Rivers in Indiana
Ohio River at Tell City
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 50.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 44.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 38.00 ft |
| Action | 36.00 ft |
- 60.50 ftWater reaches top of floodwall in Tell City Indiana and Hawesville Kentucky.
- 60.00 ftWater reaches top of floodwall in Cannelton Indiana.
- 57.00 ftAlmost all businesses and one quarter of homes in Tell City flood.
- 48.00 ftWater reaches railroad tracks and starts up Main St. in Tell City.
- 46.50 ftFlood gates in Hawesville KY close.
- 44.00 ftBottomland on both sides floods. Water reaches base of floodwall.
- 40.00 ftIndiana highway 66 closes above Cannelton.
- 38.00 ftIndiana highway 66 floods between Derby and Magnet...Rome and Derby...and at Rocky Point.
- 35.50 ftFloodgates begin closing.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 14% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 22, 2026.
Crest history
65 crests on NOAA’s list since 1884.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 29, 1937 | 56.95 ft |
| 2 | March 8, 1964 | 53.00 ft |
| 3 | March 10, 1945 | 52.00 ft |
| 4 | February 15, 1884 | 50.80 ft |
| 5 | April 1, 1913 | 50.70 ft |
| 6 | March 8, 1997 | 50.40 ft |
| 7 | April 10, 2025 | 49.50 ft |
| 8 | February 27, 2018 | 49.30 ft |
| 9 | April 20, 1948 | 49.00 ft |
| 10 | April 28, 2011 | 48.00 ft |
| 11 | March 6, 1962 | 47.80 ft |
| 12 | March 24, 1943 | 47.50 ft |
| 13 | March 12, 1955 | 47.10 ft |
| 14 | February 9, 1950 | 47.00 ft |
| 15 | March 20, 1963 | 46.90 ft |
| 16 | May 12, 1961 | 46.80 ft |
| 17 | February 11, 1939 | 46.20 ft |
| 18 | March 17, 2015 | 46.10 ft |
| 19 | February 5, 1952 | 45.60 ft |
| 20 | April 27, 1940 | 45.50 ft |
| 21 | January 5, 1991 | 45.40 ft |
| 22 | March 9, 1961 | 45.20 ft |
| 23 | May 13, 1958 | 45.10 ft |
| 24 | March 7, 2021 | 45.00 ft |
| 25 | February 21, 2025 | 45.00 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 10, 2025: 49.50 ft
- February 21, 2025: 45.00 ft
- March 7, 2021: 45.00 ft
- February 28, 2019: 43.70 ft
- February 14, 2019: 45.00 ft
- January 29, 2019: 38.30 ft
- December 28, 2018: 38.10 ft
- February 27, 2018: 49.30 ft
- December 30, 2015: 42.00 ft
- April 19, 2015: 41.60 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. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. Gauge readings may not be available when the Ohio River is below 29 feet at this location.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.