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.
Higher chance of a rise. 30% chance the lake is 1 ft0.3 m or more above today's level on Nov 9.
- Rain, past 7 days
- 0.4 in10 mm watershed average
- Rain forecast, next 7 days
- 1.8 in45 mm normal 0.3 in8 mm
Statistical estimate, not safety, boating, or water-quality advice. For ramps, closures and advisories, check the lake operator.
Map
Map of Lake J. B. Thomas with the dam, level gauge and 4 public boat ramps.
- 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 | 2226.2678.55 | 2226.4678.61 | 2227.8679.02 |
| Nov 9 | 2226.1678.52 | 2226.4678.60 | 2229.3679.48 |
| Nov 25 | 2225.9678.45 | 2226.4678.60 | 2229.9679.67 |
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
- 0.28 ft0.09 m Assuming the level stays the same was off by 0.46 ft0.14 m
- Actual level inside our range
- 85% of 430 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.
- Lake Colorado City21 mi34 km away · 2058.7 ft627.48 m · 53%
- Champion Creek Reservoir27 mi43 km away · 2063.8 ft629.03 m · 45%
- Lake Alan Henry33 mi53 km away · 2209.4 ft673.43 m · 73%
- Lake Sweetwater50 mi80 km away · 2090.2 ft637.10 m · 16%
- White River Reservoir60 mi96 km away · 2351.8 ft716.83 m · 27%
- Oak Creek Reservoir64 mi102 km away · 1973.2 ft601.44 m · 13%
About Lake J. B. Thomas
Lake J. B. Thomas is a reservoir on the Colorado River in Scurry County, built in 1952. It is owned by the Colorado River Municipal Water District for water supply. It is the highest lake on the Colorado in this list, upstream of E. V. Spence Reservoir.
- Full pool (conservation)
- 2258.0 ft688.24 m
- Highest level since 1999
- 2251.9 ft686.39 m, Jul 2015
- Lowest level since 1999
- 2200.6 ft670.73 m, Sep 2012
- Surface area at normal pool
- 7,820 acres3,165 ha
- Conservation storage
- 199,931 acre-feet247 million m³
- Dam
- Lake Jb Thomas Dam, 1952
- River or creek
- Colorado River
- County
- Scurry
- Owner
- Colorado River Municipal Water District
Elevations are feetmeters above sea level (NGVD29).
Common questions
Is Lake J. B. Thomas full right now?
On Oct 26 it was 2226.3 ft, 31.7 ft below full pool (2258.0 ft), holding 20% of its conservation storage.On Oct 26 it was 678.59 m, 9.65 m below full pool (688.24 m), holding 20% of its conservation storage.
Is Lake J. B. Thomas going up or down?
The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 2226.1 ft and 2229.3 ft. The chance it ends 1 ft or more higher than today is 30%. Heavy rain can change that quickly.The middle estimate for Nov 9 is about steady, with an 8 in 10 chance it ends between 678.52 m and 679.48 m. The chance it ends 0.3 m or more higher than today is 30%. 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.