Major Flood
30 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
26 ft
Minor Flood
23 ft
Action Stage
20 ft
What Floods at Each Level
38.25 ft
This is the flood of record, which occurred on September 12 1971. Many homes in and below Refugio will be flooded.
37 ft
Major flooding occurs, and puts water up to six feet deep in homes in northwest Refugio. Several miles of the lowest homes below Refugio in the River Oaks Subdivision flood, and most roads and low bridges near the river are flooded and are very dangerous to cross.
35 ft
Major flooding occurs. Around twenty homes flood in the northwest section of Refugio, with up to four feet of water in them. The Mission River exceeds its banks below Refugio, and puts water under homes on stilts in the River Oaks Subdivision.
30 ft
Major lowland flooding occurs. Flow is to the slab elevation of the lowest homes in the northwest section of Refugio, and requires evacuations.
26 ft
Moderate lowland flooding occurs. Flooding occurs in the city park including the pavillion building.
23 ft
Minor lowland flooding occurs. The lowest areas of the city park and facilities, including the pavillion building are flooded. Much of park is also flooded.
20 ft
Bankfull conditions occur as flow reaches lowest areas of the flood plain.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 11, 1971 | 38.25 ft | 79,000 cfs |
| Sep 21, 1967 | 36.5 ft | 116,000 cfs |
| Jul 1, 1990 | 34.85 ft | 44,600 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Mission River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Mission River at Refugio?
The Mission River at Refugio gauge is maintained by USGS (site 08189500) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Mission River at Refugio?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Mission River at Refugio is 23 feet. Action stage begins at 20 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 26 feet, and major flooding at 30 feet.
How do I get alerts when Mission River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Mission River at Refugio to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Mission River at Refugio gauge located?
The gauge is located in Refugio County, Texas at coordinates 28.2917°N, 97.2789°W. USGS site number: 08189500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- 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.