Medina River level at Bandera
Texas · Tubing & floating
Measured at USGS 08178880 — Medina Rv at Bandera, TX · NWS forecast point BDAT2
Reading taken · as of 18 min ago
Running thin — a slow, scrapey float
At 22 CFS, this gauge is running 81% of normal for mid-September — below the 27 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 43 years of record (1983–2026).
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Flood stages at Bandera
National Weather Service categories for gauge BDAT2, WFO EWX. Impact wording is the NWS's own, 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 3.68 ft
Flow history at Bandera
Daily values from USGS 08178880, updated every 15 to 60 minutes; NWS forecast for BDAT2 reissued through the day. Provisional.
Highest crests on record at Bandera
10 on record
| 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 |
Crests published by the National Weather Service.
About Medina River at Bandera
In Texas — the reading paddlers, anglers and outfitters here check before committing to a shuttle. Bandera outfitters and riverside RV parks.
Medina River at Bandera — common questions
3 questions
Does rain upstream change Medina River at Bandera quickly?
Yes. It is free-flowing, so rain upstream moves it directly. Several feet in a few hours is normal after a heavy storm.
Is Medina River at Bandera high or low for this time of year?
The USGS median flow for mid-September here is 27 CFS, from 43 years of record (1983–2026). Today is 81% 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 08178880 every 15 to 60 minutes, and the National Weather Service reissues the flood forecast for BDAT2 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.