August 2016 Louisiana Flood: peak water levels
107 river and stream gauges and 13 tide gauges · Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, Lafayette and Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and the Northshore · August 11, 2016 to August 24, 2016
Against today's NWS flood stages, 32 of the 107 river and stream gauges here peaked at or above a flood stage (18 at major, 9 at moderate, 5 at minor). For 39 of them it is the highest peak in their comparable USGS record: Amite River at Magnolia, Amite River near Denham Springs, Comite River near Comite, Tchefuncte River near Covington, Tangipahoa River at Robert, Tickfaw River at Montpelier and 33 more. The highest tide gauge reading was 2.22 ft above MHHW at Freshwater Canal Locks (Aug 13, 2016 at 9:48 AM CDT).
River and stream gauges
Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mermentau River at Mermentau | 10.82 ft | Aug 18, 2016 at 9:45 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 1986 |
| Calcasieu River near Oberlin | 18.29 ft | Aug 18, 2016 at 8:30 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Bayou Nezpique near Basile | 22.25 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 8:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Ouiska Chitto Creek near Oberlin | 16.42 ft | Aug 18, 2016 at 12:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bundick Creek near DeRidder | 16.05 ft | Aug 19, 2016 at 4:30 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bundick Lake at Spillway near DeRidder | 7.56 ft | Aug 22, 2016 at 11:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| North Calcasieu Lake near Hackberry | 4.53 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 12:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Calcasieu River at I-10 at Lake Charles | 2.82 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 5:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Calcasieu River at Cameron | 2.61 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 1:30 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
Lafayette and Acadiana
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayou Des Cannes near Eunice | 22.37 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 12:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 88 years of record |
| Vermilion River at Surrey St. at Lafayette | 17.62 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 2:45 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 47 years of record |
| Vermilion River near Lafayette | 14.99 ft | Aug 17, 2016 at 5:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 30 years of record |
| Vermilion River (B. Vermilion) near Carencro | 21.53 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 3:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2012 |
| Bayou Courtableau at Washington | 30.59 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 7:00 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 1986 |
| Vermilion Bay near Cypremort Point | 4.71 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 11:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Vermilion River at Highway 733 near Lafayette | 19.91 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 8:00 PM CDT | — | highest in 30 years of record |
| Bayou Teche at Adeline Bridge near Jeanerette | 5.91 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 4:45 AM CDT | — | highest in 30 years of record |
| State Canal near Krotz Springs | 19.55 ft | Aug 18, 2016 at 9:50 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 1973 |
| Bayou Teche at Keystone Lock and Dam near St. Martinville | 16.66 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 4:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 1927 |
| Bayou Teche below Keystone Lock and Dam near St. Martinville | 16.50 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 4:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 1927 |
| Lake Pelba at I-10 near Henderson | 14.71 ft | Aug 25, 2016 at 10:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Darby near Lake Fausse Point Cut | 11.91 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 2:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Pontoon Bridge Canal near Butte Larose | 10.77 ft | Aug 25, 2016 at 9:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Atchafalaya River at Butte La Rose | 8.75 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 5:30 AM CDT | 11.2 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Arm of Grand Lake near Crook Chene Cove | 8.42 ft | Aug 18, 2016 at 3:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2025 |
| Vermilion Bay(B. Fearman) near Intracoastal City | 8.14 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 1:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Mouth of Atchafalaya River at Atchafalaya Bay | 6.90 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Chicot Pass near Myette Point near Charenton | 5.20 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 5:30 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Wax Lake Outlet at Calumet | 4.74 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 11:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Teche west of Calumet Flood Gate at Calumet | 4.54 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 9:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Middle Fork Bayou Long at Bayou Long | 4.48 ft | Aug 18, 2016 at 5:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Lower Atchafalaya River at Morgan City | 4.32 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 12:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Little Bayou Long North of Duck Lake | 4.27 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 5:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| GIWW at Bayou Sale Ridge near Franklin | 4.15 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 12:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Teche east of Calumet Flood Gate at Calumet | 3.80 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 2:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
Baton Rouge
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amite River at Magnolia | 58.56 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 6:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 62 years of record |
| Amite River near Denham Springs | 46.20 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 4:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 48 years of record |
