The National Weather Service now expects the Nueces River near Tilden, Texas, to reach flood stage Saturday evening, Nov. 14. Friday evening’s flood warning for McMullen County puts the rise ahead of the earlier Sunday afternoon forecast. People who need to move livestock or reach low-lying property along the river have less time before water can cut off access.
At 7:30 p.m. Central Friday, the river was at 10.9 feet near Tilden. Flood stage at that gauge is 14 feet. Forecasters expect a crest of 15 feet early Sunday afternoon, about a day sooner than the Monday morning crest in the earlier forecast. The river is forecast to drop below flood stage late Monday morning. The warning itself is scheduled to remain in effect through 1 a.m. Central Tuesday.
Where water can cut off access
At 15 feet, the weather service says water can fill side channels and cut off much of the floodplain from below Cotulla to below Tilden. Hunting cabins and oil field equipment well away from the main channel can flood. Livestock can become stranded. Check the Nueces River gauge near Tilden for forecast changes before heading into the floodplain.
The weather service advises drivers to turn around at flooded roads. Check DriveTexas for road conditions, and avoid walking near the riverbank as the water rises.
