Tropical Storm Imelda (2019): peak water levels
113 river and stream gauges and 16 tide gauges · Houston–Galveston, Beaumont–Port Arthur, Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana · September 17, 2019 to September 25, 2019
Against today's NWS flood stages, 17 of the 113 river and stream gauges here peaked at or above a flood stage (9 at major, 2 at moderate, 6 at minor). For 3 of them it is the highest peak in their comparable USGS record: Peach Creek at Splendora, Cow Bayou near Mauriceville, Greens Bayou at Ley Rd, Houston. The highest tide gauge reading was 3.50 ft above MHHW at Manchester (Sep 19, 2019 at 2:48 PM CDT).
Tide gauges
| Tide gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's flood thresholds | Station record (NOAA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester | +3.50 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:48 PM CDT | at or above NWS major | +10.45 ft (August 29, 2017) |
| Rainbow Bridge | +2.60 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 4:30 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +3.05 ft (July 9, 2024) |
| Rollover Pass | +2.42 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 6:18 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +4.92 ft (July 9, 2024) |
| Texas Point, Sabine Pass | +2.14 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 2:06 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +3.21 ft (August 27, 2020) |
| Galveston Bay Entrance, North Jetty | +2.04 ft | Sep 17, 2019 at 6:06 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +4.19 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| Bulk Terminal | +1.70 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 6:48 AM CDT | at or above NOAA minor HTF | +4.50 ft (August 27, 2020) |
| Lake Charles | +1.65 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 6:48 AM CDT | at or above NWS minor | +4.64 ft (August 27, 2020) |
| Port Arthur | +2.67 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 4:42 AM CDT | — | +3.72 ft (September 3, 2017) |
| High Island | +2.59 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 8:48 AM CDT | 0.5 ft below NWS minor | +4.33 ft (August 30, 2017) |
| Eagle Point, Galveston Bay | +2.56 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 8:18 AM CDT | 0.3 ft below NWS minor | +10.70 ft (September 13, 2008) |
| San Luis Pass | +2.37 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 1:42 AM CDT | 0.3 ft below NWS minor | +4.33 ft (September 21, 2020) |
| Morgans Point, Barbours Cut | +2.19 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 8:12 AM CDT | 0.3 ft below NWS minor | +5.45 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| Galveston Railroad Bridge | +2.17 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 5:24 AM CDT | 0.2 ft below NWS minor | +3.73 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| Galveston Pier 21 | +2.09 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 5:12 AM CDT | 0.5 ft below NWS minor | +12.11 ft (September 8, 1900) |
| Freeport Harbor | +1.95 ft | Sep 24, 2019 at 2:12 AM CDT | 0.3 ft below NWS minor | +4.45 ft (September 14, 2021) |
| Calcasieu Pass | +1.94 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 12:48 AM CDT | 0.2 ft below NWS minor | +10.07 ft (September 13, 2008) |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peach Creek at Splendora | 25.99 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 4:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 39 years of record |
| East Fork San Jacinto River near New Caney | 73.01 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 6:15 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River near Humble | 55.41 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 6:30 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| White Oak Bayou at Houston | 38.02 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:15 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Caney Creek near Splendora | 22.15 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 1:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| San Jacinto River near Sheldon | 19.37 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 8:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Greens Bayou near Houston | 59.48 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:15 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Cedar Bayou near Crosby | 57.07 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 4:00 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou at Piney Point | 52.75 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 4:00 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| East Fork San Jacinto River near Cleveland | 19.01 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 1:30 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Cypress Creek near Westfield | 83.50 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:00 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River above Lake Houston near Porter | 79.76 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 9:00 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Buffalo Bayou at W Belt Dr, Houston | 59.34 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:15 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Brays Bayou at Gessner Dr, Houston | 56.99 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:53 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Clear Creek at Mykawa St near Pearland | 41.14 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 6:15 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Brays Bayou at Houston | 39.18 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:45 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Trinity River at Liberty | 25.10 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 11:30 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Clear Creek near Friendswood | 11.64 ft | Sep 18, 2019 at 11:15 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Greens Bayou at Ley Rd, Houston | 33.61 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 2:30 AM CDT | — | highest in 9 years of record |
