Mission River at Refugio, TX
River level and flood forecast · Refugio County
Normal2.2 ftas of Mon 2 PM
The river is 20.8 ft below flood stage (23 ft).
Flow: 30 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 30 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 26 ft |
| Flood stage | 23 ft |
| Action stage | 20 ft |
| Record crest (September 12, 1971) | 38.25 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 38.25 ftThis is the flood of record, which occurred on September 12 1971. Many homes in and below Refugio will be flooded.
- 37 ftMajor flooding occurs, and puts water up to six feet deep in homes in northwest Refugio. Several miles of the lowest homes below Refugio in the River Oaks Subdivision flood, and most roads and low bridges near the river are flooded and are very dangerous to cross.
- 35 ftMajor flooding occurs. Around twenty homes flood in the northwest section of Refugio, with up to four feet of water in them. The Mission River exceeds its banks below Refugio, and puts water under homes on stilts in the River Oaks Subdivision.
- 30 ftMajor lowland flooding occurs. Flow is to the slab elevation of the lowest homes in the northwest section of Refugio, and requires evacuations.
- 26 ftModerate lowland flooding occurs. Flooding occurs in the city park including the pavillion building.
- 23 ftMinor lowland flooding occurs. The lowest areas of the city park and facilities, including the pavillion building are flooded. Much of park is also flooded.
- 20 ftBankfull conditions occur as flow reaches lowest areas of the flood plain.
Highest crests on record
- 38.25 ft — September 12, 1971
- 36.5 ft — September 21, 1967
- 34.85 ft — July 1, 1990
- 33.3 ft — July 7, 1942
- 32.3 ft — August 1, 1914
Recent crests: 23.21 ft (October 16, 2021) · 7.84 ft (August 5, 2021) · 31.24 ft (July 11, 2021) · 14.57 ft (June 5, 2021) · 19.6 ft (May 21, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (REFT2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.