Sabinal River at Sabinal water level

Name: Sabinal River at Sabinal 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, Sabinal River, Texas, United States

Directions

Very high for mid-October

Water level

3.78ft Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours

Measured Oct 18, 2026, 08:30 AM CDT (23 min ago)

Flow: 3.6 cfs

History

7 days 30 days 1 year Years compared

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Minor flood stage

What this means

The Sabinal River at Sabinal is well above normal at 3.78 ft.

The median for mid-October is 2.87 ft, based on 34 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.91 ft above typical. It is 8.22 ft below the flood stage of 12.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 2.86 ft, a difference of +0.92 ft.

It has risen 0.04 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 3.60 ft and 3.97 ft.

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

Compared with 34 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date: 2.87 ft0.91 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date: 2.65 ft – 3.45 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (34 years of records)
Same day last year: 2.86 ft+0.92 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days: 3.60 ft – 3.97 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months: 2.56 ft – 14.82 ft
Highest on record: 40.00 ftAugust 24, 1919

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.

What happens at each level

32.00 ft: Disastrous flooding upstream near Utopia puts flow four feet deep in the "Utopia on the River" camp headquarters washing autos from the parking lot and threatening lives. Camping sites at a girl scout camp three miles south of Utopia are dangerously flooded. Secondary and primary roads and low bridges near the river flood under several feet of fast moving water as the flood wave moves from the headwaters to the Frio River confluence.
28.00 ft: Major flooding threatens the "Utopia on the River" resort near Utopia. Numerous roads, crossings, and bridges are flooded severely. Livestock should be moved from vulnerable areas of the flood plain.
24.00 ft: Major lowland flooding from the headwaters to the Frio River confluence. Very dangerous to campers upstream near Utopia. Many secondary and primary roads and low bridges are flooded and dangerous.
20.00 ft: Lowland flooding damages crops and floods pastureland cutting off and potentially drowning livestock in low areas of the flood plain. Secondary roads and low bridges flood severely as the flood wave passes downstream.
16.00 ft: Moderate lowland flooding inundates lowest secondary roads and bridges in the flood plain from the headwaters to the Frio River confluence.
12.00 ft: Minor lowland flooding impacts lowest secondary roads, crossings and low bridges.
10.00 ft: Flow extends into lowest areas of the flood plain with no significant damage.
3.78 ft: Right now

Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.

Highest crests on record

Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.

Rank	Level	Date
1	40.00 ft	August 24, 1919
2	38.28 ft	July 5, 2002
3	33.30 ft	June 17, 1958
4	31.00 ft	July 2, 1932
5	27.14 ft	July 21, 2007
6	26.61 ft	May 29, 1987
7	23.32 ft	July 16, 2026
8	21.14 ft	October 13, 1981
9	19.51 ft	May 24, 2015
10	19.10 ft	December 31, 1984

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:42 AM Sunset 07:06 PM Daylight 11 hr, 24 min First quarter 50%

Map

Other gauges on the Sabinal River

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Sabinal River at FM 187 near VanderpoolRiver gauge, Sabinal River	4.61 ft	No reference yet	±0	33 mi
Sabinal River below Mill Creek near VanderpoolRiver gauge, Sabinal River	0.27 ft	Low	±0	28 mi
Sabinal River at UtopiaRiver gauge, Sabinal River	3.10 ft	Very high	±0	21 mi
Sabinal River near SabinalRiver gauge, Sabinal River	4.81 ft	Normal	±0	12 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge	Level	Compared with normal	24 hours	Distance
Seco Creek at Rowe Rh near D'HanisRiver gauge, Seco Creek	5.05 ft	Normal	±0	12 mi
Frio River below Dry Frio River near UvaldeRiver gauge, Frio River	0.94 ft	Very low	±0	13 mi
Leona River at CR 429A near UvaldeRiver gauge, Leona River	4.24 ft	Normal	±0	16 mi
Frio River at ConcanRiver gauge, Frio River	3.67 ft	Normal	±0	18 mi
Seco Creek at Miller Rh near UtopiaRiver gauge, Seco Creek	1.02 ft	Normal	−0.02 ft	18 mi
Leona River near UvaldeRiver gauge, Leona River	0.63 ft	Low	−0.01 ft	19 mi
Hondo Creek at SH 173 near HondoRiver gauge, Hondo Creek	0.69 ft	Normal	±0	22 mi
Dry Frio River near Reagan WellsRiver gauge, Dry Frio River	2.01 ft	Normal	−0.01 ft	22 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Sabinal River at Sabinal higher than last year?

Yes, it is 0.92 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 2.86 ft.

What is flood stage for the Sabinal River at Sabinal?

The official flood stage is 12.00 ft. The level is currently 8.22 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Sabinal River at Sabinal in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 2.87 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 2.65 ft and 3.45 ft, based on 34 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 Sabinal River at Sabinal today?

On Oct 18, 2026, 08:30 AM CDT, the water level was 3.78 ft. Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Sabinal River at Sabinal rising or falling?

Up 0.04 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.05 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Sabinal River at Sabinal normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 34 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:08198500 (Agency page)
Coordinates: 29.31431, -99.48047 (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	3.78 ft	2026-10-18 13:30	Provisional
Flow	3.6 cfs	2026-10-18 13:30	Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

<iframe src="https://nivelmap.com/embed/6841?lang=en" width="360" height="230" style="border:0;max-width:100%" loading="lazy" title="Sabinal River at Sabinal water level"></iframe>

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Sabinal River at Sabinal (usgs:08198500). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/texas/sabinal-river-at-sabinal

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