| Cypress Creek at Sharp Rd near Hockley | 154.81 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 9:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Cypress Creek at Katy-Hockley Rd near Hockley | 146.78 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 1:15 AM CDT | 10.5 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Little Cypress Creek near Cypress | 144.77 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 8:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Spring Creek near Tomball | 140.04 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 10:00 AM CDT | 15.0 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bear Branch at Research Blvd, The Woodlands | 137.57 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 11:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Cypress Creek at House-Hahl Rd near Cypress | 134.32 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 5:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Panther Branch at Gosling Rd, The Woodlands | 133.97 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 1:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Lake Creek at Sendera Ranch Rd near Conroe | 123.32 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:00 PM CDT | 14.7 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Willow Creek near Tomball | 117.76 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 12:00 PM CDT | 11.6 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Spring Creek at Kuykendahl Rd, The Woodlands | 115.68 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 12:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| South Mayde Creek at Heathergold Dr near Addicks | 109.46 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Cypress Creek at Grant Rd near Cypress | 109.36 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 5:00 PM CDT | 12.6 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River near Conroe | 109.13 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:45 PM CDT | 6.7 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Greens Bayou at Cutten Rd near Houston | 108.09 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2020 |
| Panther Branch near Spring | 107.51 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 12:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Katy | 106.14 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 1:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Bear Creek near Barker | 104.51 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:45 PM CDT | 6.5 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Langham Creek at W Little York Rd near Addicks | 103.96 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:30 PM CDT | 5.0 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Fulshear | 99.76 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 1:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Langham Creek near Addicks | 96.56 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 5:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Cypress Creek at Stuebner-Airline Rd near Westfield | 95.31 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Brazos River at San Felipe | 93.87 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 12:30 PM CDT | 28.6 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Spring Creek near Spring | 86.46 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 1:00 PM CDT | 5.0 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Greens Bayou near US Highway 75 near Houston | 80.79 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:15 PM CDT | 4.0 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Dry Creek near Rosenberg | 75.82 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 5:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Cole Creek at Deihl Rd, Houston | 74.00 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 12:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Keegans Bayou at Roark Rd near Houston | 72.80 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| White Oak Bayou at Alabonson Rd, Houston | 70.27 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 12:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Buffalo Bayou at State Highway 6 near Addicks | 67.26 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Langham Creek at Addicks Reservoir Outflow near Addicks | 66.62 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Buffalo Bayou near Addicks | 64.45 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Brickhouse Gully at Costa Rica St, Houston | 64.06 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 1:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brays Bayou at Alief | 63.29 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 1:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Garners Bayou near Humble | 56.42 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 4:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Halls Bayou at Houston | 55.06 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 4:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Lake Houston near Sheldon | 48.27 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 4:30 AM CDT | — | — |
| Little White Oak Bayou at Trimble St, Houston | 42.42 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Hunting Bayou at Hoffman St, Houston | 41.25 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2016 |
| Sims Bayou at Hiram Clarke St, Houston | 40.15 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Brazos River near Sugar Land | 36.41 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 8:45 PM CDT | 30.1 ft below minor flood stage | — |
| Hunting Bayou at IH 610, Houston | 34.11 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 4:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Buffalo Bayou at Houston | 31.01 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 6:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| White Oak Bayou at Main St, Houston | 28.94 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 4:24 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Chocolate Bayou near Alvin | 26.82 ft | Sep 18, 2019 at 2:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Brays Bayou at MLK Jr Blvd, Houston | 25.29 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Berry Bayou at Nevada St, Houston | 21.15 ft | Sep 18, 2019 at 2:08 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| West Fork San Jacinto River below Lake Conroe near Conroe | 20.61 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 10:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Goose Creek at Baytown | 17.84 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 12:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2017 |
| Brazos River near Rosharon | 17.45 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 9:15 AM CDT | 25.6 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Brazos River at Richmond | 15.27 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 8:00 PM CDT | 29.7 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Big Creek near Needville | 15.24 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 9:30 PM CDT | 3.8 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Sims Bayou at Houston | 14.92 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 4:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Trinity River near Moss Bluff | 13.02 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 2:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | — |
