Memorial Day Flood (2015): peak water levels
75 river and stream gauges and 8 tide gauges · Houston–Galveston · May 24, 2015 to May 30, 2015
Against today's NWS flood stages, 19 of the 75 river and stream gauges here peaked at or above a flood stage (3 at major, 11 at moderate, 5 at minor). For 1 of them it is the highest peak in their comparable USGS record: Brays Bayou at Gessner Dr, Houston. The highest tide gauge reading was 3.36 ft above MHHW at Manchester (May 26, 2015 at 3:00 AM CDT).
River and stream gauges
Houston–Galveston
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brays Bayou at Gessner Dr, Houston | 61.60 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:45 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 19 years of record |
| West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble | 53.65 ft | May 29, 2015 at 4:45 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Trinity River at Liberty | 29.96 ft | May 31, 2015 at 11:15 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Cypress Creek at Katy-Hockley Rd near Hockley | 159.45 ft | May 29, 2015 at 8:15 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Spring Creek near Spring | 95.08 ft | May 28, 2015 at 6:30 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou at W Belt Dr, Houston | 65.00 ft | May 26, 2015 at 3:00 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou at Piney Point | 58.28 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:45 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Greens Bayou near Houston | 58.09 ft | May 26, 2015 at 3:45 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| Brazos River near Rosharon | 51.04 ft | May 31, 2015 at 11:30 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| Brazos River at Richmond | 49.55 ft | May 31, 2015 at 8:00 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brays Bayou at Houston | 42.83 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:00 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| White Oak Bayou at Houston | 35.64 ft | May 25, 2015 at 11:45 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| San Bernard River near Boling | 30.50 ft | May 27, 2015 at 4:00 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Big Creek near Needville | 21.35 ft | May 26, 2015 at 11:30 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River near Conroe | 116.51 ft | May 28, 2015 at 3:15 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Menard Creek near Rye | 20.55 ft | May 27, 2015 at 11:45 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Peach Creek at Splendora | 15.23 ft | May 27, 2015 at 7:00 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Clear Creek near Friendswood | 13.21 ft | May 26, 2015 at 12:30 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| San Jacinto River near Sheldon | 11.05 ft | May 29, 2015 at 7:15 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Spring Creek near Tomball | 153.31 ft | May 27, 2015 | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Willow Creek near Tomball | 126.95 ft | May 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Brazos River at San Felipe | 122.21 ft | May 31, 2015 at 9:30 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cypress Creek at Grant Rd near Cypress | 119.82 ft | May 27, 2015 at 9:45 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2023 |
| Bear Creek near Barker | 110.04 ft | May 25, 2015 at 11:15 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Langham Creek at W Little York Rd near Addicks | 107.02 ft | May 25, 2015 at 11:15 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Cypress Creek near Westfield | 84.26 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:15 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Greens Bayou near US Highway 75 near Houston | 82.90 ft | May 26, 2015 at 12:30 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cedar Bayou near Crosby | 51.72 ft | May 26, 2015 at 10:30 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Clear Creek at Mykawa St near Pearland | 42.84 ft | May 26, 2015 at 10:00 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Trinity River at Romayor | 38.11 ft | May 29, 2015 at 3:30 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| East Fork San Jacinto River near Cleveland | 16.82 ft | May 28, 2015 at 7:45 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Caney Creek near Splendora | 16.74 ft | May 27, 2015 at 12:45 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Cypress Creek at Sharp Rd near Hockley | 166.72 ft | May 28, 2015 at 6:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Little Cypress Creek near Cypress | 158.34 ft | May 27, 2015 at 10:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cypress Creek at House-Hahl Rd near Cypress | 144.47 ft | May 27, 2015 at 4:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Bear Branch at Research Blvd, The Woodlands | 138.24 ft | May 27, 2015 at 8:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Panther Branch at Gosling Rd, The Woodlands | 134.84 ft | May 27, 2015 at 9:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Greens Bayou at Cutten Rd near Houston | 109.43 ft | May 25, 2015 at 11:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Panther