Rivers in Indiana
Big Blue River (IN) at Shelbyville
Below flood stage
4.99ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 4:45 PM EDT
- Flood stage
- 13.00 ft
- Record crest
- 20.20 ft1913
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 18.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 15.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 13.00 ft |
| Action | 9.00 ft |
- 23.90 ftLow steel of Harrison Street Bridge over the Big Blue River at gaging site.
- 20.00 ftNear record or record flooding is in progress. Major flooding causes substantial residential and business damage in Shelbyville.
- 19.50 ftMaximum good reading before wellhouse is flooded.
- 18.00 ftMajor flood strikes Shelbyville.
- 17.00 ftExtensive flooding along left bank affects business and residential property along Boggstown Road. Rural flooding of a few homes near CR 100N and Boggstown Road on April 21, 2011.
- 16.30 ftExtensive flooding occurring along Big Blue River. Several residences in Shelbyville had water in their yards on March 6, 2011. One day later extensive flooding at mile marker 82.5 in the Edinburgh area. Several homes along Sugar Creek were evacuated when the level peaked at nine ft on the New Palestine gage one day earlier.
- 15.00 ftHigh water affects trucking firm on Boggstown Road.
- 14.00 ftFlooding begins to affect business and residential property. West Washington Avenue east of rendering plant begins to flood. In winter and spring, persons are not too concerned. This level is rather unusual for summer.
- 13.50 ftFlooding affects Boggstown Road near sewage plant. Considerable flooding of agricultural fields south of Boggstown Road. Lowland flooding occurring along the Big Blue River in Johnson County.
- 13.00 ftFlood Stage. Water reaches CR 425W. Some agricultural land and extremely low-lying areas like Bear Chase golf course are flooded.
- 12.50 ftRight bank 50 feet upstream of gage site overflows.
- 12.00 ftLowland flooding begins in Sunset Park on left bank about one-half downstream of gage site. Water very near and may start flowing over Shelby CR 425W south of Shelby CR 50S and north of Shelby CR 100S.
- 11.00 ftFlooding begins at Bear Chase Golf Course. Lowland flooding begins in Sunset Park located on left bank about one-half mile downstream of gage site. Flood waters in agricultural fields in SR 44 area.
- 9.00 ftRiver is near bankfull and impairing sewage treatment operation. Some flooding is likely in southwest Shelby county.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 19% |
| Moderate flooding | 9% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 22, 2026.
Crest history
263 crests on NOAA’s list since 1913.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 28, 1913 | 20.20 ft |
| 2 | April 6, 2025 | 19.98 ft |
| 3 | January 6, 2005 | 18.43 ft |
| 4 | November 15, 1993 | 18.41 ft |
| 5 | December 23, 2013 | 18.30 ft |
| 6 | January 12, 1937 | 18.30 ft |
| 7 | January 25, 1937 | 18.30 ft |
| 8 | April 4, 2018 | 18.06 ft |
| 9 | December 31, 1990 | 18.03 ft |
| 10 | March 5, 1963 | 17.70 ft |
| 11 | April 21, 2011 | 17.10 ft |
| 12 | January 5, 1949 | 17.00 ft |
| 13 | June 1, 1997 | 16.84 ft |
| 14 | February 8, 2019 | 16.72 ft |
| 15 | August 14, 2026 | 16.69 ft |
| 16 | January 22, 1959 | 16.50 ft |
| 17 | March 6, 2011 | 16.41 ft |
| 18 | February 24, 1975 | 16.33 ft |
| 19 | May 14, 2002 | 16.21 ft |
| 20 | June 17, 2019 | 16.19 ft |
| 21 | April 30, 1996 | 16.13 ft |
| 22 | May 24, 1968 | 16.10 ft |
| 23 | February 14, 1950 | 16.00 ft |
| 24 | May 5, 1996 | 15.92 ft |
| 25 | April 12, 1944 | 15.90 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 14, 2026: 16.69 ft
- March 5, 2026: 15.02 ft
- April 6, 2025: 19.98 ft
- April 3, 2024: 13.48 ft
- March 26, 2023: 14.34 ft
- March 8, 2022: 14.92 ft
- July 18, 2021: 14.22 ft
- March 20, 2020: 14.17 ft
- January 12, 2020: 15.67 ft
- June 17, 2019: 16.19 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
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.