Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap water level

Name: Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap water level (U.S. Geological Survey)
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
License: https://www.usgs.gov/information-policies-and-instructions/copyrights-and-credits

River gauge, Elm Creek, Texas, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

5.28ft Up 1.82 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 20, 2026, 03:15 PM CDT (1 hour ago)

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %)

What this means

Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap is well above normal at 5.28 ft.

That puts it 1.69 ft above the median of 3.59 ft for mid-October, based on 9 years of readings. A year ago it stood at 3.15 ft (+2.13 ft).

It has risen 1.82 ft over the past 24 hours. If the rise continues, low-lying paths and riverside parking can go under water. In the last month it has stayed between 3.45 ft and 5.28 ft.

That stands out in fall, when many rivers are usually near their lowest.

Compared with 9 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 3.59 ft1.69 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 3.16 ft – 4.65 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (9 years of records)
Same day last year: 3.15 ft+2.13 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.45 ft – 5.28 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 3.14 ft – 4.92 ft

Flood levels and safety

Most flood deaths in the US happen in vehicles. Six inches of fast water can knock an adult off their feet, and a foot or two can float a car. If a road is covered, turn around.

Readings can change quickly after heavy rain upstream, so check again before heading near the water.

Weather at the gauge

No rain in the last 3 days.

20 Tue 79° 52° – Wind 11 mph

21 Wed 82° 57° – Wind 9 mph

22 Thu 80° 62° – Wind 11 mph

23 Fri 79° 63° – Wind 18 mph

24 Sat 77° 60° – Wind 18 mph

25 Sun 73° 62° – Wind 17 mph

26 Mon 79° 59° – Wind 14 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:47 AM Sunset 07:02 PM Daylight 11 hr, 15 min Waxing gibbous 71%

Map

Other gauges on Elm Creek

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Elm Creek at AbileneRiver gauge, Elm Creek	0.1 cfs	Normal	±0	17 mi
Elm Creek at BallingerRiver gauge, Elm Creek	3.35 ft	Normal	±0	37 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Lake Abilene near Buffalo GapLake, Lake Abilene	1,991.02 ft	Low	−0.03 ft	4.2 mi
Kirby Lake at AbileneLake, Kirby Lake	1,781.21 ft	Normal	−0.04 ft	10 mi
Cat Claw Creek at AbileneRiver gauge, Cat Claw Creek	3.45 ft	Very high	+0.10 ft	15 mi
Cedar Creek at IH 20, AbileneRiver gauge, Cedar Creek	2.87 ft	Very high	−0.03 ft	16 mi
Clear Fk Brazos River at Hwy 83 near HawleyRiver gauge, Clear Fk Brazos River	1.81 ft	Normal	−0.41 ft	22 mi
Clear Fk Brazos River at FM 3116 near AnsonRiver gauge, Clear Fk Brazos River	6.63 ft	Very high	−0.61 ft	28 mi
Oak Creek Reservoir near BlackwellReservoir, Oak Creek Reservoir	1,973.30 ft	Very low	−0.02 ft	30 mi
Clear Fk Brazos River at NugentRiver gauge, Clear Fk Brazos River	2.36 ft	Very high	−0.44 ft	30 mi

Questions and answers

How does Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap compare with last year?

It is 2.13 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.15 ft.

What is a normal level for Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 3.59 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.16 ft and 4.65 ft, based on 9 years of records.

Is gage height the same as water depth?

No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.

What is the water level of Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 03:15 PM CDT, the water level was 5.28 ft. Up 1.82 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap rising or falling?

Up 1.82 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 1.82 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 9 years of daily readings for this time of year.

How often is this data updated?

The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads

Operator: U.S. Geological Survey
Station code: usgs:08083280 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 32.27519, -99.83572 (WGS84)
Vertical datum: NAVD88
Update interval: every 15 minutes
Licence: Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision

Published series

Parameter	Last value	Time (UTC)	Quality
Water level	5.28 ft	2026-10-20 20:15	Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Elm Creek at FM 89 near Buffalo Gap (usgs:08083280). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/texas/elm-creek-at-fm-89-near-buffalo-gap

How we check values

Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.

Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer