San Marcos River at Luling, TX
River level and flood forecast · Caldwell County
Normal3.7 ftas of Mon 2:45 PM
The river is 16.3 ft below flood stage (20 ft).
Flow: 87 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 | 24 ft |
| Flood stage | 20 ft |
| Action stage | 11 ft |
| Record crest (October 18, 1998) | 41.85 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 40 ftDevastating 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 ftPalmetto 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 ftPalmetto 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 ftMajor 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 ftMost 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 ftModerate flooding in Palmetto State Park five miles below Luling inundates many park facilities and roads.
- 20 ftMinor lowland flooding reaches lowest camp sites and several sections of park roads at Palmetto State Park five miles below Luling.
- 16 ftOver bank flow reaches lowest areas of the flood plain with no significant damage.
Highest crests on record
- 41.85 ft — October 18, 1998
- 40.4 ft — January 1, 1869
- 37.1 ft — May 29, 1929
- 36.58 ft — May 25, 2015
- 36.27 ft — October 31, 2015
Recent crests: 30.56 ft (October 15, 2021) · 30.09 ft (August 27, 2017) · 36.27 ft (October 31, 2015) · 27.79 ft (May 31, 2015) · 36.58 ft (May 25, 2015)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (LLGT2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.