Colorado River level at Austin
Texas · Paddling & whitewater
Measured at USGS 08158000 — Colorado Rv at Austin, TX · NWS forecast point ACRT2
Reading taken · as of 13 min ago
In its normal runnable range
At 1,110 CFS, this gauge is running 91% of normal for mid-September — close to the 1,220 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 128 years of record (1898–2026).
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Flood stages at Austin
National Weather Service categories for gauge ACRT2, WFO EWX. Impact wording is the NWS's own, verbatim.
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Major flood 42.0 ft
- 42.0 ft Major flooding approaches the lowest residences along the Colorado River below Del Valle. Residences in the lower reach of Onion Creek are vulnerable to flooding as the Colorado River backs up the creek and adds to runoff down Onion Creek. Livestock and equipment should be moved from the flood plain below Austin to Bastrop. Lowest homes flood near Webberville.
- 44.0 ft Major flooding approaches homes in the flood plain below Del Valle to Bastrop. Equipment and livestock should be moved from the flood plain to below Bastrop. Secondary and primary roads and bridges are flooded severely and very dangerous to motorists.
- 46.0 ft Several homes flood in the Colorado River flood plain below Del Valle to Bastrop and along Onion Creek above the Colorado River confluence are severely flooded. Numerous streets and roads are extremely dangerous. Major flooding extends well into the flood plain destroying equipment and livestock.
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Moderate flood 38.0 ft
- 38.0 ft Moderate flooding approaches the Colorado River ranchettes in the southwest quadrant of the confluence of the Colorado River and Dry Creek. Lowest homes downstream below Austin flood. Livestock should be moved from vulnerable areas of the flood plain.
- 40.0 ft Lowest homes in the flood plain below Longhorn Dam to above Bastrop Flood. Livestock and equipment should be moved from low areas of the flood plain below Lake Travis to below Bastrop. Roads and low bridges in the flood plain flood severely and are dangerous to motorists.
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Minor flood 33.0 ft
- 33.0 ft Minor lowland flooding reaches low areas of the flood plain. No significant damage occurs at this level near Austin but livestock should be moved from low lying areas downstream. Lowest homes below Austin to Bastrop are threatened.
- 35.0 ft Lowest homes and apartments near the Colorado River and the lower part of Onion Creek are threatened. Residents should monitor NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio for developing flood warnings. Livestock can be cut off in low areas below Austin. Lowest homes below Austin to Bastrop flood.
- 36.0 ft Several homes are threatened as the Colorado River backs up Onion Creek. Any additional flooding down onion creek may flood homes near the confluence with the Colorado River. Livestock should be moved from vulnerable areas of the flood plain below Austin. Lowest homes below Austin flood.
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Action 25.0 ft
- 25.0 ft Flow exceeds the lowest sections of the banks.
- 27.0 ft Flow is in the lowest sections of the flood plain.
- 29.0 ft Flow is into the lowest sections of the flood plain.
- 31.0 ft Flow is well into the flood plain below Lake Travis downstream. Livestock should be moved from low areas of the flood plain downstream below Austin.
- Right now 15.52 ft
NWS forecast: 16.60 ft by .
Flow history at Austin
Daily values from USGS 08158000, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for ACRT2 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Austin
12 on record
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 51.00 ft | 550,000 CFS | Jul 7, 1869 |
| 50.00 ft | 481,000 CFS | Jun 15, 1935 |
| 45.20 ft | 276,000 CFS | Jul 25, 1938 |
| 43.50 ft | 236,000 CFS | Apr 7, 1900 |
| 43.20 ft | 234,000 CFS | Sep 28, 1936 |
| 42.60 ft | 164,000 CFS | Dec 4, 1913 |
| 42.40 ft | 154,000 CFS | May 29, 1929 |
| 39.00 ft | 120,000 CFS | May 1, 1922 |
| 38.40 ft | 113,000 CFS | Jun 8, 1899 |
| 34.09 ft | 34,400 CFS | May 26, 2015 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Colorado River at Austin
In Texas — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Lady Bird Lake below Longhorn Dam.
Colorado River at Austin — common questions
3 questions
How fast can Colorado River at Austin come up?
Fast. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is Colorado River at Austin high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 1,220 CFS, from 128 years of record (1898–2026). Today is 91% of it. The comparison is what makes the raw number mean anything: the same reading is a drought on one river and a flood on another.
How often does this reading update?
USGS transmits from gauge 08158000 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for ACRT2 a few times a day — more often when the river is rising. This page refreshes from both when you open it. The timestamp is in the gauge's local time.