Outlook
Middle estimate, with the range the level has an 8 in 10 chance of landing in. The bars share one scale: change from today.
Rises are harder to call. Heavy rain in the watershed can push the lake above these ranges within days.
- Rain, past 7 days
- 0.7 in17 mm watershed average
- Rain forecast, next 7 days
- 1.2 in31 mm normal 0.5 in14 mm
Statistical estimate, not safety, boating, or water-quality advice. For ramps, closures and advisories, check the lake operator.
Map
Map of Lake Abilene with the dam, level gauge and 1 public boat ramp.
- Dam
- Level gauge
- Public boat ramp
Ramp locations from Texas Parks and Wildlife. Whether a ramp is open depends on the lake level; check the operator.
Level and outlook
FeetMeters above sea level
- Measured
- Middle estimate
- 8 in 10 range
- Full pool
Show outlook as a table
| Date | Low end | Middle | High end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2 | 1990.7606.76 | 1990.8606.80 | 1991.3606.94 |
| Nov 9 | 1990.6606.72 | 1990.8606.78 | 1991.5607.00 |
| Nov 25 | 1990.2606.60 | 1990.6606.75 | 1993.4607.60 |
How well this outlook has done here
We tested the 2-week outlook on past years at this lake, as if made once a week with only what was known that day.
- On average it was off by
- 0.23 ft0.07 m Assuming the level stays the same was off by 0.38 ft0.12 m
- Actual level inside our range
- 76% of 432 tests; the range is built to catch 8 in 10
The rise chance uses the same threshold for every lake: 1 ft (0.3048 m).
Connected lakes
Water from upstream lakes flows into this one; water released here flows on downstream.
Nearby lakes
Closest lakes in a straight line, with today's level.
- Oak Creek Reservoir26 mi42 km away · 1973.2 ft601.44 m · 13%
- Lake Sweetwater28 mi45 km away · 2090.2 ft637.10 m · 16%
- Lake Coleman29 mi46 km away · 1712.5 ft521.97 m · 77%
- Hords Creek Lake34 mi54 km away · 1888.1 ft575.48 m · 45%
- E. V. Spence Reservoir44 mi71 km away · 1842.0 ft561.45 m · 9%
- O. H. Ivie Reservoir52 mi84 km away · 1529.0 ft466.05 m · 41%
About Lake Abilene
Lake Abilene is a small water-supply reservoir on Elm Creek in Taylor County, near Buffalo Gap and Abilene State Park. The City of Abilene completed the dam in 1921, making it one of the older reservoirs in the TWDB network. Water leaving the lake flows on toward Fort Phantom Hill Reservoir.
- Full pool (conservation)
- 2012.3 ft613.35 m
- Highest level since 1999
- 2015.8 ft614.41 m, Aug 2007
- Lowest level since 1999
- 1988.2 ft606.01 m, Jul 2015
- Surface area at normal pool
- 583 acres236 ha
- Conservation storage
- 7,900 acre-feet9.74 million m³
- Dam
- Lake Abilene Dam, 1921
- River or creek
- Elm Creek
- County
- Taylor
- Owner
- City of Abilene
Elevations are feetmeters above sea level (NGVD29).
Common questions
Is Lake Abilene full right now?
On Oct 26 it was 1990.8 ft, 21.5 ft below full pool (2012.3 ft), holding 7% of its conservation storage.On Oct 26 it was 606.81 m, 6.54 m below full pool (613.35 m), holding 7% of its conservation storage.
Is Lake Abilene going up or down?
The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 1990.6 ft and 1991.5 ft. The chance it ends 1 ft or more higher than today is 5%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 606.72 m and 607.00 m. The chance it ends 0.3 m or more higher than today is 5%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.
Where does this data come from?
Daily levels come from the Texas Water Development Board and lake operators. The outlook is our own statistical model, using recent levels and forecast rain over the watershed.