Red River at Grand Ecore

1. 45.00 ftRecord flooding of tens of thousands of acres with most of the levees overtopped or in the process of being overtopped in the Powhattan area. Expect severe backwater flooding of all tribuatary bayous. Travel becomes very difficult as multiple U.S., Louisiana state, parish, and local highways flood and close. The Kansas City Southern Railroad floods and closes.
2. 42.00 ftSeveral thousand acres of floodplain inundated and also including the ditches of the northbound lanes of Interstate 49 northwest of Natchitoches. Expect major backwater flooding into Black, Clear, and Saline Lakes. U.S. Highway 71 may close.
3. 41.00 ftSevere backwater flooding along Bayou Pierre with backup of water into Black, Clear and Saline lakes will take place. Also expect several thousand acres of floodplain inundated near the levees.
4. 40.00 ftMajor backwater flooding problems will affect Bayou Pierre, Black and Saline Bayous and the Cane River Lake tributaries with thousands of acres flooded. Severe backwater flooding will spread upstream along Bayou Pierre through Powhattan and Evelyn, Louisiana. Also expect backwater flooding of Black and Clear lakes along with the closure of Louisiana highway 1226.
5. 38.00 ftExpect several hundred acres of floodplain inundated near the levees. Also expect major backwater flooding up through Bayou Pierre to between Powhattan and Evelyn, Louisiana. Also expect backwater flooding up through Iatt, Nantaches, and Black, Clear, and Saline Bayous.
6. 36.00 ftMinor lowland flooding of several hundred acres both upstream and downstream from Grand Ecore take place with backwater flooding of tributary bayous that include Bayou Pierre up through Powhattan, Louisiana. Backwater flooding also affects Iatt, Saline, Black, and Nantaches Bayous. Move livestock and equipment to higher ground away from levees.
7. 33.00 ftMinor flooding of lowlands in the Red River floodplain between levees take place.

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

• May 15, 2019: 36.97 ft
• March 6, 2018: 37.67 ft
• May 7, 2016: 35.85 ft
• March 17, 2016: 41.89 ft
• January 5, 2016: 34.79 ft
• June 13, 2015: 42.03 ft
• October 21, 2009: 34.80 ft
• December 23, 2001: 34.40 ft
• March 9, 2001: 39.40 ft
• February 22, 2001: 34.00 ft

• UpstreamRed River at Coushatta
• DownstreamRed River at Alexandria
• Bayou Dorcheat at Lake Bistineau
• Little River of Louisiana at Rochelle
• Wallace Lake
• Sabine River at Toledo Bend Reservoir
• Sabine River at Logansport
• Bayou Dorcheat at Dixie Inn

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.