Hurricane Ike (2008): peak water levels
115 river and stream gauges and 13 tide gauges · Houston–Galveston, Beaumont–Port Arthur, Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, Lafayette and Acadiana · September 11, 2008 to September 18, 2008
Against today's NWS flood stages, 13 of the 115 river and stream gauges here peaked at or above a flood stage (2 at major, 4 at moderate, 7 at minor). For 4 of them it is the highest peak in their comparable USGS record: Sabine River (at Navy Pier) at Orange, Hunting Bayou at Hoffman St, Houston, Buffalo Bayou at Turning Basin, Houston, Calcasieu River at I-10 at Lake Charles. The highest tide gauge reading was 10.93 ft above MHHW at Port Arthur (Sep 13, 2008 at 4:12 AM CDT).
Tide gauges
| Tide gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's flood thresholds | Station record (NOAA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | +10.76 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 12:00 PM CDT | at or above NWS major | +10.45 ft (August 29, 2017) |
| Eagle Point, Galveston Bay | +10.70 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 1:24 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | this storm |
| Rollover Pass | +10.47 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 2:12 PM CDT | at or above NWS major | +4.92 ft (July 9, 2024) |
| Calcasieu Pass | +10.07 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 2:42 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | this storm |
| Galveston Pier 21 | +9.42 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 4:00 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | +12.11 ft (September 8, 1900) |
| Rainbow Bridge | +8.91 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 4:54 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | +3.05 ft (July 9, 2024) |
| Galveston Bay Entrance, North Jetty | +8.11 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 8:12 PM CDT | at or above NWS major | +4.19 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| Freshwater Canal Locks | +8.03 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 6:48 PM CDT | at or above NWS major | this storm |
| Morgans Point, Barbours Cut | +7.78 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 2:06 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | +5.45 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| LAWMA, Amerada Pass | +6.16 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 2:48 PM CDT | at or above NWS major | +6.55 ft (July 13, 2019) |
| Berwick, Atchafalaya River | +3.65 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 2:30 PM CDT | at or above NWS moderate | +6.74 ft (July 13, 2019) |
| Lake Charles | +2.05 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 3:30 PM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +4.64 ft (August 27, 2020) |
| Port Arthur | +10.93 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 4:12 AM CDT | — | +3.72 ft (September 3, 2017) |
Highest six-minute water level in the window, relative to mean higher high water (an ordinary high tide) on today's tidal datum.
River and stream gauges
Houston–Galveston
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greens Bayou near Houston | 58.41 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 1:15 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| Peach Creek at Splendora | 18.03 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 2:00 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Clear Creek near Friendswood | 16.39 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 4:15 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2020 |
| Brays Bayou at Houston | 41.02 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 9:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Greens Bayou near US Highway 75 near Houston | 83.49 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 8:45 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brays Bayou at Gessner Dr, Houston | 56.57 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 9:15 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Clear Creek at Mykawa St near Pearland | 42.71 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 3:30 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Caney Creek near Splendora | 15.62 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 8:45 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| East Fork San Jacinto River near Cleveland | 13.59 ft | Sep 16, 2008 at 7:15 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Hunting Bayou at Hoffman St, Houston | 42.31 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 10:30 AM CDT | — | highest in 19 years of record |
| Buffalo Bayou at Turning Basin, Houston | 14.76 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 9:45 AM CDT | — | highest in 35 years of record |
| Little Cypress Creek near Cypress | 158.34 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 6:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Spring Creek near Tomball | 150.14 ft | September 14, 2008 | 4.9 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Panther Branch near Spring | 117.11 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 3:30 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Greens Bayou at Cutten Rd near Houston | 114.29 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 8:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Langham Creek near Addicks | 102.14 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 9:15 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Buffalo Bayou near Fulshear | 99.25 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 8:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Cole Creek at Deihl Rd, Houston | 79.56 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 7:15 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Keegans Bayou at Roark Rd near Houston | 71.25 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 8:30 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Dry Creek near Rosenberg | 70.59 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 1:45 PM CDT | — | — |
| Brickhouse Gully at Costa Rica St, Houston | 68.88 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 8:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2016 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Addicks | 67.56 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 9:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Brays Bayou at Alief | 62.09 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 8:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Halls Bayou at Houston | 62.04 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Buffalo Bayou at W Belt Dr, Houston | 61.37 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 11:00 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Cypress Creek at Sharp Rd near Hockley | 60.27 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 7:30 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Garners Bayou near Humble | 55.36 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 11:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Buffalo Bayou at Piney Point | 54.70 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 1:15 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Cypress Creek at Katy-Hockley Rd near Hockley | 51.34 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 4:00 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Lake Houston near Sheldon | 48.29 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 11:00 PM CDT | — | — |
