Rivers in Kansas
Arkansas River at Great Bend
Below flood stage
0.65ftStage
Observed Fri, Oct 2, 1:30 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 12.00 ft
- Record crest
- 17.70 ft1981
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 18.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 16.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 12.00 ft |
| Action | 10.00 ft |
- 27.81 ftThe levees on both banks at the Highway 281 Bridge, at the gage site, will begin to overtop.
- 24.00 ftThe sidewalk openings in the levee at the Highway 281 Bridge will start to flood.
- 14.11 ftWater begins to threaten the City's Sewage Treatment Plant which is southeast of the city. Flooding will affect agricultural communities.
- 12.50 ftMinor overflows begins to affect agricultural communities 3 miles upstream.
- 12.00 ftMinor flooding of low-lying areas and bottom land can be expected. Minor flooding begins to affect agricultural communities 3 miles upstream.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, October to December
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 15% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued October 1, 2026.
Crest history
42 crests on NOAA’s list since 1951.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 15, 1981 | 17.70 ft |
| 2 | April 3, 1973 | 14.62 ft |
| 3 | May 29, 2019 | 14.46 ft |
| 4 | September 29, 1973 | 13.94 ft |
| 5 | July 22, 1993 | 13.31 ft |
| 6 | July 21, 1993 | 13.21 ft |
| 7 | July 10, 1987 | 13.20 ft |
| 8 | July 29, 1979 | 12.81 ft |
| 9 | July 4, 2016 | 11.18 ft |
| 10 | May 25, 1951 | 11.06 ft |
| 11 | November 18, 1996 | 11.00 ft |
| 12 | May 2, 2017 | 10.11 ft |
| 13 | July 2, 1986 | 10.10 ft |
| 14 | August 16, 1961 | 9.85 ft |
| 15 | October 12, 2018 | 9.84 ft |
| 16 | April 1, 1980 | 9.81 ft |
| 17 | July 1, 1967 | 9.75 ft |
| 18 | May 26, 1995 | 9.61 ft |
| 19 | May 6, 2007 | 9.49 ft |
| 20 | September 24, 1976 | 9.16 ft |
| 21 | June 15, 2010 | 8.97 ft |
| 22 | September 22, 1996 | 8.75 ft |
| 23 | May 4, 1978 | 8.32 ft |
| 24 | August 22, 2006 | 7.76 ft |
| 25 | July 18, 1982 | 7.63 ft |
Most recent crests
- June 27, 2025: 5.77 ft
- November 24, 2024: 5.62 ft
- August 10, 2023: 3.09 ft
- June 12, 2022: 1.00 ft
- May 21, 2021: 6.17 ft
- July 29, 2020: 6.59 ft
- May 29, 2019: 14.46 ft
- October 12, 2018: 9.84 ft
- May 2, 2017: 10.11 ft
- July 4, 2016: 11.18 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.