Brazos River at Waco
River flow & level · USGS gauge 08096500 · Texas · drains 29,559 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 10:45 AM · streamflow
The Brazos River at Waco is running 91.4 cfs, 19% of the median flow for October 26 (476 cfs, 86 years). Gage height is 1.20 ft, 17.8 ft below flood stage (19.0 ft). Flow is down 61% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (10.0 ft) is 8.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (19.0 ft) is 17.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (22.0 ft) is 20.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (27.0 ft) is 25.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Action (10.0 ft) is 8.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (19.0 ft) is 17.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (22.0 ft) is 20.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (27.0 ft) is 25.8 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Minor (19.0 ft) is 16.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (22.0 ft) is 19.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (27.0 ft) is 24.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Brazos River at Waco fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 12:50 PM ETFlow 19% of normal, flow falling, calm wind — fair fall fishing day (5/10), best window 7:43 AM–8:43 AM (moonset near sunrise).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 83°F / low 60°FMostly Sunny
- WindCalm1–7 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 12
- Flow19% of normalFlow falling (-61% in 24 h)
Official Texas fishing report: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department — Fishing reports
Best fishing times today
Today is a fair fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
5/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 7:39 AM · Sunset 6:44 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:10 AM–2:10 AM
- Moon underfoot12:37 PM–2:37 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset7:43 AM–8:43 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:26 PM–7:26 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:10 AM–2:10 AM · 12:37 PM–2:37 PM Minor 7:43 AM–8:43 AM · 6:26 PM–7:26 PM Calm wind 1–7 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 5/10Fair | Major 1:06 AM–3:06 AM · 1:36 PM–3:36 PM Minor 8:54 AM–9:54 AM · 7:13 PM–8:13 PM Light wind 2–8 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 3/10Poor | Major 2:07 AM–4:07 AM · 2:39 PM–4:39 PM Minor 10:07 AM–11:07 AM · 8:08 PM–9:08 PM Light wind 4–9 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:11 AM–5:11 AM · 3:43 PM–5:43 PM Minor 11:15 AM–12:15 PM · 9:12 PM–10:12 PM Light wind 4–9 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 4/10Fair | Major 4:16 AM–6:16 AM · 4:47 PM–6:47 PM Minor 12:16 PM–1:16 PM · 10:21 PM–11:21 PM Light wind 4–9 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:17 AM–7:17 AM · 5:47 PM–7:47 PM Minor 1:07 PM–2:07 PM · 11:31 PM–12:31 AM Light wind 4–9 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:15 AM–7:15 AM · 5:42 PM–7:42 PM Minor 12:50 PM–1:50 PM · 11:40 PM–12:40 AM Light wind 2–8 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 0 |
| Today | 5, rounded | 5/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 31.54, -97.07 (moon times from astronomical equations, Brazos River at Waco local time).
Weather & wind at Brazos River at Waco
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Today83° / 60°Mostly SunnyWind E 0 to 5 mphRain 4%
- Tuesday84° / 61°Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain ShowersWind SE 0 to 10 mphRain 15%
- Wednesday85° / 63°Mostly Sunny then Slight Chance Rain ShowersWind SSE 5 to 10 mphRain 18%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 31.536, -97.073 (grid FWD), issued Oct 26, 6:06 AM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge WBAT2- Action stage10 ft+8.8 ft from now
- Minor stage19 ft+17.8 ft from now
- Moderate stage22 ft+20.8 ft from now
- Major stage27 ft+25.8 ft from now
- Record crest40.9 ft1936
October 26 in history
86 years of flow records- Today91.4 cfs
- Same date last year1,120 cfs2025
- Median476 cfs
- Normal range167 cfs – 1,080 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 194129,200 cfs2019
- Lowest since 194117.0 cfs1989
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 106 | -53% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 225 | -2% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 230 | +14% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 202 | +15% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 176 | +246% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 50.8 | -13% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 58.3 | +14% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 51.1 | +3% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 49.5 | +70% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 29.2 | -25% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Waco Lake8 mi · Lake · Waco458.97 ft−3.03 ft vs full pool
- Aquilla Lake26 mi · Lake534.61 ft−2.89 ft vs full pool
- Whitney Lake29 mi · Lake · Whitney530.57 ft−2.43 ft vs top of conservation pool
- Navarro Mills Lake37 mi · Lake · Dawson422.18 ft−2.32 ft vs full pool
- Belton Lake38 mi · Lake · Belton592.72 ft−1.28 ft vs top of conservation pool
- Stillhouse Hollow Lake45 mi · Lake · Belton620.72 ft−1.28 ft vs top of conservation pool
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 08096500 — Brazos Rv at Waco, TX
- Location
- 31.5360, -97.0733 · Texas
- Drainage area
- 29,559 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1941–2026 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 10:45 AM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 12:50 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge WBAT2 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.