Medina River at Bandera
Texas · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 08178880 — Medina Rv at Bandera, TX · NWS forecast point BDAT2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:45 PM UTC
Running high and pushy for a tube or an inner-tube crowd
At 136 CFS, this gauge is running 412% of normal for late July — above the 33 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 43 years of record (1983–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Bandera
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge BDAT2, issued by WFO EWX. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
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Major flood 24.0 ft
- 24.0 ft Major flooding reaches the Pioneer RV park just below Highway 173 in Bandera. Many secondary and primary roads and bridges near the Medina River are flooded and very dangerous. Lowest homes at the upper end of Medina Lake flood, with the severity depending on the Medina Lake level.
- 25.0 ft Numerous homes at the upper end of Medina Lake may flood severely depending on the Medina Lake level. Depending on the flood storage, flow over the Medina Lake emergency spillway may flood homes downstream near LaCoste and Somerset in Bexar County. All campsites in the Pioneer RV Park in Bandera flood and flow is within three feet of the Highway 173 bridge floor.
- 27.0 ft Disastrous flooding reaches the Pioneer RV Park at Highway 173 in Bandera and homes at the upper end of Medina Lake. Homes and businesses near the Medina River downstream in southern Bexar County should prepare for structural flooding. Flow is near the Highway 173 bridge floor at Bandera. Roads and bridges around Bandera County are severely flooded and dangerous to motorists.
- 29.0 ft Disastrous life threatening flooding reaches the Highway 173 bridge floor in Bandera. All RV campsites at the Pioneer RV Park just below Highway 173 flood severely. Many homes at the upper end of Medina Lake flood, with the severity depending on flood storage in Medina Lake. Flow through the Medina Lake emergency spillway may flood homes downstream in Bexar County near LaCoste and Von Ormy.
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Moderate flood 14.0 ft
- 15.0 ft Moderate lowland flooding covers lowest parking sites at the Pioneer RV park in Bandera and is threatening the second level. Residents and people camping or renting properties adjacent to the river should monitor NOAA Weather Radio and social media outlets for developing heavy rain and flood conditions. Lowest homes at the upper end of Medina Lake are threatened if the lake is near spillway level.
- 17.0 ft Moderate lowland flooding threatens the second level of trailer spaces at the Pioneer RV Park at Highway 173 in Bandera and homes at the upper end of Medina Lake. Lowest trailer sites at the Pioneer RV Park are under several feet of water.
- 18.0 ft The second level of campsites flood at the Pioneer RV Park just below Highway 173 in Bandera. The lowest sites are under several feet of water. Secondary roads and low bridges flood near the Medina River and are dangerous to traffic. The lowest homes at the upper end of Medina Lake may flood depending on the level of Medina Lake.
- 20.0 ft Flooding begins in the Pioneer RV Park at Highway 173 in Bandera. All RV's and campers should evacuate immediately before flooding cuts off the Pioneer RV Park. Flooding threatens many homes at the upper end of Medina Lake. Residents of flood prone areas should monitor NOAA Weather Radio for developing heavy rain and flooding and prepare to evacuate as emergency officials assess the threat. Roads and bridges across Bandera County are severely flooded and very dangerous.
- 22.0 ft Severe flooding begins to threaten the Pioneer RV park. All RV's should be evacuated immediately. Homes at the upper end of Medina Lake will flood severely. Many roads and bridges in Bandera County will flood and are very dangerous.
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Minor flood 13.0 ft
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Action 10.0 ft
- 12.0 ft Water covers lowest areas of the flood plain with no significant damage. Residents of mobile home parks, the Pioneer RV Park and the upper end of Medina Lake should monitor NOAA Weather Radio for developing flood conditions.
- Right now 4.86 ft
12 months of flow at Bandera
Daily values from USGS gauge 08178880. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Bandera
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 46.62 ft | 550,000 CFS | Aug 2, 1978 |
| 38.91 ft | 159,000 CFS | Jul 5, 2002 |
| 24.93 ft | 46,700 CFS | May 24, 2015 |
| 24.90 ft | 55,800 CFS | Jun 3, 1987 |
| 24.49 ft | 52,000 CFS | Jun 22, 1997 |
| 20.59 ft | 26,890 CFS | May 29, 2016 |
| 18.32 ft | 17,200 CFS | Dec 21, 1992 |
| 16.76 ft | — | Jul 17, 2026 |
| 16.09 ft | 10,400 CFS | Dec 3, 1985 |
| 14.46 ft | 8,880 CFS | Mar 30, 2007 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Medina River at Bandera
This gauge measures Medina River at Bandera, Texas — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters on this stretch check before committing to a shuttle.
Bandera outfitters and riverside RV parks.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 33 CFS for late July, from 43 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.
Medina River at Bandera — common questions
What is the current flow on Medina River at Bandera?
As of the last reading on this page, Medina River at Bandera was running 136 CFS at a gage height of 4.86 ft, or 412% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 08178880, 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 33 CFS, calculated from 43 years of record (1983–2026). 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 flow is good for tubing Medina River?
riverlvl does not publish a recommended tubing range — that call belongs to the outfitters and the local authorities who know this stretch. What this page gives you is the objective input: today's flow, the seasonal median for the same date, and where the reading sits in the 12-month record. Local outfitters generally publish their own cutoffs, and they close when the river is up.
Does rain upstream change this reading quickly?
Yes. This is a free-flowing gauge, so it responds directly to rain in the basin upstream. Flashy rises of several feet in a few hours are normal on rivers like this after a heavy storm, which is why the reading is worth checking the morning you go.
What does gage height mean versus CFS?
Gage height is how high the water surface is above the gauge's own zero point, in feet — a local measure, not depth and not elevation. CFS is cubic feet per second, the volume of water moving past the gauge. Flood stages are set in gage height; float and paddling conditions are usually discussed in CFS.