Rivers in Indiana

Elkhart River at Goshen

Elkhart County, IndianaNWS GSHI3USGS 04100500Syracuse office

Below flood stage
3.22ftStage

Observed Thu, Sep 24, 10:45 AM EDT

Flood stage
7.00 ft
Record crest
12.53 ft2018

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood11.00 ft
Moderate flood9.00 ft
Minor flood7.00 ft
Action6.00 ft
  1. 13.00 ftAt this level, the Goshen wastewater plant operations are likely impacted.
  2. 12.50 ftAll-time record flood is in progress with many residences flooded. Water as high as four feet can be expected in some commercial areas.
  3. 11.00 ftA major flood is in progress with several streets and US 33 through Goshen flooded. Southeast Elkhart also floods. Many evacuations of residential areas are necessary.
  4. 10.00 ftSeveral residential streets are flooded in Goshen. US 33 begins to flood. Flooding from Chicago Poke Plaza reaches residential areas near the intersection of Indiana and Berkey Avenues in Goshen.
  5. 9.00 ftWater closes Chicago Avenue and Denver Street in Goshen. Rogers Park is completely flooded.
  6. 8.00 ftSome residential and commercial properties near SR 119 are affected by high water.
  7. 7.00 ftThe river reaches flood stage. Goshen, Shanklin, and Rogers Park in Goshen begin to flood. Island, Studebaker, and American Parks in Elkhart begin to flood.
  8. 5.00 ftThe very lowest areas along the Elkhart River begin to flood.
  9. 1.86 ftLowest river observation during 2012 drought.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Crest history

84 crests on NOAA’s list since 1927.

#DateStage
1February 21, 201812.53 ft
2March 14, 198211.94 ft
3February 24, 198511.87 ft
4December 30, 199011.03 ft
5March 17, 198210.46 ft
6February 6, 200810.40 ft
7July 10, 195110.33 ft
8March 5, 197910.33 ft
9October 11, 195410.27 ft
10June 9, 199310.20 ft
11April 4, 195010.15 ft
12January 9, 200810.07 ft
13March 29, 198510.05 ft
14March 23, 19789.76 ft
15January 5, 19939.60 ft
16May 13, 20029.60 ft
17May 25, 19439.46 ft
18May 12, 19439.38 ft
19December 14, 19279.30 ft
20April 30, 19569.25 ft
21May 1, 20199.12 ft
22May 12, 19569.07 ft
23January 14, 20059.01 ft
24March 12, 20098.87 ft
25February 2, 19688.81 ft

Most recent crests

  • February 28, 2023: 6.92 ft
  • February 17, 2022: 7.57 ft
  • June 28, 2021: 5.55 ft
  • January 12, 2020: 6.77 ft
  • May 1, 2019: 9.12 ft
  • February 21, 2018: 12.53 ft
  • May 22, 2017: 5.58 ft
  • July 15, 2015: 6.63 ft
  • April 4, 2014: 6.78 ft
  • April 19, 2013: 8.51 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. 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.