Tax Day Flood (2016): peak water levels
76 river and stream gauges and 8 tide gauges · Houston–Galveston · April 17, 2016 to April 23, 2016
Against today's NWS flood stages, 25 of the 76 river and stream gauges here peaked at or above a flood stage (12 at major, 6 at moderate, 7 at minor). For 6 of them it is the highest peak in their comparable USGS record: Bear Creek near Barker, Langham Creek at W Little York Rd near Addicks, Greens Bayou near US Highway 75 near Houston, Little Cypress Creek near Cypress, Panther Branch at Gosling Rd, The Woodlands, Greens Bayou at Cutten Rd near Houston. The highest tide gauge reading was 4.82 ft above MHHW at Manchester (Apr 18, 2016 at 8:30 AM CDT).
River and stream gauges
Houston–Galveston
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bear Creek near Barker | 114.86 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:45 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 16 years of record |
| Langham Creek at W Little York Rd near Addicks | 112.64 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 15 years of record |
| Cypress Creek at Katy-Hockley Rd near Hockley | 162.34 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 2:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cypress Creek at Grant Rd near Cypress | 127.52 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 5:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Spring Creek near Spring | 103.68 ft | Apr 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cypress Creek near Westfield | 90.57 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 1:45 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brays Bayou at Gessner Dr, Houston | 61.26 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 10:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2015 |
| Greens Bayou near Houston | 59.53 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble | 57.32 ft | Apr 20, 2016 at 7:30 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| San Bernard River near Boling | 35.54 ft | Apr 22, 2016 at 5:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| Peach Creek at Splendora | 20.87 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 7:45 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| San Jacinto River near Sheldon | 15.58 ft | Apr 20, 2016 at 8:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Lake Creek at Sendera Ranch Rd near Conroe | 142.14 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 6:30 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Willow Creek near Tomball | 132.13 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 8:15 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou at W Belt Dr, Houston | 65.29 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 10:15 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou at Piney Point | 57.75 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 12:00 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brazos River near Rosharon | 51.05 ft | Apr 24, 2016 at 4:45 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| Brazos River at Richmond | 49.67 ft | Apr 21, 2016 at 10:45 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Greens Bayou near US Highway 75 near Houston | 86.16 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 6:00 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest in 17 years of record |
| Brazos River at San Felipe | 123.41 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 12:30 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brays Bayou at Houston | 41.98 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:45 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Trinity River at Liberty | 26.52 ft | Apr 21, 2016 at 11:45 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Menard Creek near Rye | 21.93 ft | Apr 20, 2016 at 9:45 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Big Creek near Needville | 19.19 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:15 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| Caney Creek near Splendora | 17.27 ft | Apr 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River near Conroe | 114.85 ft | Apr 20, 2016 at 2:00 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Cedar Bayou near Crosby | 50.75 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 7:30 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Clear Creek at Mykawa St near Pearland | 40.94 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 2:30 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| East Fork San Jacinto River near Cleveland | 17.41 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 10:45 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Clear Creek near Friendswood | 10.51 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:45 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Little Cypress Creek near Cypress | 161.45 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 11:30 AM CDT | — | highest in 19 years of record |
| Panther Branch at Gosling Rd, The Woodlands | 137.86 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 6:15 AM CDT | — | highest in 13 years of record |
| Greens Bayou at Cutten Rd near Houston | 112.43 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 15 years of record |
| Cypress Creek at Sharp Rd near Hockley | 169.83 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 10:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cypress Creek at House-Hahl Rd near Cypress | 148.18 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 12:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Bear Branch at Research Blvd, The Woodlands | 140.27 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 6:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Panther Branch near Spring | 116.37 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| South Mayde Creek at Heathergold Dr near Addicks | 112.36 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Katy | 111.92 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 2:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cypress Creek at Stuebner-Airline Rd near Westfield | 110.46 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 12:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Langham Creek near Addicks | 102.87 ft | Apr 24, 2016 at 12:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Fulshear | 101.64 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 6:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cole Creek at Deihl Rd, Houston | 80.40 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:30 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Dry Creek near Rosenberg | 77.03 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Buffalo Bayou at State Highway 6 near Addicks | 76.63 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Keegans Bayou at Roark Rd near Houston | 74.33 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Langham Creek at Addicks Reservoir Outflow near Addicks | 74.15 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Addicks | 70.92 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brickhouse Gully at Costa Rica St, Houston | 69.45 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 8:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2015 |
| Brays Bayou at Alief | 67.06 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Garners Bayou near Humble | 51.75 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 4:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Halls Bayou at Houston | 51.09 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 1:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| White Oak Bayou at Alabonson Rd, Houston | 50.66 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 12:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Lake Houston near Sheldon | 46.07 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 11:30 AM CDT | — | — |
| Little White Oak Bayou at Trimble St, Houston | 39.59 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 7:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Hunting Bayou at Hoffman St, Houston | 39.16 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 7:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River below Lake Conroe near Conroe | 33.60 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 4:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Sims Bayou at Hiram Clarke St, Houston | 32.77 ft | Apr 24, 2016 at 6:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Greens Bayou at Ley Rd, Houston | 32.22 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 12:15 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Buffalo Bayou at Houston | 31.94 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 1:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Hunting Bayou at IH 610, Houston | 30.92 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Trinity River at Romayor | 28.97 ft | Apr 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM CDT | 11.0 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| White Oak Bayou at Main St, Houston | 28.85 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 11:30 AM CDT | — | — |
| Brays Bayou at MLK Jr Blvd, Houston | 27.99 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 10:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Chocolate Bayou near Alvin | 27.16 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 7:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Berry Bayou at Nevada St, Houston | 24.37 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 8:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| White Oak Bayou at Houston | 24.10 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 12:00 AM CDT | 7.9 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| East Fork San Jacinto River near New Caney | 20.64 ft | Apr 20, 2016 at 4:45 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Sims Bayou at Houston | 19.71 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 11:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Goose Creek at Baytown | 17.78 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Vince Bayou at Pasadena | 16.48 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Trinity River near Moss Bluff | 12.82 ft | Apr 23, 2016 at 5:15 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | — |
| Lake Charlotte near Anahuac | 11.78 ft | Apr 24, 2016 at 10:30 PM CDT | — | — |
| Buffalo Bayou at Turning Basin, Houston | 7.21 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| West Fork Double Bayou at Eagle Ferry Rd near Anahuac | 3.93 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 7:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| CWA Canal near Dayton | 2.86 ft | Apr 21, 2016 at 7:45 AM CDT | — | — |
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 | +4.82 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 8:30 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | +10.45 ft (August 29, 2017) |
| Eagle Point, Galveston Bay | +2.87 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 9:30 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +10.70 ft (September 13, 2008) |
| Morgans Point, Barbours Cut | +2.83 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 5:48 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +5.45 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| Rollover Pass | +2.46 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 10:24 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +4.92 ft (July 9, 2024) |
| Galveston Bay Entrance, North Jetty | +2.22 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 2:36 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +4.19 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| San Luis Pass | +2.58 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 1:48 AM CDT | 0.1 ft below NWS minor | +4.33 ft (September 21, 2020) |
| Galveston Pier 21 | +2.34 ft | Apr 18, 2016 at 2:42 AM CDT | 0.3 ft below NWS minor | +12.11 ft (September 8, 1900) |
| High Island | +2.32 ft | Apr 19, 2016 at 7:18 AM CDT | 0.8 ft below NWS minor | +4.33 ft (August 30, 2017) |
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 April 17, 2016 and April 23, 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 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