| Comite River near Comite | 34.22 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 3:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 21 years of record |
| Tickfaw River at Montpelier | 25.84 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 5:30 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 25 years of record |
| Tickfaw River at Holden | 22.16 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 1:30 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 86 years of record |
| Bayou Manchac near Little Prairie | 21.49 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 11:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 38 years of record |
| Amite River at Port Vincent | 17.90 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 11:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 70 years of record |
| Tickfaw River at Liverpool | 13.76 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 8:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 69 years of record |
| Amite River near French Settlement | 9.21 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 3:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 58 years of record |
| Amite River near Darlington | 22.54 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 8:30 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest in 61 years of record |
| Amite River at Highway 22 near Maurepas | 5.80 ft | Aug 17, 2016 at 5:22 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Beaver Bayou at Denham Road near Baton Rouge | 72.29 ft | August 12, 2016 | — | highest in 40 years of record |
| Hurricane Creek at Baton Rouge | 55.83 ft | August 14, 2016 | — | highest in 56 years of record |
| Comite River at Greenwell Springs Road near Baton Rouge | 54.06 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 6:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 61 years of record |
| Jones Creek at Old Hammond Highway near Baton Rouge | 42.31 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 6:00 PM CDT | — | highest in 30 years of record |
| Comite River at Point Hudson-Pride Road near Milldale | 39.55 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 6:33 AM CDT | — | highest in 24 years of record |
| Claycut Bayou at Antioch Road near Baton Rouge | 28.54 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 7:00 PM CDT | — | highest in 30 years of record |
| Corporation Canal at East Roosevelt Street at Baton Rouge | 24.57 ft | August 13, 2016 | — | highest in 47 years of record |
| Welsh Gully at J. Broussard Road near Prairieville | 19.86 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 1:00 PM CDT | — | highest in 28 years of record |
| Old Ward Creek Diversion at Highland Road near Baton Rouge | 19.47 ft | August 15, 2016 | — | highest in 25 years of record |
| Henderson Bayou near Port Vincent | 15.61 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 1:30 PM CDT | — | highest in 28 years of record |
| Beaver Bayou at Hooper Road near Baton Rouge | 13.50 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 12:00 PM CDT | — | highest in 12 years of record |
| Alligator Bayou near Kleinpeter | 13.12 ft | Aug 21, 2016 at 4:30 PM CDT | — | highest in 26 years of record |
| Bluff Swamp near Kleinpeter | 13.12 ft | Aug 21, 2016 at 4:30 PM CDT | — | highest in 27 years of record |
| Grand Goudine at Babin Road near Duplessis | 11.50 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 9:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 29 years of record |
| Black Bayou east of Gonzales | 9.60 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 7:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 30 years of record |
| Panama Canal at Highway 44 near Gonzales | 8.95 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 29 years of record |
| Bayou Francois at Highway 61 near Gonzales | 8.24 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 6:45 PM CDT | — | highest in 30 years of record |
| White Bayou at State Highway 64 near Zachary | 43.87 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 5:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Ward Creek at Government St at Baton Rouge | 43.87 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 7:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 1995 |
| Comite River near Zachary | 31.99 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 7:00 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Comite River at Comite Dr near Baton Rouge | 29.36 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 7:45 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| North Branch Ward Creek at Baton Rouge | 28.77 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 8:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Ward Creek at Essen Lane near Baton Rouge | 25.83 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Dawson Creek at Bluebonnet Blvd near Baton Rouge | 23.63 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 1:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Bayou Fountain at Bluebonnet Blvd near B.R. | 15.23 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 3:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Bayou Manchac at Alligator Bayou near Kleinpeter | 15.10 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 7:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2001 |
| Bayou Lafourche southwest of Donaldsonville | 11.12 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 6:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2014 |
| Lower Grand River at Bayou Sorrel | 10.29 ft | Aug 17, 2016 at 2:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Black Bayou at Highway 621 near Prairieville | 9.85 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 8:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2012 |
New Orleans and the Northshore
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tchefuncte River near Covington | 30.02 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 7:30 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 28 years of record |
| Tangipahoa River at Robert | 27.33 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 7:30 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 89 years of record |
| Tchefuncte River near Folsom | 24.28 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 1:15 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 82 years of record |
| Tangipahoa River near Kentwood | 18.35 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 3:50 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 28 years of record |
