Neches River at Town Bluff
Texas · Flood watch
Measured at USGS 08040600 — Neches Rv nr Town Bluff, TX · NWS forecast point TBFT2
Reading taken Jul 28, 11:00 PM UTC
Well below normal for the date
At 837 CFS, this gauge is running 33% of normal for late July — below the 2,570 CFS median USGS has recorded for this date across 65 years of record (1951–2026).
Data-derived guidance from USGS and NWS published values — not official advice, and not a safety assessment.
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Flood stages at Town Bluff
Official National Weather Service categories for gauge TBFT2, issued by WFO LCH. Impact statements are the NWS's own wording for this location, reproduced verbatim.
-
Major flood 82.5 ft
- 86.8 ft The river is at flood of record. Widespread major to catastrophic flooding will occur.
-
Moderate flood 72.0 ft
- 73.0 ft Flooding expected in the Mont Neches, Barlow Lake and Sheffields Ferry communities.
- 75.0 ft Considerable flooding of several county and private roads below the dam.
- 76.0 ft Some of the lowest homes in Sheffield's ferry become threatened.
- 78.7 ft Moderate flooding will occur with flood waters reaching the floor of the instrument shelter.
- 81.5 ft Major flooding occurring with water reaching the instrument shelf.
-
Minor flood 68.0 ft
- 70.0 ft Flooding can be expected around Barlow Lake and Brushy Lake with some roads being cutoff and some of the lowest properties near the river begin to flood.
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Action 64.0 ft
- 64.0 ft Minor flooding will occur.
- 65.0 ft Areas around Barlow Lake and Brushy Lake begin to flood.
- Right now 46.89 ft
12 months of flow at Town Bluff
Daily values from USGS gauge 08040600. Provisional data, subject to revision.
Highest crests on record at Town Bluff
| Stage | Flow | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 86.80 ft | 120,000 CFS | May 1, 1884 |
| 84.98 ft | — | May 6, 1944 |
| 82.85 ft | 90,900 CFS | May 21, 1953 |
| 82.56 ft | — | May 22, 1935 |
| 80.70 ft | 91,000 CFS | Aug 31, 2017 |
| 78.49 ft | 49,200 CFS | Jul 2, 1989 |
| 77.91 ft | — | May 18, 2021 |
| 76.17 ft | 35,400 CFS | Oct 23, 1994 |
| 76.17 ft | — | May 17, 2024 |
| 76.12 ft | 32,805 CFS | Mar 11, 2016 |
Historical crests published by the National Weather Service for this gauge.
About Neches River at Town Bluff
This gauge sits on Neches River at Town Bluff, Texas, immediately below Sam Rayburn Reservoir. Flow here is controlled by releases from the dam, so it can change by hundreds of CFS within an hour with no rain anywhere in the basin — check it before you go, not the day before.
Raw CFS means little on its own, so every reading on this page is shown against the USGS median for the same calendar day — 2,570 CFS for late July, from 65 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.
Reservoir feeding this stretch
Flow at this gauge is set by releases from Sam Rayburn Reservoir. A full pool usually means more water is on its way down.
Neches River at Town Bluff — common questions
What is the current flow on Neches River at Town Bluff?
As of the last reading on this page, Neches River at Town Bluff was running 837 CFS at a gage height of 46.89 ft, or 33% of the USGS median for this date. The number updates automatically from USGS gauge 08040600, 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 2,570 CFS, calculated from 65 years of record (1951–2026). 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 Town Bluff?
The National Weather Service sets minor flood stage at this gauge at 68.0 ft, moderate at 72.0 ft, and major at 82.5 ft. Action stage — the level at which agencies begin preparing — is 64.0 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 10 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?
This gauge does not currently carry an active NWS forecast. When one is issued, it appears on the chart alongside the observed record.