Overnight storms turned the usually lazy Comal River into a fast-moving, debris-filled mess on Wednesday, prompting New Braunfels officials to shut down public access and pull tubers and swimmers out of the water through at least Thursday morning.
The closure, ordered by the city’s police chief, affects the Comal within city limits, including the downtown Tube Chute, while crews and water managers work to spot hazards and wait for flows to calm down.
By Wednesday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey gauge at the Tube Chute showed flows near 700 cubic feet per second, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The river had surged from under 200 cfs the previous day to a nighttime peak above 1,300 cfs, the San Antonio Express-News reported.
Why Officials Closed the River
New Braunfels’ own guidance says the Comal is generally suitable for recreation when flows sit between 100 and 500 cfs. Between 500 and 600 cfs, the city warns river users to exercise extreme caution, and anything above 600 cfs triggers a temporary closure, according to the City of New Braunfels.
With flows blasting past that threshold, reduced visibility, debris swirling around the Tube Chute, and a higher risk of entrapment and other hazards, officials pulled the plug on river access.
In a Facebook post Wednesday morning, the city shared video of fast, debris-choked water and said the Chief of Police had ordered the shutdown after the river spiked to around 1,300 cfs overnight, muddying the water along the banks. MySanAntonio reported that the closure applies only to the Comal within city limits. The Guadalupe River, by contrast, remained open, though visitors were urged to be cautious.
Where to Check Conditions
Anyone plotting a float trip is being told to check live conditions before they toss tubes in the truck. The Tube Chute gauge run by the U.S. Geological Survey provides real-time flow data, and the city keeps current numbers and safety guidance on the City of New Braunfels River Operations page.
Officials plan to reevaluate conditions Thursday morning before deciding when to reopen the Comal, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Until then, the message is simple: stay out of the Comal until authorities give a clear green light.
Local outfitters, from Texas Tubes to smaller guide services, are glued to the gauges too and updating customers on whether they can operate. Anyone with reservations this week should check directly with vendors and brace for cancellations or last-minute changes as the city watches the river settle back down.
