Buffalo River near St Joe

1. 53.80 ftThe crest of record is 53.8 feet which occurred December 3rd 1982. Incredible flooding experienced with the bridges or approach roads to the bridges on U.S. Highway 65 and State Highway 14 overtopped. Lower lying portion of the town of Gilbert may flood.
2. 50.00 ftWater is near U.S. 65 Highway Bridge lower steel. Recreational facilities in the lower lying areas along the river in the vicinity of Gilbert will flood. Buffalo river crested at 49.4 feet March 19 2008. There has been three crest over 49 feet since 1915, December 1982 crest of 53.8 feet, August 1915 crest of 50.5 feet and the March 2008 crest of 49.4 feet.
3. 46.50 ftCrest of April 25 2004 was 46.51 feet. Primary impacts are to the recreational facilities of the National Park Service, such as Tyler Bend Campground near U.S. Highway 65. River is swift and dangerous and may be carrying a tremendous amount of debris. Floating and other recreational activities on and along the river should be avoided.
4. 45.00 ftBuffalo River has crested over 45 feet at the U.S. Highway 65 gage six times since 1915. These events occurred in August 1915, November 1973, December 1982, April 2004, March 2008, and December 2015. River is swift, dangerous, and carrying a large amount of debris. Activities on and around the river should be avoided.
5. 42.00 ftRiver crested in May 1990 at this level. Expect similar damages and impacts. River has crested above 42 feet at the gage on U.S. Highway 65 bridge eight times since 1915.
6. 35.00 ftAll of Tyler Bend Access Area is flooded. Backwater up Bear, Mill, and Calf Creeks flood an extensive area of the valley. River has crested above 35 feet at the U.S. Highway 65 gage at least nineteen times since 1915.
7. 27.00 ftTyler Bend Access Area begins to flood. Some campsites are under water and Comfort Station is flooded.
8. 20.00 ftLimited impacts due to the lack of private property along the river. Some access points and public facilities will be effected. The National Park Service has recommended that float activities stop well below this flow level and conditions are dangerous to recreational floaters. Floodplain along the North Bank begins to flood.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 16, 2026.

Most recent crests

• April 6, 2025: 33.26 ft
• November 5, 2024: 35.44 ft
• March 25, 2023: 27.67 ft
• April 30, 2017: 34.47 ft
• December 28, 2015: 45.58 ft
• May 11, 2015: 31.02 ft
• April 26, 2011: 35.53 ft
• October 30, 2009: 28.28 ft
• September 4, 2008: 27.65 ft
• April 10, 2008: 37.36 ft

• White River at Bull Shoals Dam
• Norfork River at Norfork Dam
• White River at Calico Rock
• White River at Allison
• Turkey Creek (MO) at Hollister
• Little North Fork River at Thornfield
• Bryant Creek at Tecumseh
• White River (MO) at Ozark Beach Dam

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

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.