Rivers in Indiana

White River (IN) at Spencer

Owen County, IndianaNWS SPNI3USGS 03357000Indianapolis office

Below flood stage
3.99ftStage

Observed Wed, Sep 23, 6:30 AM EDT

Flood stage
14.00 ft
Forecast crest
4.40 ftWed, Sep 23, 8:00 AM EDT
Record crest
28.50 ft1913

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood24.00 ft
Moderate flood20.00 ft
Minor flood14.00 ft
Action9.00 ft
  1. 29.50 ftRecord flood is in progress. Flood waters approaching courthouse from the south as south side of Spencer floods. Much of Prospect Park near SR 46 and U.S. 231 is completely underwater. A devastating flood on the river side of railroad tracks.
  2. 29.10 ftSpencer Wastewater Treatment Plant begins to flood. It may be the only dry spot in Spencer proper except for the hills.
  3. 28.50 ftWater is at record flood level. In the newer areas of southeast Spencer, flood waters surround apartments, the Senior Citizens Center, and nursing home. Flood waters two feet deep in Fairground Building. Possible first floor flooding on south side of Spencer.
  4. 28.00 ftCity Maintenance Garage floods by several feet. Evacuations are necessary in Southport area. Residential area near gravel pit just downstream completely floods. Extensive rural flooding just north of Freedom is in progress.
  5. 26.00 ftBuildings in the Owen County Fairgrounds begin to flood. Flood waters begin to enter Spencer proper. A few homes at the intersection of CR 25 E and CR 75 S impacted or will soon be impacted by high water immediately south of Spencer.
  6. 25.50 ftCity Maintenance Garage begins to flood.
  7. 24.60 ftNorth South road located on east side of Owen Valley Middle and High Schools begins to flood.
  8. 24.30 ftProspect Park on west side of Spencer extensively floods. Streets that partially flood on the south side include E Cooper and Clay Streets, and S West, Montgomery Street, Main, Washington, Harrison, and East Streets. Sandbagging is necessary on the south side of Spencer.
  9. 24.00 ftA major flood is in progress. As many as 150 people may be forced to evacuate from the western outskirts of Spencer.
  10. 23.00 ftFlooding affects all homes in Prospect Park area in western Spencer. Evacuations are necessary. Flood water affects southern Spencer and across the river in Southport area. Fairgrounds parking lot and arena flood.
  11. 22.50 ftEast side of Cooper Street on south side of Spencer begins to flood.
  12. 22.30 ftCounty road south of river gage begins to flood.
  13. 22.00 ftSome evacuations may begin in Prospect Park area and western outskirts of Spencer. Recreational area on southwest side of Spencer is flooded. Flood waters affect the southern part of Freedom while rural area just north of Freedom extensively floods. Several local roads along the White River in southern Owen County are flooded extensively.
  14. 21.00 ftProspect Park area, western outskirts, and East Street begin to flood in Spencer.
  15. 20.00 ftHyden Road, Fifth Avenue, and west side of Cooper Street in southern Spencer begin to flood.
  16. 19.00 ftRoad south of river gage begins to flood. Gosport Road closes. Extensive agricultural flooding is in progress. Moon Road in very rural northwest Monroe County is extensively flooded.
  17. 18.00 ftFlooding begins of Owen County Fairgrounds and Cooper Park on south side of Spencer.
  18. 17.50 ftLowest portions of Trail 2 flood in McCormicks Creek State Park. Extensive backwater in Rattlesnake, Fall, McCormicks, Limestone, Big, and Bean Blossom Creeks with overflow flooding crops or hay.
  19. 17.20 ftHigh water affects Owen County Fairgrounds parking lot and county roads in the Freedom area.
  20. 17.00 ftA few mobile homes located downstream of Spencer are isolated because their driveway lanes flood. County Line Road on north side of river has one foot of water and begins to flood in a second place. Spencer Public Access extensively floods. North Moon Road in very rural northwest Monroe County is flooded by the White River.
  21. 16.30 ftCounty Line Road south of Gosport begins to flood.
  22. 16.00 ftFlood water affects gravel pit. High water concerns farmers in agricultural season about crops and livestock. Lowest portions of Trail 7 in McCormicks Creek Park flood.
  23. 15.50 ftGosport Road, also known as County Line Road in Owen County, begins to flood on north side of river. Romona Road west of Gosport begins to flood. Flooding of low agricultural land is noticeable.
  24. 14.00 ftLowland flooding begins in the Spencer and Gosport areas. The river begins to backup Rattlesnake, Fall, McCormicks, Limestone, Big, and Bean Blossom Creeks. Spencer Public Access site begins to flood.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor flooding25%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

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

Crest history

317 crests on NOAA’s list since 1913.

#DateStage
1March 26, 191328.50 ft
2June 8, 200826.84 ft
3January 7, 200525.08 ft
4April 7, 202524.41 ft
5January 1, 199123.95 ft
6November 16, 199323.82 ft
7April 23, 196423.33 ft
8September 4, 200323.30 ft
9May 6, 201723.22 ft
10May 15, 193323.20 ft
11January 16, 193723.20 ft
12May 25, 196823.09 ft
13April 21, 201323.08 ft
14May 9, 196123.06 ft
15May 20, 194322.96 ft
16May 15, 200222.85 ft
17January 15, 200522.84 ft
18April 5, 201822.70 ft
19January 31, 196922.64 ft
20March 6, 196322.53 ft
21September 11, 192622.48 ft
22January 6, 195022.43 ft
23June 17, 199822.38 ft
24January 24, 199922.33 ft
25January 15, 193022.30 ft

Most recent crests

  • August 20, 2026: 20.96 ft
  • May 21, 2026: 15.33 ft
  • March 6, 2026: 19.27 ft
  • April 7, 2025: 24.41 ft
  • May 18, 2024: 15.48 ft
  • April 13, 2024: 20.33 ft
  • March 26, 2023: 18.69 ft
  • March 9, 2022: 18.60 ft
  • October 29, 2021: 14.22 ft
  • July 18, 2021: 15.34 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. Stage may be affected by ice.

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.