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Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge

Highest listed crest 49.42 ftFlood stage 18.0 ft30 crests since 2002

The Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 30 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2002 to 2026. The highest, 49.42 ft on July 8, 2010, was major flooding, 31.42 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Rio Grande crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
49.42 ft
July 8, 2010; 131,484 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
18.0 ft
Major flooding from 30.0 ft
Crests at major
2
218th of 370 gauges in Texas
Most recent flood crest
July 19, 2026
28.07 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Webb County
Texas

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge
Action stage10.016Oct 4, 2021The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)18.04Oct 10, 2015Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage24.06Jul 19, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage30.02Jun 16, 2013Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

30 crests from 2002 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge, 2002 to 2026 01020304050ft Flood stage 18.0 ftMajor 30.0 ft Jul 2, 2002: 13.22 ft, action stageJul 16, 2002: 15.53 ft, action stageOct 12, 2003: 25.45 ft, moderate floodingApr 6, 2004: 28.94 ft, moderate floodingMay 26, 2007: 20.91 ft, minor floodingOct 16, 2008: 18.44 ft, minor flooding; 17,388 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 2010: 25.40 ft, moderate flooding; 34,356 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2010: 15.76 ft, action stage; 14,593 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2010: 49.42 ft, major flooding; 131,484 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2013: 33.38 ft, major flooding; 61,140 cubic feet per secondOct 14, 2013: 19.56 ft, minor flooding; 25,444 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2014: 24.93 ft, moderate flooding; 40,560 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2015: 18.14 ft, minor flooding; 21,899 cubic feet per secondAug 22, 2016: 17.02 ft, action stage; 19,192 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 2016: 11.16 ft, action stage; 6,349 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2016: 12.24 ft, action stage; 8,705 cubic feet per secondNov 5, 2016: 11.36 ft, action stage; 6,746 cubic feet per secondDec 5, 2016: 8.72 ft, below flood stage; 2,734 cubic feet per secondJan 16, 2017: 12.31 ft, action stage; 8,876 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2017: 17.03 ft, action stage; 17,069 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 2017: 13.85 ft, action stage; 11,509 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 2017: 11.29 ft, action stage; 6,515 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2017: 12.50 ft, action stage; 9,261 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 2017: 10.87 ft, action stage; 5,716 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2017: 26.94 ft, moderate flooding; 37,305 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2021: 10.03 ft, action stage; 4,878 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2021: 8.39 ft, below flood stage; 2,647 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 2021: 11.36 ft, action stage; 6,923 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 2021: 12.18 ft, action stage; 8,295 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 2026: 28.07 ft, moderate flooding; 38,922 cubic feet per second Highest, 49.42 ft, Jul 8, 2010 20052010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge 2000s: 4 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 1 2000s2010s2020s
  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, Rio Grande at Columbia Bridge
1Jul 8, 201049.42+31.42Major131,484
2Jun 16, 201333.38+15.38Major61,140
3Apr 6, 200428.94+10.94Moderate—
4Jul 19, 202628.07+10.07Moderate38,922
5Sep 28, 201726.94+8.94Moderate37,305
6Oct 12, 200325.45+7.45Moderate—
7Apr 18, 201025.40+7.40Moderate34,356
8Jun 22, 201424.93+6.93Moderate40,560
9May 26, 200720.91+2.91Minor—
10Oct 14, 201319.56+1.56Minor25,444
11Oct 16, 200818.44+0.44Minor17,388
12Oct 10, 201518.14+0.14Minor21,899
13Apr 4, 201717.03−0.97Action17,069
14Aug 22, 201617.02−0.98Action19,192
15May 27, 201015.76−2.24Action14,593
16Jul 16, 200215.53−2.47Action—
17Apr 17, 201713.85−4.15Action11,509
18Jul 2, 200213.22−4.78Action—
19May 22, 201712.50−5.50Action9,261
20Jan 16, 201712.31−5.69Action8,876
21Sep 27, 201612.24−5.76Action8,705
22Oct 4, 202112.18−5.82Action8,295
23Nov 5, 201611.36−6.64Action6,746
24Jul 6, 202111.36−6.64Action6,923
25May 11, 201711.29−6.71Action6,515
26Sep 15, 201611.16−6.84Action6,349
27May 29, 201710.87−7.13Action5,716
28Jun 2, 202110.03−7.97Action4,878
29Dec 5, 20168.72−9.28Below flood stage2,734
30Jun 24, 20218.39−9.61Below flood stage2,647

The worst floods along the Rio Grande

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

July 8, 2010: 49.42 ft here, major flooding

June 16, 2013: 33.38 ft here, major flooding

  • LaredoTX · Jun 17, 2013 · 21.87 ft · Moderate

April 6, 2004: 28.94 ft here, moderate flooding

  • LaredoTX · Apr 7, 2004 · 20.18 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Rio Grande

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Rio Grande
Columbia Bridge this gaugeTX18.049.42 ft, Jul 8, 20102
Falcon LakeTX301.2309.31 ft, Jul 17, 20100
LaredoTX8.061.35 ft, Jun 30, 19547
Lower BrownsvilleTX27.031.48 ft, Oct 8, 19456
Rio Grande CityTX50.065.78 ft, Sep 27, 19723
San BenitoTX55.061.06 ft, Sep 29, 19671

Other gauges in Webb County

Flood gauges in Webb County
Laredo8.061.35 ft, Jun 30, 19547

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CBBT2, 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.