Nueces River at Cotulla, TX
River level and flood forecast · La Salle County
Normal5.8 ftas of Mon 1 PM
The river is 9.2 ft below flood stage (15 ft).
Flow: 68 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 | 17 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 15 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (June 18, 1935) | 32.4 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 38 ftThe base of us Highway 81 bridge is flooded.
- 20 ftMajor and massive lowland flooding occurs. Evacuations of livestock and a few residential properties along the river required. Many roads near the river will flood, including FM 3408 from I-35, Valley Wells Road, the frontage road near mile marker 67. Flooding also occurs on Dobie Road including in and around Highway 624. FM 624 also floods south of Highway 97 toward Fowlerton.
- 18 ftMajor widespread lowland flooding occurs, and many cattle have to be evacuated. Many roads near the river begin or are near flood, including FM 3408 from I-35, Valley Wells Road, the frontage road at mile marker 67. Flooding occurs on portions of Dobie Road including in and around Highway 624, and South of Highway 97.
- 17 ftMajor lowland flooding above Cotulla to below Tilden. Irrigation equipment, oil well pump jacks and tank batteries, hunting cabins and livestock cut off in wide areas of the flood plain.
- 15 ftModerate lowland flooding occurs. The peripheral channels between Cotulla and Tilden cut off areas of the flood plain, and isolate or drown cattle. Irrigation pumps, oil field tanks, and hunting cabins are flooded near the river.
- 12 ftOverbank conditions occur as the flow reaches low areas of the flood plain. The river overbanks the flow in marshy land downstream, and cuts off areas of the flood plain. Some livestock are potentially affected downstream.
- 9 ftThe river flows over its banks in the marshy land downstream, and cuts off areas of the flood plain. Some livestock are potentially affected downstream.
Highest crests on record
- 32.4 ft — June 18, 1935
- 29.7 ft — June 19, 1999
- 29.03 ft — July 22, 2026
- 23.2 ft — June 16, 1981
- 22.81 ft — October 17, 2013
Recent crests: 29.03 ft (July 22, 2026) · 11.67 ft (September 11, 2022) · 9.91 ft (August 11, 2021) · 7.99 ft (July 6, 2021) · 10.29 ft (June 8, 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 (COTT2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.