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Medina River at San Antonio US 281S

Highest listed crest 55.65 ftFlood stage 20.0 ft19 crests since 1900

The Medina River at San Antonio US 281S crested at major flood stage 11 times among the 19 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1900 to 2025. The highest, 55.65 ft on July 4, 2002, was major flooding, 35.65 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Medina River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
55.65 ft
July 4, 2002
Flood stage
20.0 ft
Major flooding from 28.0 ft
Crests at major
11
51st of 370 gauges in Texas
Most recent flood crest
June 12, 2025
25.31 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Bexar County
Near San Antonio (13.9 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Medina River at San Antonio US 281S
Action stage16.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)20.03Oct 14, 2021Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage24.05Jun 12, 2025Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage28.011May 26, 2013Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

19 crests from 1900 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Medina River at San Antonio US 281S, 1900 to 2025 2030405060ft Flood stage 20.0 ftMajor 28.0 ft Jul 1, 1900: 55.00 ft, major floodingJul 1, 1936: 32.20 ft, major floodingAug 29, 1946: 41.57 ft, major flooding; 31,800 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1973: 43.59 ft, major flooding; 31,900 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1981: 29.04 ft, major flooding; 14,500 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1987: 37.37 ft, major flooding; 28,600 cubic feet per secondDec 22, 1992: 30.16 ft, major flooding; 15,600 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1993: 23.79 ft, minor flooding; 7,880 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1997: 28.14 ft, major flooding; 13,000 cubic feet per secondOct 18, 1998: 49.47 ft, major flooding; 42,000 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 2002: 55.65 ft, major floodingNov 17, 2004: 26.28 ft, moderate flooding; 9,138 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2007: 24.96 ft, moderate flooding; 8,108 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2013: 32.37 ft, major flooding; 25,672 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2015: 20.91 ft, minor flooding; 6,084 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 2016: 26.62 ft, moderate flooding; 11,516 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 2021: 27.93 ft, moderate flooding; 14,157 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 2021: 22.77 ft, minor flooding; 5,912 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2025: 25.31 ft, moderate flooding; 9,233 cubic feet per second Highest, 55.65 ft, Jul 4, 2002 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Medina River at San Antonio US 281S 1900s: 1 1910s: 0 1920s: 0 1930s: 1 1940s: 1 1950s: 0 1960s: 0 1970s: 1 1980s: 2 1990s: 4 4 2000s: 3 2010s: 3 2020s: 3 1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Medina River at San Antonio US 281S
1Jul 4, 200255.65+35.65Major—
2Jul 1, 190055.00+35.00Major—
3Oct 18, 199849.47+29.47Major42,000
4Jul 17, 197343.59+23.59Major31,900
5Aug 29, 194641.57+21.57Major31,800
6Jun 5, 198737.37+17.37Major28,600
7May 26, 201332.37+12.37Major25,672
8Jul 1, 193632.20+12.20Major—
9Dec 22, 199230.16+10.16Major15,600
10Jun 14, 198129.04+9.04Major14,500
11Jun 23, 199728.14+8.14Major13,000
12Jul 7, 202127.93+7.93Moderate14,157
13Jun 3, 201626.62+6.62Moderate11,516
14Nov 17, 200426.28+6.28Moderate9,138
15Jun 12, 202525.31+5.31Moderate9,233
16Jun 29, 200724.96+4.96Moderate8,108
17May 6, 199323.79+3.79Minor7,880
18Oct 14, 202122.77+2.77Minor5,912
19May 24, 201520.91+0.91Minor6,084

The worst floods along the Medina River

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

July 4, 2002: 55.65 ft here, major flooding

  • SomersetTX · Jul 6, 2002 · 42.19 ft · Major · its highest
  • BanderaTX · Jul 5, 2002 · 38.91 ft · Major
  • La CosteTX · Jul 6, 2002 · 32.00 ft · Major · its highest

October 18, 1998: 49.47 ft here, major flooding

  • La CosteTX · Oct 18, 1998 · 21.30 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Medina River

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

Flood gauges on the Medina River
BanderaTX13.046.62 ft, Aug 2, 19785
Medina LakeTX1,064.21,065.76 ft, Jun 3, 20160
La CosteTX15.032.00 ft, Jul 6, 20023
SomersetTX18.042.19 ft, Jul 6, 20021
San Antonio US 281S this gaugeTX20.055.65 ft, Jul 4, 200211

Other gauges in Bexar County

Flood gauges in Bexar County
I-35S near San Antonio15.029.31 ft, Oct 18, 199810
Somerset18.042.19 ft, Jul 6, 20021
Dresden Drive9.014.82 ft, Sep 13, 19787
Loop 1318.034.07 ft, Oct 17, 199810
NE Loop 41012.024.00 ft, Oct 1, 19136
Elmendorf35.064.20 ft, Oct 18, 19987
Loop 41012.034.21 ft, May 25, 20137
Mitchell Street13.014.67 ft, May 25, 20130

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge SAAT2, 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.