| White Oak Bayou at Alabonson Rd, Houston | 46.06 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 8:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| White Oak Bayou at Houston | 46.00 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 9:30 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Little White Oak Bayou at Trimble St, Houston | 42.96 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 10:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cypress Creek at House-Hahl Rd near Cypress | 42.23 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 4:15 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Cypress Creek at Grant Rd near Cypress | 41.79 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 12:30 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Hunting Bayou at IH 610, Houston | 39.76 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 12:30 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Cypress Creek at Stuebner-Airline Rd near Westfield | 37.31 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 3:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Sims Bayou at Hiram Clarke St, Houston | 36.64 ft | Sep 18, 2008 at 2:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Greens Bayou at Ley Rd, Houston | 36.24 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 8:30 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Buffalo Bayou near Katy | 33.53 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 8:30 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Buffalo Bayou at Houston | 32.41 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 12:00 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Willow Creek near Tomball | 32.02 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 1:15 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| White Oak Bayou at Main St, Houston | 30.29 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 10:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Brays Bayou at MLK Jr Blvd, Houston | 30.06 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River above Lake Houston near Porter | 29.87 ft | September 14, 2008 | 51.1 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Cypress Creek near Westfield | 28.20 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 5:15 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| West Fork San Jacinto River below Lake Conroe near Conroe | 26.58 ft | Sep 19, 2008 at 9:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2025 |
| Spring Creek near Spring | 26.50 ft | September 14, 2008 | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Langham Creek at W Little York Rd near Addicks | 24.88 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 7:15 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Berry Bayou at Nevada St, Houston | 24.39 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 8:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Chocolate Bayou near Alvin | 24.22 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 11:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Cedar Bayou near Crosby | 23.49 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 4:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Sims Bayou at Houston | 23.12 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Trinity River at Romayor | 19.68 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 4:00 AM CDT | 20.3 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Trinity River at Liberty | 19.37 ft | Sep 16, 2008 at 4:30 AM CDT | 6.6 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Vince Bayou at Pasadena | 19.12 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 9:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Goose Creek at Baytown | 18.25 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 9:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| East Fork San Jacinto River near New Caney | 17.46 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 4:45 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Menard Creek near Rye | 16.49 ft | Sep 18, 2008 at 9:00 AM CDT | 3.5 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bear Branch at Research Blvd, The Woodlands | 15.81 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 2:30 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Bear Creek near Barker | 14.57 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 7:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| San Jacinto River near Sheldon | 14.51 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 7:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Panther Branch at Gosling Rd, The Woodlands | 13.80 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 2:45 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| West Fork San Jacinto River near Conroe | 12.86 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 9:45 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Brazos River at Richmond | 12.82 ft | Sep 16, 2008 at 9:15 AM CDT | 32.2 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Trinity River near Moss Bluff | 12.77 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 3:30 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | — |
| Big Creek near Needville | 10.61 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 3:00 PM CDT | 8.4 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Brazos River near Rosharon | 9.51 ft | Sep 17, 2008 at 1:15 AM CDT | 33.5 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| San Bernard River near Boling | 6.83 ft | Sep 17, 2008 at 5:30 AM CDT | 11.2 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| CWA Canal near Dayton | 2.97 ft | Sep 17, 2008 at 12:00 PM CDT | — | — |
Beaumont–Port Arthur
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sabine River (at Navy Pier) at Orange | 9.86 ft | September 13, 2008 | at or above major flood stage | highest in 19 years of record |
