Rivers in Texas

Palo Duro Creek at Spearman

Hansford County, TexasNWS SPMT2USGS 07233500Amarillo office

Below flood stage
4.01ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 2:30 AM CDT

Flood stage
20.00 ft
Record crest
23.68 ft1936

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood22.00 ft
Moderate flood21.00 ft
Minor flood20.00 ft
Action9.00 ft
  1. 23.00 ftBridge rails are flooded. The road surface on the bridge is under 3 feet of water. 2 to 3 homes downstream of the gage site are flooded. Ranch land is flooded on both sides of the creek and cattle are threatened.
  2. 20.00 ftRoad surface on bridge floods. 2 to 3 homes downstream of the gage site are flooded. Ranch land is flooded on both sides of the creek and cattle are threatened.
  3. 19.00 ftHouses downstream of gage site flood.
  4. 12.00 ftModerate overbank flooding occurs. Cattle are threatened and damage to fences is possible
  5. 9.00 ftThe creek is at bankfull stage. Some minor overbank flooding occurs and cattle in the floodplain may be threatened.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.

Crest history

12 crests on NOAA’s list since 1936.

#DateStage
1June 4, 193623.68 ft
2October 7, 194622.55 ft
3June 13, 201022.48 ft
4June 4, 193621.00 ft
5June 19, 200420.10 ft
6May 20, 202316.37 ft
7May 20, 201015.94 ft
8June 9, 200214.31 ft
9October 2, 199814.00 ft
10June 26, 200010.12 ft
11June 28, 20008.92 ft
12June 28, 20008.39 ft

Most recent crests

  • May 20, 2023: 16.37 ft
  • June 13, 2010: 22.48 ft
  • May 20, 2010: 15.94 ft
  • June 19, 2004: 20.10 ft
  • June 9, 2002: 14.31 ft
  • June 28, 2000: 8.39 ft
  • June 28, 2000: 8.92 ft
  • June 26, 2000: 10.12 ft
  • October 2, 1998: 14.00 ft
  • October 7, 1946: 22.55 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Arkansas-Red Basin RFC. 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.

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.