area was under 6 feet of water.
2. 48.00 ftThe river is at the bottom steel of the Highway 281 bridge.
3. 46.00 ftBoats were used in downtown area of Three Rivers during the 1919 flood. Water is over the County Road 151 bridge south of George West.
4. 44.44 ftThis was the same stage which occurred during the 2002 flood.
5. 43.00 ftA dozen homes are flooded in the Buckeye Knoll Subdivision located about 2 miles west of Swinny Switch. Several dozen homes are flooded along the rivers edge on Lucy Lane and Dam Road, located about 1 mile northwest of Swinny Switch.
6. 42.00 ftThis stage occurred in the 1932 flood. There is up to 6 feet of water in the River Creek Acres Subdivision, flooding several homes. The lowest residences and buildings near the south edge of Three Rivers could be threatened with flooding. Several homes begin to flood along the river edge in the Buckeye Knoll Subdivision, located about 2 miles west of Swinney Switch. Water approaches the base of several dozen homes along river edge on Lucy Lane and Dam Road located about 1 mile northwest of Swinny Switch.
7. 40.00 ftSignificant flooding reaches miles from the main channel, flooding homes in the flood plain near Three Rivers to Lake Corpus Christi. Up to 4 feet of water is in River Creek Acres Subdivision, flooding several homes. Kellner Camp along County Road 336 floods, with water several feet deep surrounding homes. Antelope Lane is flooded cutting off access to J.I. Hailey Subdivision at Jones River bend. Water approaches the base of homes along the river in Buckeye Knoll Subdivision, 2 miles west of Swinny Switch.
8. 38.00 ftWater approaches the base of homes in Kellner Camp along County Road 336.
9. 37.29 ftWidespread lowland flooding occurs. Minor roads are closed. Airport Road boat ramp near Live Oak County Airport is flooded and closed. Major flooding occurs in the River Creek Acres Subdivision, with several feet of water and several homes flooded. Residents in the J.I. Hailey Subdivision at Jones River bend have trouble getting out as water covers much of Antelope Lane.
10. 36.00 ftSeveral homes flood in the River Creek Acres Subdivision, five miles southeast of George West. Widespread flooding cuts off and potentially drowns livestock. Roads and bridges near the river flood and are impassable. There is significant additional lowland flooding above this level. Flow reaches Antelope Lane in the J.I. Hailey Subdivision at Jones River bend.
11. 35.00 ftMajor lowland flooding occurs. Flow backs up minor creeks to the slabs of lowest homes in the River Creek Acres Subdivision, five miles southeast of George West, requiring evacuations. Livestock are cut off and could drown in low areas.
12. 32.00 ftThe Nueces River backs up minor creeks to near the slab elevation of homes in the River Creek Acres Subdivision, five miles southeast of George West. Livestock are cut off and could drown in low areas of the flood plain.
13. 27.00 ftModerate lowland flooding occurs.
14. 25.00 ftMinor lowland flooding occurs, and damages irrigation pumps and equipment vulnerable to lowland flooding. Flooding of secondary roads, low bridges and pastureland also occurs.
15. 22.00 ftOverbank conditions occur into the lower areas of the floodplain.

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

• August 1, 2026: 39.30 ft
• August 23, 2022: 37.08 ft
• August 16, 2021: 5.79 ft
• August 8, 2021: 7.87 ft
• July 12, 2021: 15.23 ft
• July 9, 2021: 15.23 ft
• June 7, 2021: 30.92 ft
• May 20, 2021: 20.29 ft
• May 17, 2021: 16.63 ft
• May 4, 2021: 12.51 ft

• UpstreamNueces River at Tilden
• DownstreamNueces River at George West
• Frio River at Choke Canyon Dam
• Atascosa River at Whitsett
• Frio River at Tilden
• San Miguel Creek at Tilden
• Lagarto Creek at George West
• Atascosa River at McCoy

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.