East Fork White River at Shoals

1. 42.00 ftRecord or near record flood is in progress. Severe damage occurs to homes, businesses, roads, bridges and railroads in the flood plain. Some houses flood above the second story. U.S. Highway 50 is open, but there is water on each side of road. Anything on the left bank 3 feet or lower of U.S. Highway 50 is flooded. Many evacuations are necessary.
2. 37.00 ftA very unusual flood is in progress. January 1937 is the last time a level was greater than 37 feet.
3. 35.00 ftMajor flood is in progress. Residential, agricultural and business areas in flood plain of Shoals and rural Martin County severely flood. All islands in the flood plain completely flood. Flooding threatens county bridges and railroad. Many evacuations are necessary.
4. 30.10 ftDuring the March 2008 flood, SR 550 extensively flooded on the left bank of the river bridge. One county road on the left bank is totally submerged and another near the hill is barely visible. The south bound lane on the right bank of the river is barely passable, but once over the bridge it ends in deep, fast flowing flood water. There is no Hindostan Falls, just a very big river. Water near SR 550 just before turn off to the Falls. One farmer must boat into his house.
5. 30.05 ftBeaver Creek extensively flooded on south side of U.S. Highway 50 and where SR 150 crosses the creek. Flooding affects homes and low lying businesses along SR 150. Water is in some homes and blocks exits for other. SR 150 and U.S. Highway 50 are high and not subject to flooding unless the river goes over 42 or so feet.
6. 30.00 ftA major flood is in progress. Commercial and residential areas begin to flood. Sawmill operation just east of Shoals begins to flood. Water covers Second, Eighth, and High Streets in Shoals. Several evacuations are necessary. People located on islands are isolated by high water and/or flooded. All local river roads are submerged by several feet.
7. 29.00 ftFlood level begins to have a serious impact on low lying commerical area in Shoals along Beaver Creek. Local car dealer must move vehicles.
8. 28.14 ftBackwater from the Great Flood of June 2008 flooded Windom Road at Simons and Blue Creek. The flood wave had dissipated greatly by the time it reached the Shoals area and was about 2 feet lower than high water seen earlier in March of that year.
9. 28.00 ftFlood levels get the attention of much of Martin county. Water flows over 2nd Street. Grain elevator begins to flood along Spout Spring Road. Residents along Low Street flood. Residents of several mobile homes must move or evacuate. Flood waters are several feet deep on local river roads. This level and higher creates major land transportation problems downstream of Shoals where Lost River enters East Fork White River. School closes if in session.
10. 27.95 ftBeginning April 25, 2011 and continuing through May 8, 2011 three county roads were closed because of East Fork White River flooding in northern Dubois County. Portersville Rd W was closed in two locations...just east of CR 500W and between CR 650W and CR 660W. One other county road was flooded.
11. 26.00 ftHigh water affects low residential areas on left bank at Shoals. Some evacuations or moving of mobile homes is necessary. Local roads flood more extensively. Rural residents move livestock and equipment to high ground. SR 550 floods on right bank and also between Trinity and Dover Hill.
12. 24.00 ftRoads that flood include, East and West River Road, Spout Spring Road, SR 550 in two places, a county road near Beech Creek, Chicken Farm Road and Cemetery Road. High water forms at least one island. Two families must walk or take boats to leave. One county road in Dubois County floods.
13. 23.70 ftDuring prolonged high water of late March and early April 2008, Windom Road had one lane open. On March 11, 2011 SR 550 just south of Loogootee was closed by high water on the south side of the river. At least one nearby county road was flooded. Considerable lowland flooding in progress.
14. 22.50 ftWest River Road east from Shoals flooded in at least two locations. Residential area near McBrides Bluff isolated by high water. Low lying county roads east of McBrides Bluff also flooded.
15. 22.00 ftLowland flooding affects all local roads in the flood plain. Farmers must move some livestock to higher ground. SR 550 floods on left bank. Roads that flood include West River, Spout Spring, Cemetery, East River, Chicken Farm and a few other side roads near the river. East Fork White River forms at least one island. Two families are nearly isolated. Significant agricultural flooding is in progress.
16. 20.00 ftSignificant flooding of agricultural lands begins. Livestock in low bottoms must be moved to higher ground. Cemetery Road, East River Road, and SR 550 near Hindostan Church, and SR 257 south of Washington begins to flood. Water on Dubois CR 725 North in March 2011. Water receded from SR 550 during March 2011 on the south side of the river in the Loogootee area.
17. 18.80 ftDuring August 2009, water covered a portion of SR 257 south of Washington about 1 day after reaching this level. At the time the West Fork of White River was receding slowly and the reading at Edwardsport was around 6 feet. The reading at Petersburg was 15.8 feet. The water did not go over SR 257 completely.
18. 18.70 ftDuring August 2009, bottomland flooding occurred in Martin County at this level.
19. 15.00 ftLowest agricultural lands begin to flood. Parking area on left bank at Hindostan Falls begins to flood. SR 257 south of Washington may flood.
20. 10.00 ftLowest agricultural areas along the East Fork White River begin to flood, particularly downstream of Shoals.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 22, 2026.

Most recent crests

• May 26, 2026: 20.20 ft
• March 11, 2026: 27.55 ft
• April 11, 2025: 31.43 ft
• March 31, 2023: 22.83 ft
• March 25, 2020: 23.84 ft
• January 17, 2020: 23.20 ft
• June 23, 2019: 27.26 ft
• April 27, 2019: 22.01 ft
• February 13, 2019: 28.45 ft
• November 8, 2018: 15.07 ft

• UpstreamEast Fork White River at Williams
• DownstreamWhite River (IN) at Petersburg
• Beaver Creek (IN) at Shoals
• Lost River (IN) at Prospect
• Patoka River at Cuzco
• Patoka River at Patoka Lake
• Patoka River at Jasper
• East Fork White River at Bedford
• Lick Creek at Paoli

Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.

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.