Storm of October 26–27, 2026: Victoria and Matagorda Bay
Peak water levels at 34 USGS gauges · 1 National Weather Service alert · Victoria gauges now
This event is still open: peaks are collected until Oct 29, 2026 at 12:00 AM CDT, and the figures below update every 15 minutes until then.
The National Weather Service issued 1 alert naming one or more of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Victoria and Wharton counties between Oct 26, 2026 at 12:13 AM CDT and Oct 27, 2026 at 12:00 AM CDT. None of the 22 gauges with NWS flood stages reached one. The largest rise was 1.1 ft at Colorado River near Bay City.
Tide gauges
None of 7 NOAA tide gauges reached a coastal flood threshold in this storm.
| Tide gauge | Peak | Peak time | Against flood thresholds | Highest observed (NOAA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Lavaca | +1.34 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 10:42 PM CDT | 0.2 ft below NWS minor | +6.76 ft (August 26, 2017) |
| Port O'Connor | +1.28 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM CDT | 0.3 ft below NWS minor | +3.44 ft (July 8, 2024) |
| Aransas Wildlife Refuge | +1.11 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 11:06 PM CDT | 0.7 ft below NWS minor | +4.81 ft (August 26, 2017) |
| Seadrift | +0.87 ft | Oct 26, 2026 at 2:12 AM CDT | 0.9 ft below NWS minor | +5.57 ft (August 26, 2017) |
| Matagorda Bay Entrance Channel | +1.27 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 9:12 PM CDT | 1.5 ft below NWS minor | +3.14 ft (September 21, 2020) |
| Sargent | +1.19 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 5:36 PM CDT | 2.4 ft below NWS minor | +3.79 ft (September 14, 2021) |
| Matagorda City | +1.44 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 3:48 PM CDT | 2.7 ft below NWS minor | +3.43 ft (September 22, 2020) |
Water level relative to MHHW (an ordinary high tide), the highest six-minute reading in the storm window. Storm windows follow the region's NWS flood alerts; coastal flood alerts alone do not open one.
National Weather Service alerts
| Alert | Issued | Until |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Flood Advisory | Oct 26, 2026 at 12:13 AM CDT | Oct 27, 2026 at 12:00 AM CDT |
Alerts as issued by the National Weather Service, each naming at least one of the region's counties. They describe an area, not any one gauge.
USGS gauges: flood stages and records
None of 28 USGS gauges reached an NWS flood stage in this storm. For each gauge below, the storm peak is set against the NWS flood stages and against the highest annual peak in its comparable USGS record.
| USGS gauge | Storm peak | Against NWS flood stages | Against its USGS record | Rank in its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garcitas Creek near Inez | 5.21 ft | 14.8 ft below minor (20) | 28.2 ft below the 1995 record of 33.43 ft | highest since water year 2026; 55 of 56 years higher |
| Coleto Creek near Victoria | 3.87 ft | 21.1 ft below minor (25) | 38.1 ft below the 1967 record of 42.00 ft | highest since water year 2026; 66 of 67 years higher |
| Caney Creek at SH 35 near Van Vleck | 22.55 ft | — | 19.7 ft below the 2024 record of 42.30 ft | lower than every annual peak since 2021 (6 years) |
| Guadalupe River at SH 35 near Tivoli | 11.45 ft | — | 5.9 ft below the 2017 record of 17.35 ft | lower than every annual peak since 2014 (12 years) |
| Colorado River at Wharton | 7.87 ft | 31.1 ft below minor (39) | 42.6 ft below the 2017 record of 50.47 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1984 (43 years) |
| Guadalupe River at Cuero | 7.10 ft | 16.9 ft below minor (24) | 43.2 ft below the 1999 record of 50.35 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1964 (63 years) |
| Navidad River at Morales | 6.63 ft | 22.4 ft below minor (29) | 29.2 ft below the 2017 record of 35.83 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1997 (24 years) |
