Rivers in Arkansas
Arkansas River at Ozark L/D Tailwater
Below flood stage
337.50ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 5:00 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 357.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 337.70 ftWed, Sep 23, 7:00 AM CDT
- Record crest
- 375.50 ft1943
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 365.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 363.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 357.00 ft |
| Action | 355.50 ft |
- 377.00 ftthis is the critical stage for the McLean Bottom Levee. The Highway 23 bridge approach is inundated in Ozark. Numerous roads near the river are impassable. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 373.00 ftthis is the critical stage for the Lower Hartman Bottom Levee. Water covers lanes on the Highway 23 bridge approach in Ozark. Numerous roads near the river are impassable. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 370.00 ftthis is the highest stage experienced since the completion of the navigation system in 1969. Highways 309 and 288 northwest of Paris in Logan County are inundated by backwater up Six Mile Creek. Backwater flooding spreads westward into Franklin County. This will exceed the December 29, 2015 flood when the river crested at 369.07 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 367.00 ftHighways 309 and 288 northwest of Paris in Logan County are inundated by backwater up Six Mile Creek. Backwater flooding spreads westward into Franklin County at higher stages. This will approach the December 29, 2015 flood when the river crested at 369.07 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 365.00 ftCounty Roads 228 and 4 south of Coal Hill in Johnson County are inundated. Roads northeast of Scranton in Logan County are inundated by backwater up Cane Creek. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 363.00 ftpatrolling of McLean Bottom Levee in Logan County and Lower Hartman Levee in Johnson County begins. Flooding spreads over more than 4,000 acres in Franklin and Logan Counties. Numerous gas fields are flooded. Some agricultural lands in Johnson County also are flooded.
- 360.00 ftflooding spreads over more than 4,000 acres in Franklin and Logan Counties. Numerous gas fields are flooded. Some agricultural lands in Johnson County also are flooded.
- 357.00 ftflooding affects agricultural use lands along the river downstream of the lock and dam in Franklin County. Gas fields are also subject to flooding downstream. Equipment and livestock should be moved to higher ground. North 5th Street in Logan County near the Six Mile Levee begins to flood and may cut off access to a nearby residence.
- 355.50 ftthe river remains in its banks, but access to Okane Island may be cut off.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 11% |
| Moderate flooding | 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.
Crest history
74 crests on NOAA’s list since 1943.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 13, 1943 | 375.50 ft |
| 2 | May 30, 2019 | 374.99 ft |
| 3 | June 2, 2019 | 374.95 ft |
| 4 | May 6, 1990 | 370.00 ft |
| 5 | December 29, 2015 | 369.07 ft |
| 6 | October 9, 1986 | 368.50 ft |
| 7 | May 27, 2015 | 367.71 ft |
| 8 | June 1, 2015 | 367.41 ft |
| 9 | November 25, 1973 | 366.30 ft |
| 10 | June 15, 1995 | 364.00 ft |
| 11 | May 11, 2015 | 363.77 ft |
| 12 | May 12, 1993 | 363.70 ft |
| 13 | April 11, 2008 | 363.20 ft |
| 14 | April 26, 2011 | 363.03 ft |
| 15 | April 29, 2021 | 362.78 ft |
| 16 | May 7, 2022 | 362.10 ft |
| 17 | March 20, 2008 | 362.07 ft |
| 18 | June 25, 2019 | 361.99 ft |
| 19 | December 16, 1992 | 361.50 ft |
| 20 | January 6, 1998 | 361.31 ft |
| 21 | May 21, 2017 | 360.79 ft |
| 22 | May 22, 2017 | 360.79 ft |
| 23 | June 11, 2022 | 359.86 ft |
| 24 | May 27, 2020 | 359.72 ft |
| 25 | May 27, 2025 | 359.70 ft |
Most recent crests
- July 9, 2025: 357.11 ft
- July 1, 2025: 355.88 ft
- June 26, 2025: 355.62 ft
- June 20, 2025: 356.89 ft
- June 17, 2025: 359.66 ft
- June 12, 2025: 356.55 ft
- June 9, 2025: 359.18 ft
- May 27, 2025: 359.70 ft
- May 21, 2025: 355.68 ft
- May 2, 2025: 358.17 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Arkansas-Red Basin RFC. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Gauge reading affected by nearby construction. 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.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.