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Colorado River (TX) at Lake Travis

Highest listed crest 710.44 ftFlood stage 685.0 ft14 crests since 1957

The Colorado River (TX) at Lake Travis crested at major flood stage 7 times among the 14 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1957 to 2018. The highest, 710.44 ft on December 25, 1991, was major flooding, 25.44 feet above flood stage. 6 other gauges on the Colorado River (TX) crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
710.44 ft
December 25, 1991
Flood stage
685.0 ft
Major flooding from 695.0 ft
Crests at major
7
90th of 370 gauges in Texas
Most recent flood crest
October 20, 2018
704.39 ft, major flooding
Location
Travis County
Near Lakeway (5.4 mi), Lago Vista (6.5 mi), Cedar Park (9.7 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Colorado River (TX) at Lake Travis
Action stage681.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)685.02Mar 20, 1998Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage691.05Jun 7, 2016Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage695.07Oct 20, 2018Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

14 crests from 1957 to 2018. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Colorado River (TX) at Lake Travis, 1957 to 2018 680690700710720ft Flood stage 685.0 ftMajor 695.0 ft May 18, 1957: 707.38 ft, major floodingOct 7, 1959: 692.58 ft, moderate floodingApr 18, 1977: 692.42 ft, moderate floodingOct 14, 1987: 693.48 ft, moderate floodingDec 25, 1991: 710.44 ft, major floodingFeb 10, 1992: 704.68 ft, major floodingFeb 22, 1997: 687.29 ft, minor floodingJul 7, 1997: 705.11 ft, major floodingMar 20, 1998: 688.13 ft, minor floodingJul 7, 2002: 693.50 ft, moderate flooding; 1,422,000 cubic feet per secondNov 24, 2004: 696.70 ft, major floodingJul 6, 2007: 701.50 ft, major floodingJun 7, 2016: 692.69 ft, moderate floodingOct 20, 2018: 704.39 ft, major flooding Highest, 710.44 ft, Dec 25, 1991 196019701980199020002010

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Colorado River (TX) at Lake Travis 1950s: 2 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1980s: 1 1990s: 5 5 2000s: 3 2010s: 2 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Colorado River (TX) at Lake Travis
1Dec 25, 1991710.44+25.44Major—
2May 18, 1957707.38+22.38Major—
3Jul 7, 1997705.11+20.11Major—
4Feb 10, 1992704.68+19.68Major—
5Oct 20, 2018704.39+19.39Major—
6Jul 6, 2007701.50+16.50Major—
7Nov 24, 2004696.70+11.70Major—
8Jul 7, 2002693.50+8.50Moderate1,422,000
9Oct 14, 1987693.48+8.48Moderate—
10Jun 7, 2016692.69+7.69Moderate—
11Oct 7, 1959692.58+7.58Moderate—
12Apr 18, 1977692.42+7.42Moderate—
13Mar 20, 1998688.13+3.13Minor—
14Feb 22, 1997687.29+2.29Minor—

The worst floods along the Colorado River (TX)

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Colorado River (TX) that crested above flood stage within a week.

December 25, 1991: 710.44 ft here, major flooding

  • WhartonTX · Dec 27, 1991 · 45.31 ft · Major
  • La GrangeTX · Dec 23, 1991 · 43.32 ft · Major
  • BastropTX · Dec 22, 1991 · 37.48 ft · Major
  • ColumbusTX · Dec 25, 1991 · 41.28 ft · Moderate
  • WinchellTX · Dec 20, 1991 · 33.70 ft · Moderate
  • San SabaTX · Dec 21, 1991 · 31.60 ft · Minor

May 18, 1957: 707.38 ft here, major flooding

  • WinchellTX · May 13, 1957 · 46.00 ft · Major
  • San SabaTX · May 14, 1957 · 37.34 ft · Moderate

October 20, 2018: 704.39 ft here, major flooding

  • BallingerTX · Oct 18, 2018 · 22.97 ft · Moderate
  • San SabaTX · Oct 17, 2018 · 32.39 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Colorado River (TX)

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Colorado River (TX)
SilverTX15.022.98 ft, Sep 9, 19803
BallingerTX18.027.78 ft, Sep 29, 20127
WinchellTX26.062.20 ft, Sep 19, 193618
San SabaTX30.062.24 ft, Jul 23, 19388
Lake Travis this gaugeTX685.0710.44 ft, Dec 25, 19917
AustinTX33.051.00 ft, Jul 7, 18697
BastropTX23.060.30 ft, Jul 7, 186912
SmithvilleTX20.047.40 ft, Dec 4, 19139
La GrangeTX26.056.70 ft, Jul 9, 186910
ColumbusTX34.048.40 ft, Jul 26, 193811
WhartonTX39.050.47 ft, Aug 31, 201711
Bay CityTX44.046.40 ft, Jun 26, 19602

Other gauges in Travis County

Flood gauges in Travis County
Hwy 71 near Oak Hill12.024.83 ft, Oct 30, 20154
Loop 3608.026.00 ft, May 25, 192915
Loop 3605.018.72 ft, Nov 24, 20005
Austin33.051.00 ft, Jul 7, 18697
US 18317.040.15 ft, Oct 31, 20138
West 12th Street7.023.11 ft, May 24, 198115
FM 1826 near Austin8.011.06 ft, May 4, 20190
Manchaca Road at Austin13.016.10 ft, Oct 30, 20150
Oak Hill6.012.01 ft, Oct 13, 20134

Travis County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Texas

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MSDT2, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.