| Oyster Creek at FM 2004 near Lake Jackson | 12.89 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 7:15 PM CDT | — | — |
| Trinity River at Romayor | 12.61 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 2:00 AM CDT | 27.4 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Lake Charlotte near Anahuac | 12.18 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 1:15 PM CDT | — | — |
| Vince Bayou at Pasadena | 11.41 ft | Sep 18, 2019 at 2:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bastrop Bayou at CR 288 near Lake Jackson | 11.27 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 7:45 PM CDT | — | — |
| Menard Creek near Rye | 9.26 ft | Sep 18, 2019 at 6:00 PM CDT | 10.7 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| San Bernard River near Boling | 6.34 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 6:30 AM CDT | 11.7 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Buffalo Bayou at Turning Basin, Houston | 5.40 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 2:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| West Fork Double Bayou at Eagle Ferry Rd near Anahuac | 5.11 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 12:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Brazos River near West Columbia | 5.08 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 10:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| San Bernard River near Sweeny | 4.73 ft | Sep 18, 2019 at 10:00 AM CDT | 2.3 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| CWA Canal near Dayton | 3.05 ft | Sep 24, 2019 at 12:30 PM CDT | — | — |
Beaumont–Port Arthur
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cow Bayou near Mauriceville | 24.06 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 7:45 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 24 years of record |
| Pine Island Bayou near Sour Lake | 35.70 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 12:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Neches River Saltwater Barrier at Beaumont | 8.00 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 8:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Pine Island Bayou above BI Pump Plant, Beaumont | 17.71 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 7:45 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2017 |
| Sabine River near Ruliff | 24.76 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 10:15 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Sabine River (at Navy Pier) at Orange | 4.01 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 5:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Sabine River at I-10 near Orange | 3.24 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 8:05 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Village Creek at US Highway 69 near Village Mills | 69.74 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 7:00 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Big Cow Creek near Newton | 14.68 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 2:15 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Village Creek near Kountze | 13.16 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 7:30 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Sabine River at Toledo Bend Powerhouse near Burkeville | 89.61 ft | Sep 18, 2019 at 2:15 PM CDT | — | — |
| Neches River near Town Bluff | 58.89 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 10:00 AM CDT | 9.1 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Sabine River near Burkeville | 15.16 ft | Sep 18, 2019 at 8:45 PM CDT | 20.8 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Sabine River near Bon Wier | 15.05 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 7:15 AM CDT | 14.9 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Cow Bayou at FM 1442 near Orangefield | 14.92 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 10:45 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | — |
| Neches River at Evadale | 13.87 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 3:45 AM CDT | 2.1 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2025 |
| Adams Bayou at FM 3247 near Orange | 10.80 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 3:45 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | — |
| Cole Creek at I-10 near Orange | 6.81 ft | Sep 19, 2019 at 3:35 PM CDT | 3.2 ft below minor flood stage | — |
| Sabine River at International Paper near Orange | 6.13 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 7:05 AM CDT | at or above action stage | — |
| Adams Bayou at SH87 near Orange | 5.52 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 10:35 AM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | — |
| Cow Bayou at SH 87 near Bridge City | 4.40 ft | Sep 20, 2019 at 1:10 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | — |
Lake Charles and Southwest Louisiana
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Calcasieu Lake near Hackberry | 5.28 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 5:30 AM CDT | — | — |
| Bayou Nezpique near Basile | 3.87 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 2:30 AM CDT | 18.1 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bundick Creek near DeRidder | 3.72 ft | Sep 21, 2019 at 2:00 AM CDT | 16.3 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Calcasieu River at I-10 at Lake Charles | 3.66 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 7:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Calcasieu River at Cameron | 3.30 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 5:30 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Mermentau River at Mermentau | 3.21 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 8:00 PM CDT | 0.8 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Ouiska Chitto Creek near Oberlin | 2.84 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 6:30 PM CDT | 12.2 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Calcasieu River near Oberlin | 1.33 ft | Sep 22, 2019 at 12:30 AM CDT | 11.7 ft below minor flood stage | 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.
How this page is built
Each gauge's highest reading between September 17, 2019 and September 25, 2019 (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. 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