River stage
West Columbia, Brazos River
- River level
- 1.05 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.61 ft
- Recent high
- 17.30 ft
- Recent low
- -0.29 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS WCBT2
- 30-day change
- -1.06 ft
- Average
- 2.81 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 30.73 ft
In brief
The Brazos River at West Columbia, TX read 1.05 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 18.95 ft below action stage. That is 1.06 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge WCBT2
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30.73 ft | 2017-09-03 |
| 2 | 30.22 ft | 2016-06-08 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 20.00 ft
Action stage begins as water begins to backup tributaries of the mainstem, specifically Varner Creek.
- 26.00 ft
Minor flooding begins as water escapes the mainstem of the Brazos River approximately 5 miles downstream of the gage. County roads begin to take on water.
- 27.00 ft
Moderate flooding begins as water escapes the mainstem of the Brazos River near the gauge. Low lying homes in the City of Brazoria are threatened, and widespread county road flooding occurs. Low lying areas along State Highway 35 on the left bank/north side are flooded. State Highway 35 and the lowest areas of Bar X are threatened.
- 27.50 ft
State Highway 35 has at least 0.5 foot of inundation.
- 28.00 ft
Major flooding begins with subdivisions such as Mallard Lakes and Great Lakes being cut off. Low-lying areas along State Highway 35 on the left bank/north side are flooded with approximately 1.0ft of inundation. State Highway 35 is impassable.
- 28.50 ft
Lowest areas in East Columbia are threatened.
- 29.00 ft
Major flooding continues with widespread structure flooding occurring.
- 30.00 ft
Homes in Columbia Lakes are threatened.
- 30.73 ft
Flood of record occurred on September 3rd, 2017, during Hurricane Harvey. Massive widespread flooding occurred. Part of West Columbia is threatened.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Brazos River flooding at West Columbia?
No. The Brazos River at West Columbia is at 1.05 ft, 18.95 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at West Columbia?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 20 ft, minor flooding 26 ft, moderate flooding 27 ft and major flooding 28 ft.
What is the highest the Brazos River has been at West Columbia?
The highest crest on record is 30.73 ft, on 2017-09-03.
Is the Brazos River high or low right now at West Columbia?
At 1.05 ft it is higher than 16% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge WCBT2); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 08116850). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.