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SwedenRio Grande near Castolon water level
River gauge, Rio Grande, Texas, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 246 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
The gauge at Rio Grande near Castolon reads 3.39 ft, a normal level for mid-October.
That puts it 0.67 ft below the median of 4.06 ft for mid-October, based on 18 years of readings. It is 11.61 ft below the flood stage of 15.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 2.76 ft (+0.63 ft).
The level is falling, down 1.28 ft over the past 24 hours. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 2.15 ft and 10.41 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns.
Compared with 18 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 4.06 ft0.67 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 2.16 ft – 6.49 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (18 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 2.76 ft+0.63 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 2.15 ft – 10.41 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 1.45 ft – 8.82 ft
- Highest on record
- 24.70 ftSeptember 27, 1958
What the stage means on the water
A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 15.00 ft, still 11.61 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 24.70 ft
- the river reaches record stage (1978), and results in major flooding of Cottonwood Campground. All area roads are submerged.
- 19.00 ft
- the river reaches moderate flood stage, and begins flooding Cottonwood Campground. The river inundates the restrooms upstream at Santa Elena Canyon parking lot. The river begins to close all area roads.
- 15.00 ft
- the river reaches minor flood stage, and lowland flooding begins. The river begins to flood the road between Santa Elena Canyon and Cottonwood Campground in Big Bend National Park. The river begins to flood the parking lot at Santa Elena Canyon, and cut off the nature trail into the canyon. Campers in Cottonwood Campground need to prepare for possible evacuations.
- 13.00 ft
- the river reaches bankfull, and no significant damage is expected.
- 3.39 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24.70 ft | September 27, 1958 |
| 2 | 24.60 ft | October 3, 1932 |
| 3 | 23.25 ft | September 22, 2008 |
| 4 | 21.30 ft | September 30, 1978 |
| 5 | 21.15 ft | September 21, 1974 |
| 6 | 19.75 ft | September 23, 1938 |
| 7 | 19.67 ft | May 21, 2017 |
| 8 | 19.65 ft | September 10, 1974 |
| 9 | 19.40 ft | May 28, 2023 |
| 10 | 19.35 ft | July 4, 2025 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Rio Grande
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande at Rio Grande Village, Big Bnd NPRiver gauge, Rio Grande | 11.16 ft | No reference yet | 33 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the Rio Grande near Castolon compare with last year?
It is 0.63 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.76 ft.
What is flood stage for the Rio Grande near Castolon?
The official flood stage is 15.00 ft. The level is currently 11.61 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Rio Grande near Castolon in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 4.06 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.16 ft and 6.49 ft, based on 18 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 Rio Grande near Castolon today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 10:15 PM MDT, the water level was 3.39 ft. Down 1.28 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Rio Grande near Castolon rising or falling?
Down 1.28 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 1.18 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Rio Grande near Castolon normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 18 years of daily readings for this time of year.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:08374550(Agency page)- Coordinates
29.13798, -103.52490(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 | 3.39 ft | 2026-10-19 04:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 246 cfs | 2026-10-19 04:15 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Rio Grande near Castolon (usgs:08374550). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/texas/rio-grande-near-castolon
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