Rivers in Kansas
Cottonwood River near Florence
Below flood stage
2.90ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 8:15 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 22.00 ft
- Record crest
- 28.81 ft1998
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 32.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 27.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 22.00 ft |
| Action | 20.00 ft |
- 48.00 ftThe southern section of the levee system around the city of Florence may become breeched. If levee is overtopped, flood waters may rise up to four feet deep across most of the city streets of Florence. Expect dozens of homes to be flooded. The levee runs around the city of Florence from the northeast end, east, and along the south.
- 32.00 ftWater levels can reach nearly 10 inches above ground floors of houses less than 1 mile north of gage site that is 2.5 miles east of Florence.
- 27.00 ftFlooding is sufficiently extensive to reach driveways of property within 1.0 mile of the gage site. Expect extensive cropland and field flooding.
- 24.00 ftOutside the levee system in southeast Florence, flood waters flow across Park Ave Road and reach the foundation of a residential home. Northwest of Florence, the bridge on 140th Road and 1/2 mile west of Highway 77 floods.
- 22.00 ftMinor flooding of the left bank and roads along the north bank will begin.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 16% |
| Moderate flooding | 6% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.
Crest history
89 crests on NOAA’s list since 1961.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | November 2, 1998 | 28.81 ft |
| 2 | June 17, 1975 | 28.03 ft |
| 3 | May 9, 1993 | 27.85 ft |
| 4 | June 10, 1965 | 27.57 ft |
| 5 | July 31, 2013 | 27.21 ft |
| 6 | July 5, 2019 | 27.21 ft |
| 7 | June 14, 2010 | 27.16 ft |
| 8 | May 8, 2019 | 26.95 ft |
| 9 | October 10, 1985 | 26.92 ft |
| 10 | October 11, 1985 | 26.90 ft |
| 11 | April 21, 1974 | 26.61 ft |
| 12 | June 21, 1967 | 26.33 ft |
| 13 | July 15, 1993 | 26.23 ft |
| 14 | May 22, 2019 | 26.11 ft |
| 15 | June 26, 2021 | 25.93 ft |
| 16 | June 5, 1965 | 25.38 ft |
| 17 | September 22, 1985 | 25.37 ft |
| 18 | September 13, 2008 | 25.28 ft |
| 19 | June 3, 2025 | 25.15 ft |
| 20 | June 12, 2005 | 25.13 ft |
| 21 | May 27, 1995 | 24.96 ft |
| 22 | July 26, 2004 | 24.90 ft |
| 23 | June 5, 2005 | 24.81 ft |
| 24 | May 23, 1971 | 24.79 ft |
| 25 | May 7, 2007 | 24.76 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 31, 2025: 20.89 ft
- June 18, 2025: 22.98 ft
- June 3, 2025: 25.15 ft
- June 10, 2024: 22.08 ft
- June 6, 2022: 22.14 ft
- May 26, 2022: 23.23 ft
- June 26, 2021: 25.93 ft
- May 28, 2021: 24.60 ft
- July 31, 2020: 17.03 ft
- July 5, 2019: 27.21 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. River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. Forecast stages may be different if forecast future rainfall does not occur. Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.
Sources
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.