| Neches River Saltwater Barrier at Beaumont | 9.61 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 3:15 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Pine Island Bayou near Sour Lake | 26.47 ft | Sep 18, 2008 at 6:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Cow Bayou near Mauriceville | 16.63 ft | Sep 17, 2008 at 7:00 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Pine Island Bayou above BI Pump Plant, Beaumont | 10.00 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 6:30 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Sabine River at Toledo Bend Powerhouse near Burkeville | 93.75 ft | Sep 16, 2008 at 6:15 PM CDT | — | — |
| Neches River near Town Bluff | 60.63 ft | Sep 19, 2008 at 3:15 PM CDT | 7.4 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Sabine River near Burkeville | 23.53 ft | Sep 16, 2008 at 7:45 PM CDT | 12.5 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Sabine River near Ruliff | 22.32 ft | Sep 19, 2008 at 8:45 AM CDT | 1.7 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Sabine River near Bon Wier | 20.73 ft | Sep 17, 2008 at 11:30 AM CDT | 9.3 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Neches River at Evadale | 12.89 ft | Sep 19, 2008 at 11:45 PM CDT | 3.1 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Big Cow Creek near Newton | 12.34 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 6:00 PM CDT | 2.7 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Village Creek near Kountze | 11.42 ft | Sep 19, 2008 at 11:00 PM CDT | 5.6 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcasieu River near Oberlin | 17.84 ft | Sep 16, 2008 at 1:30 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Calcasieu River near Kinder | 18.01 ft | Sep 17, 2008 at 5:00 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Ouiska Chitto Creek near Oberlin | 17.84 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 5:00 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Mermentau River at Mermentau | 5.28 ft | Sep 16, 2008 at 1:15 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Calcasieu River at I-10 at Lake Charles | 9.95 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 25 years of record |
| Bayou Nezpique near Basile | 18.54 ft | Sep 11, 2008 at 12:00 AM CDT | 3.5 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Calcasieu River at Cameron | 10.15 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 3:00 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Bundick Lake at Spillway near DeRidder | 7.71 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 6:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bundick Creek near DeRidder | 5.94 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 10:30 AM CDT | 14.1 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| North Calcasieu Lake near Hackberry | 5.16 ft | Sep 11, 2008 at 2:30 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
Lafayette and Acadiana
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vermilion River at Surrey St. at Lafayette | 11.39 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 10:00 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Vermilion Bay near Cypremort Point | 4.04 ft | Sep 11, 2008 at 7:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Courtableau at Washington | 27.12 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 8:45 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| State Canal near Krotz Springs | 16.92 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 5:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Darby near Lake Fausse Point Cut | 14.10 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 11:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Des Cannes near Eunice | 13.98 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 1:30 PM CDT | 2.0 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Lake Pelba at I-10 near Henderson | 13.73 ft | Sep 19, 2008 at 10:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Vermilion Bay(B. Fearman) near Intracoastal City | 12.25 ft | September 12, 2008 | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Murphy Lake near Bayou Sorrel | 11.54 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 1:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Teche at Keystone Lock and Dam near St. Martinville | 11.00 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 8:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose | 9.81 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 11:30 PM CDT | 10.2 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Vermilion River at Highway 733 near Lafayette | 9.34 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 2:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Teche below Keystone Lock and Dam near St. Martinville | 9.31 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 1:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Pontoon Bridge Canal near Butte Larose | 9.23 ft | Sep 19, 2008 at 6:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Arm of Grand Lake near Crook Chene Cove | 8.95 ft | Sep 14, 2008 at 6:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2025 |
| Vermilion River near Lafayette | 8.70 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 5:30 PM CDT | 2.3 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Wax Lake Outlet at Calumet | 8.67 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 7:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| GIWW at Bayou Sale Ridge near Franklin | 7.97 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 8:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Lower Atchafalaya River at Morgan City | 7.93 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 8:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2020 |
| Buffalo Cove at Round Island near Charenton | 7.62 ft | Sep 12, 2008 at 11:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Teche at Adeline Bridge near Jeanerette | 5.71 ft | Sep 13, 2008 at 5:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2016 |
| Chicot Pass near Myette Point near Charenton | 5.53 ft | Sep 15, 2008 at 12:00 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
Highest gage height in the window: from USGS's 15-minute record where it exists, otherwise the gauge's USGS annual peak when that fell in the window (a date only). Flood stages are the National Weather Service's current ones, which can differ from those in use at the time. Peaks USGS records on an earlier datum are listed but not compared.
How this page is built
Each gauge's highest reading between September 11, 2008 and September 18, 2008 (the window runs past the rain because large rivers crest days later), from USGS and NOAA records, for the gauges this site carries today in Houston–Galveston, Beaumont–Port Arthur, Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, Lafayette and Acadiana. Gauges installed since are not listed; a gauge out of service at the time has no row. Harris County's own gauges are not included: this site has their readings only from September 2026. Readings only: this page says nothing about damage or what happened at any street or property.
Every historic flood on this site · Storms since September 2026