| Tangipahoa River near Amite | 29.28 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 11:45 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest in 21 years of record |
| Natalbany River at Baptist | 24.33 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 11:00 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest in 82 years of record |
| Bogue Falaya River near Camp Covington | 53.06 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 4:00 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton | 20.65 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 11:30 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2012 |
| Bogue Chitto River near Bush | 17.22 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 4:00 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2012 |
| Pearl River at Pearl River | 16.45 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 5:45 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bogue Falaya River at Boston St. at Covington | 9.31 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 3:30 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Tangipahoa River near Ponchatoula | 21.87 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 2:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 13 years of record |
| Pearl River at Pools Bluff near Bogalusa | 60.75 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 9:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Abita River north of Abita Springs | 20.27 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 6:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| East Pearl River at I-59 near Nicholson | 17.75 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 5:30 PM CDT | — | — |
| Bogue Falaya at Covington | 17.00 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 1:15 PM CDT | — | — |
| Pearl River near Bogalusa | 15.30 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM CDT | 2.7 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Mississippi River at Belle Chasse | 12.02 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 11:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion near Boutte | 10.27 ft | Aug 11, 2016 at 11:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Barataria Pass at Grand Isle | 8.42 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 9:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Crooked Bayou northwest of Lake Cuatro Caballo near Delacroix | 6.15 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 2:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Little Lake near Bay Dosgris east of Galliano | 5.86 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 12:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Lake Cataouatche at Whiskey Canal south of Waggaman | 5.35 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 4:00 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Barataria Bay near Grand Terre Island | 4.01 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 9:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Rigolets at Highway 90 near Slidell | 2.83 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 5:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Liberty near Slidell | 2.62 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 5:30 PM CDT | 4.4 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Tchefuncte River at Madisonville | 2.10 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 1:45 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Hackberry Bay northwest of Grand Isle | 2.09 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 10:00 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Northeast Bay Gardene near Point-A-LA-Hache | 1.90 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 12:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| L Pontchartrain at Crossover 4 near Mandeville | 1.75 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 5:30 PM CDT | — | — |
| Caernarvon Outfall Channel at Caernarvon | 1.60 ft | Aug 17, 2016 at 9:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Reggio Canal near Wills Point | 1.23 ft | Aug 17, 2016 at 8:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
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.
Tide gauges
| Tide gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's flood thresholds | Station record (NOAA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshwater Canal Locks | +2.22 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 9:48 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +8.00 ft (September 12, 2008) |
| Eugene Island, North of, Atchafalaya Bay | +1.73 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 10:24 AM CDT | — | +5.24 ft (October 10, 2020) |
| LAWMA, Amerada Pass | +1.64 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 10:24 AM CDT | 0.8 ft below NWS minor | +6.55 ft (July 13, 2019) |
| New Canal Station | +1.59 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 6:30 PM CDT | 2.5 ft below NWS minor | +5.97 ft (August 30, 2012) |
| West Bank 1, Bayou Gauche | 1.35 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 5:48 PM CDT | — | — |
| Calcasieu Pass | +1.26 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 1:24 PM CDT | 0.9 ft below NWS minor | +10.07 ft (September 13, 2008) |
| Shell Beach | +1.05 ft | Aug 17, 2016 at 2:24 PM CDT | 0.9 ft below NWS minor | +9.37 ft (August 29, 2012) |
| Lake Charles | +1.03 ft | Aug 14, 2016 at 12:30 PM CDT | 0.6 ft below NWS minor | +4.64 ft (August 27, 2020) |
| Bulk Terminal | +1.02 ft | Aug 15, 2016 at 6:30 PM CDT | 0.7 ft below NOAA minor HTF | +4.50 ft (August 27, 2020) |
| Pilots Station East, S.W. Pass | +0.87 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 9:30 AM CDT | 0.8 ft below NOAA minor HTF | +5.54 ft (August 29, 2005) |
| Berwick, Atchafalaya River | +0.76 ft | Aug 13, 2016 at 1:30 PM CDT | 1.3 ft below NWS minor | +6.74 ft (July 13, 2019) |
| Grand Isle | +0.48 ft | Aug 12, 2016 at 7:36 AM CDT | 0.9 ft below NOAA minor HTF | +4.61 ft (August 29, 2021) |
| Pilottown | +0.10 ft | Aug 16, 2016 at 8:42 AM CDT | — | +4.61 ft (August 29, 2012) |
Highest six-minute water level in the window, relative to mean higher high water (an ordinary high tide) on today's tidal datum.
How this page is built
Each gauge's highest reading between August 11, 2016 and August 24, 2016 (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 Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana, Lafayette and Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and the Northshore. 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