Branch near Spring | 108.58 ft | May 27, 2015 at 8:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Katy | 107.07 ft | May 26, 2015 at 12:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Cypress Creek at Stuebner-Airline Rd near Westfield | 102.69 ft | May 27, 2015 at 10:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Fulshear | 100.23 ft | May 26, 2015 at 12:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Langham Creek near Addicks | 97.50 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Dry Creek near Rosenberg | 82.64 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Cole Creek at Deihl Rd, Houston | 79.64 ft | May 25, 2015 at 11:15 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Keegans Bayou at Roark Rd near Houston | 74.44 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou at State Highway 6 near Addicks | 73.49 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brickhouse Gully at Costa Rica St, Houston | 70.94 ft | May 26, 2015 at 12:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2001 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Addicks | 69.30 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brays Bayou at Alief | 67.33 ft | May 26, 2015 at 3:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Langham Creek at Addicks Reservoir Outflow near Addicks | 64.57 ft | May 31, 2015 at 11:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Halls Bayou at Houston | 54.82 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Garners Bayou near Humble | 52.37 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| White Oak Bayou at Alabonson Rd, Houston | 47.45 ft | May 26, 2015 at 1:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Lake Houston near Sheldon | 44.74 ft | May 29, 2015 at 11:00 AM CDT | — | — |
| Little White Oak Bayou at Trimble St, Houston | 44.02 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Sims Bayou at Hiram Clarke St, Houston | 42.97 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Hunting Bayou at Hoffman St, Houston | 41.50 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2008 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River below Lake Conroe near Conroe | 34.81 ft | May 27, 2015 at 12:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Greens Bayou at Ley Rd, Houston | 34.19 ft | May 26, 2015 at 11:30 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Buffalo Bayou at Houston | 33.77 ft | May 26, 2015 at 5:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Hunting Bayou at IH 610, Houston | 33.32 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River above Lake Houston near Porter | 32.40 ft | May 28, 2015 | 48.6 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| White Oak Bayou at Main St, Houston | 31.03 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brays Bayou at MLK Jr Blvd, Houston | 29.63 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Chocolate Bayou near Alvin | 27.33 ft | May 27, 2015 at 10:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Berry Bayou at Nevada St, Houston | 24.66 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Sims Bayou at Houston | 22.38 ft | May 26, 2015 at 5:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Goose Creek at Baytown | 19.46 ft | May 26, 2015 at 3:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| East Fork San Jacinto River near New Caney | 18.77 ft | May 29, 2015 at 9:15 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Vince Bayou at Pasadena | 18.13 ft | May 26, 2015 at 2:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Lake Charlotte near Anahuac | 14.02 ft | May 31, 2015 at 11:00 PM CDT | — | — |
| Buffalo Bayou at Turning Basin, Houston | 5.55 ft | May 26, 2015 at 5:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| CWA Canal near Dayton | 2.86 ft | May 30, 2015 at 7:45 AM CDT | — | — |
| West Fork Double Bayou at Eagle Ferry Rd near Anahuac | 2.73 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:30 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | +3.36 ft | May 26, 2015 at 3:00 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | +10.45 ft (August 29, 2017) |
| Eagle Point, Galveston Bay | +1.84 ft | May 26, 2015 at 5:18 PM CDT | 1.0 ft below NWS minor | +10.70 ft (September 13, 2008) |
| Morgans Point, Barbours Cut | +1.71 ft | May 26, 2015 at 5:00 PM CDT | 0.7 ft below NWS minor | +5.45 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| Rollover Pass | +1.71 ft | May 26, 2015 at 1:48 AM CDT | 0.5 ft below NWS minor | +4.92 ft (July 9, 2024) |
| High Island | +1.57 ft | May 26, 2015 at 4:30 PM CDT | 1.6 ft below NWS minor | +4.33 ft (August 30, 2017) |
| Galveston Bay Entrance, North Jetty | +1.32 ft | May 24, 2015 at 10:30 AM CDT | 0.5 ft below NWS minor | +4.19 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| San Luis Pass | +1.26 ft | May 26, 2015 at 1:54 PM CDT | 1.4 ft below NWS minor | +4.33 ft (September 21, 2020) |
| Galveston Pier 21 | +1.20 ft | May 24, 2015 at 10:48 AM CDT | 1.4 ft below NWS minor | +12.11 ft (September 8, 1900) |
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 May 24, 2015 and May 30, 2015 (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. 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