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
24 ft
Minor Flood
18 ft
Action Stage
10 ft
What Floods at Each Level
30 ft
or 9.1 meters, major lowland flooding occurs. Water is several feet deep over most of the mall and customs parking lots. The lowest residences are threatened and roads and low bridges become very dangerous.
28 ft
or 8.5 meters, the flow reaches the height of left bank. Flow exceeds left bank near the gauge. Most of customs and mall parking lots are inundated downstream in Laredo. The lowest residences are threatened in Laredo and Nuevo Laredo. Livestock, pumps, and equipment in the river channel are flooded
24 ft
or 7.3 meters, moderate lowland flooding occurs, and cuts off livestock, irrigation pumps, and equipment above eagle pass to below Laredo. Autos and trucks flood in the customs and mall parking lots downstream in Laredo.
18 ft
or 5.5 meters, flow reaches the height of the right bank. Livestock and equipment flood in the channel and low banks below eagle pass to below Laredo. Autos and trucks flood in low areas of the customs parking lot downstream in Laredo.
16 ft
or 4.9 meters, overbank conditions occur over the low areas of the flood plain.
10 ft
or 3.0 meters, this is the caution stage for pumps and livestock in the channel.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 8, 2010 | 49.42 ft | 131,484 cfs |
| Jun 16, 2013 | 33.38 ft | 61,140 cfs |
| Apr 6, 2004 | 28.94 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Rio Grande
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 Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge?
The Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge gauge is maintained by USGS (site 08458800) 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 Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge is 18 feet. Action stage begins at 10 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 24 feet, and major flooding at 30 feet.
How do I get alerts when Rio Grande rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge 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 Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge gauge located?
The gauge is located in Webb County, Texas at coordinates 27.7986°N, 99.8778°W. USGS site number: 08458800. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: 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.