Pedernales River at Johnson City, TX

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

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 40 ftFlow reaches the slab elevation of the lowest homes in the Pedernales River flood plain near Johnson City, the rodeo grounds and the south approach of Highway 281. An RV park just below Highway 281 has up to six feet of water over the lowest sites. Widespread lowland flooding can cut off and drown hundreds of livestock. Much of Pedernales Falls State Park floods.
• 37 ftSeveral feet of turbulent water is flowing through low areas of an RV park below Highway 281 on the right bank. Many roads and bridges in the flood plain are life threatening. Fencing and roads are damaged or destroyed. Much of Pedernales Falls State Park is flooded.
• 34 ftFlow is to the lowest trailer sites of an RV park just below Highway 281 near Johnson City. Hundreds of cattle can be cut off and drowned in the flood plain. Low areas of Pedernales Falls State Park downstream flood. Roads and bridges near the river are extremely dangerous. Flow is approaching the rodeo grounds. Near the USGS 1:100 year flood level.
• 30 ftFlow is within four feet of an RV park in the northeast part of Johnson City just below Highway 281 on the left bank. Lowest camp sites are at thirty four feet gauge height. Hundreds of livestock in the flood plain can be cut off and drowned. Roads and low bridges near the river flood. Low sections of Pedernales Falls State Park downstream are under turbulent water and very dangerous. Exceeds the USGS 1:50 year flood.
• 28 ftSecondary and primary roads and bridges are severely flooded in the flood plain. Fencing and roads are damaged or destroyed. Low areas of Pedernales State Park downstream are severely flooded. Exceeds USGS 1:25 year flood.
• 25 ftExtensive damage occurs to roads, bridges, fences and signs in the flood plain below Stonewall to Lake Travis. Lower sections of Pedernales Falls State Park flood. Roads and low bridges near the river are flooded and dangerous to motorists. Exceeds USGS 1:10 year flood.
• 22 ftSecondary roads, bridges and crossings are dangerously flooded near the Pedernales River. Low areas of Pedernales Falls State Park are flooded and dangerous. Fencing and roads are damaged or destroyed in the flood plain.
• 19 ftMajor flooding makes secondary and primary roads below Stonewall to Lake Travis very dangerous. Low park areas downstream in Pedernales Falls State Park flood.
• 17 ftModerate lowland flooding makes secondary roads, bridges and low crossings very dangerous. Swimmers and recreationists should move from the flood plain downstream in Pedernales Falls State Park. Near the USGS 1:2 year flood.
• 14 ftMinor lowland flooding reaches secondary roads, crossings and low bridges. Low areas of LBJ National Park upstream are flooded. Swimmers and recreationists should leave the river downstream in Pedernales Falls State Park.
• 13 ftLow water crossings upstream flood.

Highest crests on record

1. 42.5 ft — September 11, 1952
2. 33 ft — July 3, 1869
3. 26.1 ft — October 4, 1959
4. 26.1 ft — August 30, 1944
5. 26 ft — July 4, 2002

Recent crests: 24.58 ft (July 16, 2026) · 18.5 ft (May 8, 2019) · 15.78 ft (May 4, 2019) · 17.58 ft (October 16, 2018) · 16.22 ft (June 2, 2016)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamPedernales River at Fredericksburg, TX
• Blanco River at Crabapple Road, TX
• Sandy Creek near Kingsland, TX
• Little Blanco River at FM32 near Fischer, TX
• Blanco River at Fischer Store Rd near Fischer, TX
• Onion Creek near Driftwood, TX
• Blanco River at Wimberley, TX
• Barton Creek above Hwy 71 near Oak Hill, TX