Blanco River at Wimberley
Texas · Flood watch
Measured at USGS 08171000 — Blanco Rv at Wimberley, TX · NWS forecast point WMBT2
Reading taken Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC
Well below normal for the date
At 22 CFS, this gauge is running 55% of normal for late July — below the 40 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 99 years of record (1924–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Wimberley
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge WMBT2, issued by WFO EWX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 26.0 ft · 67,437 CFS
- 26.0 ft Major flooding impacts several lowest homes on the Blanco River near Wimberley. Homes along Cypress Creek near Wimberley also are threatened by the Blanco River backwater and any flow down Cypress Creek. Major flooding of the lower Blanco River in northeast San Marcos floods lowest homes and inundates roads and low bridges with several feet of water near the river making them extremely dangerous. Livestock are cut off and potentially drowned.
- 29.0 ft Many lowest homes in the Blanco River flood plain near Wimberley flood. Lowest homes and businesses in the Cypress Creek flood plain flood by backwater from the Blanco River and any runoff down Cypress Creek. Lowland flooding downstream in the lower Blanco and San Marcos Rivers severely floods lowest homes, roads and bridges near San Marcos. Livestock in the Blanco River flood plain above Blanco to the San Marcos River confluence are cut off and potentially drowned.
- 31.0 ft Disastrous life threatening flooding will flood over a hundred homes and businesses in and near Wimberley in the Blanco River and Cypress Creek flood plains. Many homes flood severely downstream in the lower Blanco and San Marcos River flood plains near San Marcos. This level will reach lower rural homes in the flood plain above Blanco to below San Marcos and can trap and drown hundreds of livestock. Roads near the river are extremely dangerous.
- 35.0 ft Flood waters reach the base of the bridge on Highway 12.
- 38.0 ft The Highway 12 bridge becomes overtopped and is impassable. Disastrous life threatening flooding will flood hundreds of homes and businesses in and near Wimberley in the Blanco River and Cypress Creek flood plains. Many homes flood severely downstream in the lower Blanco and San Marcos River flood plains near San Marcos. This level will reach lower rural homes in the flood plain above Blanco to below San Marcos and can trap and drown hundreds of livestock. Roads near the river are extremely dangerous.
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Moderate flood 17.0 ft · 22,762 CFS
- 17.0 ft Water recreation in the Blanco river is dangerous from above Blanco to the San Marcos river confluence. Secondary roads and bridges in the flood plain are flooded and dangerous. Much of Dudley Johnson park at Five Mile Dam is flooded.
- 21.0 ft Water recreation is very dangerous above Blanco to the San Marcos River confluence, including John Knox Camp and Dudley Johnson Park at Five Mile Dam above San Marcos. Secondary roads and bridges in the flood plain are very dangerous to motorists. Hydraulic jumps behind low dams are dangerous to canoeists and kayakers as they may become trapped.
- 25.0 ft Flow approaches lowest homes near Wimberley. Widespread lowland flooding can cut off low areas of the flood plain drowning livestock. Homes along Cypress Creek near Wimberley are threatened. As the Blanco River backs up Cypress Creek additional runoff down Cypress Creek can easily flood homes. Roads near the lower Blanco River in northeast San Marcos flood severely. Water approaches the lowest homes in that area. Livestock are cut off and potentially drowned.
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Minor flood 13.0 ft · 12,269 CFS
- 13.0 ft Minor lowland flooding reaches secondary roads. Low bridges and crossings from the headwaters to the San Marcos River confluence near San Marcos flood and are dangerous. Property in low lying areas of the Blanco and San Marcos Rivers should be moved to higher ground. Swimming and tubing are life threatening due to turbulence. Hydraulic jumps behind low water dams can trap canoeists and kayakers between the dam and the hydraulic jump and can be life threatening.
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Action 10.0 ft · 6,247 CFS
- 10.0 ft A fast moving rise down the Blanco River can make swimming and canoeing dangerous above Blanco to below San Marcos. Especially in areas where steep banks make getting out of the river dangerous. Low dams create hydraulic jumps which can trap canoeists and kayakers between the dam and the jump.
- Right now 3.78 ft
NWS forecast: 3.80 ft by Jul 29, 12:00 AM UTC.
12 months of flow at Wimberley
Daily values from USGS gauge 08171000. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Wimberley
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 44.90 ft | 175,000 CFS | May 24, 2015 |
| 33.30 ft | 113,000 CFS | May 28, 1929 |
| 28.89 ft | — | Nov 16, 2001 |
| 28.50 ft | 116,000 CFS | Oct 17, 1998 |
| 26.75 ft | 75,800 CFS | Oct 31, 2013 |
| 26.54 ft | 71,020 CFS | Oct 30, 2015 |
| 25.71 ft | 66,700 CFS | Jul 5, 2002 |
| 20.79 ft | 36,900 CFS | Mar 12, 2007 |
| 20.79 ft | — | Mar 12, 2007 |
| 20.46 ft | 34,100 CFS | Jun 9, 1997 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Blanco River at Wimberley
This is the reference gauge for Blanco River at Wimberley, Texas. It is the reading local emergency managers, the National Weather Service and residents watch when the river comes up.
2015 Memorial Day flood legacy; repeat flash floods.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 40 CFS for late July, from 99 years of record.
Because the National Weather Service also operates a forecast point here, the page carries the official flood-category ladder and the NWS's own stage-by-stage impact statements.
Blanco River at Wimberley — common questions
What is the current flow on Blanco River at Wimberley?
As of the last reading on this page, Blanco River at Wimberley was running 22 CFS at a gage height of 3.78 ft, or 55% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 08171000, which reports every 15 to 60 minutes.
Is that high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for late July at this gauge is 40 CFS, calculated from 99 years of record (1924–2026). Comparing today's reading against that median is the only way a raw CFS number tells you anything — 200 CFS is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from this gauge every 15 to 60 minutes. This page bakes in the most recent reading when it is rebuilt, then refreshes live from USGS when you open it. Readings are provisional and subject to revision by USGS.
What is flood stage at Wimberley?
The National Weather Service sets minor flood stage at this gauge at 13.0 ft, moderate at 17.0 ft, and major at 26.0 ft. Action stage — the level at which agencies begin preparing — is 10.0 ft. The ladder on this page shows each threshold against the current reading.
What happens at each flood stage here?
The National Weather Service publishes 12 stage-by-stage impact statements for this gauge, describing what specific roads, properties and structures are affected at each level. They are reproduced verbatim on this page, lowest to highest. They are NWS descriptions, not riverlvl's.
Is there a forecast for this gauge?
Yes. This is an NWS forecast point, so the chart shows the observed hydrograph running into the official National Weather Service forecast. Forecasts are issued by the local Weather Forecast Office (EWX) and updated through the day during high water.