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SwedenSan Marcos River at Luling water level
River gauge, San Marcos River, Texas, United States
Right now
Very low for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 87.4 cfs
History
20252026
What this means
At 3.69 ft, the San Marcos River at Luling is far below normal for mid-October.
That puts it 1.59 ft below the median of 5.28 ft for mid-October, based on 37 years of readings. It is 16.31 ft below the flood stage of 20.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 3.65 ft (+0.04 ft).
The level has held steady over the past 24 hours. Without real rain upstream, that is unlikely to change quickly. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 3.59 ft and 3.90 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, and it usually takes a few days of steady rain to change that.
Compared with 37 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 5.28 ft1.59 ft below the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 3.88 ft – 6.92 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (37 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 3.65 ft+0.04 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 3.59 ft – 3.90 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 3.57 ft – 6.27 ft
- Highest on record
- 41.85 ftOctober 18, 1998
What the stage means on the water
Low water means more dragging on shallow riffles and slower floats. Fish crowd into the deeper runs, and warm, low water stresses them, so play and release them quickly.
The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 20.00 ft, still 16.31 ft away.
What happens at each level
- 40.00 ft
- Devastating flooding reaches the lowest homes in Luling north and northeast of the golf course. All of Palmetto State Park at Ottine is under many feet of water. Water is nearly to the roof of the pavillion building. The Warm Springs rehabilitation hospital in Ottine has several feet of water in it.
- 36.00 ft
- Palmetto State Park is under water except for the headquarters building. The pavillion has six feet of water in it. Much of the golf course in Luling is underwater. Lowest homes northeast of the golf course are threatened. The Warm Springs rehabilitation hospital in Ottine has several feet of water in it.
- 32.00 ft
- Palmetto State Park is under water with water in the large pavillion building. There is extensive damage to roads, signs, camp sites and the pavillion building. Livestock are cut off and drowned in the flood plain below San Marcos to Gonzales. The lowest sections of the golf course in Luling are under water.
- 30.00 ft
- Major flooding reaches nearly all of Palmetto State Park with extensive damage to park facilities, signs, fences and roads. Flow is to the slab of the large pavillion building. Livestock in the flood plain below San Marcos to Gonzales are cut off. Lowest sections of the golf course in Luling flood.
- 28.00 ft
- Most of Palmetto State Park is flooded including Farm to Market 2091 through the park. Flow is approaching the large park pavillion building. All park visitors are evacuated. At Highway 80 in Luling flow is well into the flood plain and approaching the golf course. Livestock are cut off in the flood plain below San Marcos to Gonzales.
- 24.00 ft
- Moderate flooding in Palmetto State Park five miles below Luling inundates many park facilities and roads.
- 20.00 ft
- Minor lowland flooding reaches lowest camp sites and several sections of park roads at Palmetto State Park five miles below Luling.
- 16.00 ft
- Over bank flow reaches lowest areas of the flood plain with no significant damage.
- 3.69 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: 19 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 41.85 ft | October 18, 1998 |
| 2 | 40.40 ft | January 1, 1869 |
| 3 | 37.10 ft | May 29, 1929 |
| 4 | 36.58 ft | May 25, 2015 |
| 5 | 36.27 ft | October 31, 2015 |
| 6 | 34.95 ft | September 12, 1952 |
| 7 | 34.91 ft | November 22, 2004 |
| 8 | 34.82 ft | June 14, 1981 |
| 9 | 34.64 ft | November 16, 2001 |
| 10 | 33.73 ft | July 6, 2002 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the San Marcos River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Marcos River at San MarcosRiver gauge, San Marcos River | 3.65 ft | Low | +0.03 ft | 23 mi |
| San Marcos River near MartindaleRiver gauge, San Marcos River | 7.42 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 16 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plum Creek near LulingRiver gauge, Plum Creek | 4.52 ft | Low | +0.04 ft | 3.7 mi |
| Guadalupe River at CR 143 near GonzalesRiver gauge, Guadalupe River | 5.71 ft | Low | −0.03 ft | 13 mi |
| Guadalupe River at FM 1117 near SeguinRiver gauge, Guadalupe River | 11.18 ft | Very low | −0.40 ft | 16 mi |
| Guadalupe River at GonzalesRiver gauge, Guadalupe River | 11.17 ft | Low | ±0 | 17 mi |
| Plum Creek at LockhartRiver gauge, Plum Creek | 1.96 ft | Normal | −0.01 ft | 18 mi |
| Sandy Fork Creek at Hwy 97 near WaelderRiver gauge, Sandy Fork Creek | 2.40 ft | Normal | −0.17 ft | 20 mi |
| Guadalupe River at Hwy 123-BR at SeguinRiver gauge, Guadalupe River | −1.97 ft | Low | +0.80 ft | 21 mi |
| Blanco River at San MarcosRiver gauge, Blanco River | 7.30 ft | Below flood stage | −0.37 ft | 21 mi |
Questions and answers
How does the San Marcos River at Luling compare with last year?
It is 0.04 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 3.65 ft.
What is flood stage for the San Marcos River at Luling?
The official flood stage is 20.00 ft. The level is currently 16.31 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the San Marcos River at Luling in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 5.28 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 3.88 ft and 6.92 ft, based on 37 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 San Marcos River at Luling today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 06:45 AM CDT, the water level was 3.69 ft. Steady over the last 24 hours.
Is San Marcos River at Luling rising or falling?
Steady over the last 24 hours. Steady over the last 7 days.
Is the level of San Marcos River at Luling normal?
Very low for mid-October. Compared with 37 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:08172000(Agency page)- Coordinates
29.66634, -97.65086(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 | 3.69 ft | 2026-10-18 11:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 87.4 cfs | 2026-10-18 11:45 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: San Marcos River at Luling (usgs:08172000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/texas/san-marcos-river-at-luling
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