White River at Batesville

1. 31.90 ftFlood of record, February 1916 the river crested at 43.8 feet at the Lock 1 staff gage which is equilalent to a 31.9 foot crest at the newer gage on the U.S. Highway 167 Bridge. Life threatening situation. Much of the flood plain will be impacted. There will be numerous road closures, flooded homes, and evacuations will be needed. Levee openings should be closed.
2. 30.00 ftNumerous road closures, flooding in portions of Batesville, Oil Trough, Newark. Batesville Levee openings should be closed. A crest of 30 feet at the bridge is equivalent to a crest over 42 feet at the Lock one Tailwater staff gage. Flood of December 1982 crested at 29.3 feet at the bridge, or about 42 feet at Lock One. Commercial property along U.S. Highway 167 and the southside water plant may be impacted. The 29.3 feet crest, was highest since completion of Bull Shoals and Norfork Dams.
3. 28.00 ftStoplogs should be placed in the Industrial Park Levee openings. Water about one foot over lowest sill levee opening. Water lapping at edge of pavement of U.S Highway 167 south of the bridge. Most of Oil Trough flooded. Southwest Batesville flooding. Water backing up Polk Bayou into parts of Batesville. A 28 foot stage at the bridge is approximately equal to about 40 foot stage at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage. December 1982 flood crest was 29.3 feet. March 2008 flood crest was 27 feet.
4. 27.00 ftFlooding in portions of Batesville, serious flooding in Oil Trough. Water lapping over lowest sill of industrial park levee in Batesville. Wave action may increase problems. Levee openings should be closed. Numerous road closures. A 27 foot crest at gage on bridge equivalent to crest of 39 feet at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage. During the 2 flood events in 2008, river crested at 27 feet in March and 26.4 feet in April. December 1982 crest was 29.3 feet.
5. 26.00 ftSerious flooding in Batesville, Oil Trough, and all along the river valley. Numerous road closures. Water will be about a foot below the lowest sill of the levee protecting the industrial area of Batesville. A crest of 26 feet at the bridge is equal to a crest of 38 feet at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage.
6. 25.00 ftSerious problems in the White River Valley throughout Independence County, numerous structures impacted, evacuations may be needed, numerous roads closed. A 25 foot crest at the bridge is equivalent to a 37 foot stage at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage.
7. 23.00 ftThis is a serious flood situation. Portions of Batesville and Oil Trough will flood. State Highways 14 and 69 are flooded. A crest of 23 feet at the bridge is equivalent to a 35 foot crest at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage.
8. 22.00 ftLower portions of Batesville and Oil Trough will flood. State Highways 14 and 69 will be closed. A crest of 22 feet at the bridge is equivalent to a 34 foot crest at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage.
9. 20.00 ftPortions of Oil Trough and lower portions of southwest Batesville may be flooded. State Highways 14 and 69 affected. Many thousands of acres of agricultural land is flooded. A 20 foot crest at the bridge is equilvalent to a 32 foot crest at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage.
10. 18.00 ftModerate flooding is occurring. State Highway 14 near Oil Trough, and farmland along the river may be flooded. A crest of 18 feet at the bridge is equivalent to a crest of 30 feet at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage.
11. 17.00 ftA portion of State Highway 14 near Oil Trough may flood. Agricultural land along right bank floods. A crest of 17 feet at the bridge is equivalent to 28 foot crest at the Lock One Tailwater staff gage.
12. 15.00 ftThere will be minor flooding of agricutural land along the river. A 15 foot stage at the bridge is equivalent to 23 foot flood stage at Lock One Tailwater staff gage.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 16, 2026.

Most recent crests

• April 6, 2025: 24.38 ft
• November 6, 2024: 16.88 ft
• July 18, 2024: 15.45 ft
• March 25, 2023: 16.23 ft
• March 3, 2023: 15.90 ft
• February 9, 2023: 17.10 ft
• May 5, 2017: 16.36 ft
• May 1, 2017: 22.70 ft
• December 29, 2015: 24.15 ft
• May 12, 2015: 16.28 ft

• UpstreamWhite River at Calico Rock
• DownstreamWhite River at Newport
• Little Red River at Greers Ferry Dam
• White River at Allison
• Little Red River at Judsonia
• White River at Augusta
• Black River at Black Rock
• Spring River (AR) at Hardy

Forecasts by the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.