Rivers in Kansas
Ninnescah River near Belle Plaine
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 26.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 24.50 ft |
| Minor flood | 23.00 ft |
| Action | 21.00 ft |
- 30.00 ftExpect flood waters to be 4 ft deep across Hwy 81 starting from about a mile north of the intersection of K55, known as the Belle Plaine Y, and expanding south to the Y intersection. K55 floods westward to river bridge and east to Belle Plaine. Flood waters reach 2 ft on homes on east side of Hwy 81. Timber Brook Estates neighborhood will be inundated with 4 to 5 ft of water with homes flooded by up to 2 ft. Upstream, Ponderosa Estates will flood by 3 to 6 ft deep. Expect extensive field and crop flooding.
- 29.80 ftFlood waters reach the bridge girders on Highway 81 which is about four feet below the bridge deck.
- 26.00 ftA section of K55 floods to a depth of 2 feet of water starting from 300 feet east of the river bridge and expanding out to 25 feet wide. Expect flood waters on Highway 81 to expand further south to the Y intersection of K55. The small community of Ponderosa Estates, 5 miles northwest of Belle Plaine, will have a few homes flooded and roads leading into the Estates flooded. Timber Brook Estates will have roads inundated by over a foot of water.
- 24.00 ftThree miles west of Belle Plaine near the gage site, a small section of K55 floods east of the bridge. Flood waters flow over Highway 81 starting at 1/2 mile north of K55 and spreading to 100th Avenue. The water on Highway 81 may be near 1.5 ft deep.
- 23.00 ftWater overflows roads in the Timber Brook Estates that are located just west of Highway 81 and north of K55. Then three-fourths of a mile north of K55 on Highway 81, water begins to cover the road.
- 20.00 ftLeft bank overflows can be expected.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 14% |
| Moderate flooding | 10% |
| Major flooding | 8% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 24, 2026.
Crest history
13 crests on NOAA’s list since 1998.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 10, 2016 | 30.00 ft |
| 2 | November 2, 1998 | 29.20 ft |
| 3 | April 28, 2009 | 28.00 ft |
| 4 | June 27, 2026 | 27.54 ft |
| 5 | September 14, 2008 | 27.00 ft |
| 6 | May 9, 2019 | 26.32 ft |
| 7 | May 23, 2019 | 26.30 ft |
| 8 | May 27, 2019 | 25.32 ft |
| 9 | June 23, 2026 | 24.89 ft |
| 10 | June 19, 2025 | 24.36 ft |
| 11 | March 6, 2004 | 24.20 ft |
| 12 | March 20, 2003 | 23.60 ft |
| 13 | May 8, 2007 | 23.40 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 27, 2026: 27.54 ft
- June 23, 2026: 24.89 ft
- June 19, 2025: 24.36 ft
- May 27, 2019: 25.32 ft
- May 23, 2019: 26.30 ft
- May 9, 2019: 26.32 ft
- September 10, 2016: 30.00 ft
- April 28, 2009: 28.00 ft
- September 14, 2008: 27.00 ft
- May 8, 2007: 23.40 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Arkansas-Red Basin RFC. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. Gauge reading only in high-water situations. River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. Forecast stages may be different if forecast future rainfall does not occur.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.