| Guadalupe River at Highway 183 near Hochheim | 5.89 ft | 17.1 ft below action (23) | 34.3 ft below the 2017 record of 40.20 ft | lower than every annual peak since 2017 (10 years) |
| Guadalupe River at Victoria | 5.49 ft | — | 28.5 ft below the 1999 record of 34.04 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1935 (92 years) |
| Sandy Creek near Ganado | 5.06 ft | 12.9 ft below minor (18) | 27.7 ft below the 1999 record of 32.72 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1978 (48 years) |
| Navidad River at Strane Park near Edna | 5.04 ft | 19.0 ft below minor (24) | 26.2 ft below the 2017 record of 31.28 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1997 (30 years) |
| W Mustang Creek near Ganado | 4.47 ft | 15.5 ft below minor (20) | 23.9 ft below the 1995 record of 28.39 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1978 (49 years) |
| Navidad River near Hallettsville | 4.36 ft | 19.6 ft below minor (24) | 32.0 ft below the 2017 record of 36.38 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1962 (65 years) |
| Placedo Creek near Placedo | 4.27 ft | — | 27.4 ft below the 1999 record of 31.62 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1971 (56 years) |
| Lavaca River near Edna | 4.14 ft | 16.9 ft below minor (21) | 31.4 ft below the 1995 record of 35.49 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1936 (89 years) |
| San Antonio River at Goliad | 3.86 ft | 21.1 ft below minor (25) | 49.8 ft below the 1967 record of 53.70 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1914 (94 years) |
| Colorado River near Bay City | 3.72 ft | 40.3 ft below minor (44) | 52.4 ft below the 1914 record of 56.10 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1914 (81 years) |
| Tres Palacios River near Midfield | 3.29 ft | 20.7 ft below minor (24) | 29.1 ft below the 1984 record of 32.43 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1971 (56 years) |
| Lavaca River at Hallettsville | 3.25 ft | 23.8 ft below minor (27) | 37.9 ft below the 1981 record of 41.10 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1940 (81 years) |
| E Mustang Creek near Louise | 2.92 ft | 16.1 ft below minor (19) | 21.4 ft below the 2005 record of 24.35 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1997 (30 years) |
| Colorado River near Wadsworth | 2.28 ft | — | 17.3 ft below the 2017 record of 19.60 ft | lower than every annual peak since 2017 (10 years) |
| Navidad River near Speaks | 2.09 ft | 21.9 ft below minor (24) | 30.7 ft below the 2017 record of 32.79 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1982 (30 years) |
| Sandies Creek near Westhoff | 2.09 ft | 18.9 ft below minor (21) | 31.0 ft below the 1936 record of 33.10 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1931 (72 years) |
| Coleto Creek at Arnold Rd Crossing near Schroeder | 1.88 ft | 13.1 ft below minor (15) | 29.3 ft below the 1997 record of 31.17 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1979 (47 years) |
| Perdido Creek at FM 622 near Fannin | 1.07 ft | — | 20.6 ft below the 2005 record of 21.66 ft | lower than every annual peak since 1979 (48 years) |
| Juanita Creek at SH 71 near Midfield | 32.81 ft | 12.2 ft below minor (45) | — | — |
| Guadalupe River near Bloomington | 8.52 ft | 11.5 ft below minor (20) | — | — |
| Linnville Bayou at FM 521 near Cedar Lane | 2.37 ft | 19.6 ft below minor (22) | — | — |
Records are USGS annual peaks (each water year's highest gage height) from the years comparable with today's datum; they can differ from the crests the NWS lists. Gauges without NWS flood stages or at least five comparable years are on their own pages.
Every gauge
Peak is each gauge's highest gage height in the window; rise is from its last reading before the window opened. Peak times along one river reflect where and when rain fell as well as flow downstream, so their order is not a travel time.
