Rio Grande at Laredo
Texas — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Webb County, Texas on the Rio Grande. Live water level data from USGS gauge 08459000, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
30 ft
Moderate Flood
13 ft
Minor Flood
8 ft
Action Stage
7 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
63 ft
or 19.2 meters, water rises to the CPL plant slab elevation. Extensive flooding occurs.
62.5 ft
or 19.05 meters, three quarters of the business district are under water.
61.35 ft
or 18.70 meters, this is the flood of record, occurring on June 30 1954.
60.48 ft
Or 18.44 meteres, 202 blocks, or about one fifth of the laredo business district and 170 blocks of Neuvo Laredo are under water.
58.5 ft
or 17.83 meters, the backwater up Zacate Creek cuts Laredo in half.
54 ft
or 16.50 meters, the water plant and U.S. Highway 81 are flooded.
52 ft
or 15.85 meters, all bridges on Zacate Creek are closed.
47.5 ft
or 14.48 meters, the flow reaches Matamoros Street Bridge over Zacte Creek.
44 ft
or 13.4 meters, massive residential and commercial flooding occurs. Near the river, and along Chacon and Zacate Creeks, flooding can be life threatening, as the Rio Grande River backs them up. The sewage plant is under several feet of water. The International Bridge floor floods, and livestock are cut off and potentially drowned in the flood plain, above Eagle Pass to Falcon Reservoir.
42.45 ft
or 12.9 meters, water floods homes several feet deep along Los Martinez Drive in the Seven Lights Subdivision. Markley Lane, Marco Drive and Anna Avenue are completely flooded and closed. McNaboe Park is completely submerged with only the skate park visible. Water reaches the waterfront homes along Allen Drive in the Quail Creek Subdivision. Water reaches the base of the International Bridge. Water street is flooded in downtown Laredo from south Main Avenue eastward to Business 35 and enters the mall.
40.5 ft
or 12.3 meters, hundreds of homes along Zacate and Chacon Creeks and near the Rio Grande flood. Many businesses flood near the river. Flow is over the low steel of the International Bridge and within three feet of the bridge floor. Water is to the sewage plant.
38 ft
or 11.6 meters, numerous homes flood along Chacon and Zacate Creeks, as the Rio Grande backs up them. Businesses in lower areas near the river flood, as well as streets, roads, and parking areas near the river. Flow is to the low steel of the International Bridge and within two feet of the sewage plant.
37 ft
or 11.3 meters, the lowest businesses near the river are flooded. Flow is to the low steel of the International Bridge. Flow is also within a foot of homes along Chacon and Zacate Creeks, as the Rio Grande backs up near them. Any runoff down these creeks will flood these creeks. Numerous roads and bridges in the flood plain below Eagle Pass to Falcon Dam are flooded and dangerous.
32 ft
or 9.8 meters, the lowest businesses near the river flood in downtown Laredo. Runoff down from Chacon and Zacate Creeks add to the Rio Grande backflow, and can flood homes along these creeks. Streets and bridges are flooded and are extremely dangerous to traffic.
30 ft
or 9.1 meters, major flooding occurs. The flow approaches businesses near the mall, and backs up Chacon and Zacate Creeks. Additional heavy rain and runoff down these creeks threatens homes along their banks. Streets and roads near the river and creeks flood, and are very dangerous to auto traffic.
27 ft
or 8.2 meters, water continues to back up in Zacate and Chicon Creeks. Water begins to approach streets and roads near the creeks, with water approaching Water Street. Most of south Main Avenue is under water.
24 ft
or 7.3 meters, several feet of water are covering Los Dos Laredos Park, as well as Pedergal and Ventura streets. Water flows well back into Zacate Creek.
20 ft
or 6.1 meters moderate 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.
16 ft
or 4.9 meters, water flows into the Los Dos Laredos Park and covers portions of Pedegal Street near the park. Water approaches and moves into portions of Ventura Street near the bridge.
13 ft
or 4.0 meters, autos and trucks flood in the lower sections of the mall parking lot. Water is several feet deep in the lower sections of the customs parking lot.
8 ft
or 2.4 meters, minor lowland flooding occurs. Flow reaches the lower sections of the customs parking lot in Laredo.
7 ft
or 2.1 meters, overbank conditions occur.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 31, 1864 | 62.48 ft | 953,100 cfs |
| Dec 31, 1864 | 62.48 ft | 953,100 cfs |
| Jun 29, 1954 | 61.35 ft | 716,900 cfs |
| Jun 29, 1954 | 61.35 ft | 716,900 cfs |
| Sep 3, 1932 | 52.5 ft | — |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
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 Laredo?
The Rio Grande at Laredo gauge is maintained by USGS (site 08459000) 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 Laredo?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Rio Grande at Laredo is 8 feet. Action stage begins at 7 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 13 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 Laredo to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Rio Grande at Laredo gauge located?
The gauge is located in Webb County, Texas at coordinates 27.5018°N, 99.5030°W. USGS site number: 08459000. 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.