| Gauge | County | Peak | Peak time | Rise | Against NWS flood stages |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guadalupe River near Bloomington | Victoria County | 8.52 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 2:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 11.5 ft below minor flood stage |
| Juanita Creek at SH 71 near Midfield | Matagorda County | 32.81 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:20 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 12.2 ft below minor flood stage |
| Sandy Creek near Ganado | Jackson County | 5.06 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 12.9 ft below minor flood stage |
| Coleto Creek at Arnold Rd Crossing near Schroeder | Goliad County | 1.88 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 2:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 13.1 ft below minor flood stage |
| Garcitas Creek near Inez | Victoria County | 5.21 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 14.8 ft below minor flood stage |
| W Mustang Creek near Ganado | Jackson County | 4.47 ft | Oct 26, 2026 at 1:45 AM CDT | 0.0 ft | 15.5 ft below minor flood stage |
| E Mustang Creek near Louise | Wharton County | 2.92 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 16.1 ft below minor flood stage |
| Lavaca River near Edna | Jackson County | 4.14 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:30 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 16.9 ft below minor flood stage |
| Guadalupe River at Cuero | DeWitt County | 7.10 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 2:30 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 16.9 ft below minor flood stage |
| Guadalupe River at Highway 183 near Hochheim | DeWitt County | 5.89 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 17.1 ft below action stage |
| Sandies Creek near Westhoff | DeWitt County | 2.09 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:30 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 18.9 ft below minor flood stage |
| Navidad River at Strane Park near Edna | Jackson County | 5.04 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 2:45 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 19.0 ft below minor flood stage |
| Linnville Bayou at FM 521 near Cedar Lane | Matagorda County | 2.37 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM CDT | 0.9 ft | 19.6 ft below minor flood stage |
| Navidad River near Hallettsville | Lavaca County | 4.36 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 1:30 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 19.6 ft below minor flood stage |
| Tres Palacios River near Midfield | Matagorda County | 3.29 ft | Oct 26, 2026 at 12:30 AM CDT | 0.1 ft | 20.7 ft below minor flood stage |
| Coleto Creek near Victoria | Victoria County | 3.87 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 21.1 ft below minor flood stage |
| San Antonio River at Goliad | Goliad County | 3.86 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 21.1 ft below minor flood stage |
| Navidad River near Speaks | Lavaca County | 2.09 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM CDT | 0.2 ft | 21.9 ft below minor flood stage |
| Navidad River at Morales | Jackson County | 6.63 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 22.4 ft below minor flood stage |
| Lavaca River at Hallettsville | Lavaca County | 3.25 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | 23.8 ft below minor flood stage |
| Colorado River at Wharton | Wharton County | 7.87 ft | Oct 26, 2026 at 1:15 AM CDT | 0.0 ft | 31.1 ft below minor flood stage |
| Colorado River near Bay City | Matagorda County | 3.72 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 8:15 PM CDT | 1.1 ft | 40.3 ft below minor flood stage |
| West Bernard Creek at US 59 near Hungerford | Wharton County | 73.56 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | -0.0 ft | — |
| Caney Creek at SH 35 near Van Vleck | Matagorda County | 22.55 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:20 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | — |
| Colorado River near Wadsworth | Matagorda County | 2.28 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 8:15 PM CDT | 0.9 ft | — |
| Clarks Creek at US 77 near Sweet Home | Lavaca County | 150.16 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:20 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | — |
| Chicolette Creek at US 77 near Yoakum | Victoria County | 134.71 ft (no change recorded) | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | — |
| W Sandy Creek at FM 2437 near Sheridan | Lavaca County | 193.28 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 3:00 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | — |
| Placedo Creek near Placedo | Victoria County | 4.27 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 8:30 PM CDT | 0.1 ft | — |
| Guadalupe River at Victoria | Victoria County | 5.49 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 9:15 PM CDT | -0.0 ft | — |
| Fifteenmile Creek near Weser | DeWitt County | 6.09 ft (no change recorded) | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | — |
| Perdido Creek at FM 622 near Fannin | Goliad County | 1.07 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 1:15 PM CDT | 0.0 ft | — |
| North end of GBRA Calhoun Canal near Long Mott | Calhoun County | 14.18 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 12:15 PM CDT | -0.2 ft | — |
| Guadalupe River at SH 35 near Tivoli | Calhoun County | 11.45 ft | Oct 25, 2026 at 1:15 PM CDT | 0.1 ft | — |
How this event is defined
By the National Weather Service, not by this site. Every flood alert naming any of Calhoun, DeWitt, Goliad, Jackson, Lavaca, Matagorda, Victoria and Wharton counties counts, and since October 24, 2026 so does every coastal flood, storm surge, tropical storm or hurricane watch, warning or advisory; alerts that start within 24 hours of the previous one ending are one event. Each gauge's peak is its highest reading from 12 hours before the first alert to 48 hours after the last one ended: Oct 25, 2026 at 12:13 PM CDT to Oct 29, 2026 at 12:00 AM CDT. Large rivers crest a day or more after the rain, which is why the window runs past the alerts.
2026-10-26.csv (CSV): the table above, one row per gauge, with times in UTC and local time.