Rivers in Michigan

Portage River near Vicksburg

Kalamazoo County, MichiganNWS VCKM4USGS 04097170Grand Rapids office

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood8.00 ft
Moderate flood7.00 ft
Minor flood5.00 ft
Action4.50 ft
  1. 8.00 ftExpect major flooding of several homes built adjacent to the river.
  2. 7.00 ftExpect moderate flooding of several homes built adjacent to the river. Water covers south 29th Street just south of EW Avenue.
  3. 6.00 ftExpect minor basement flooding of several homes built adjacent to the river.
  4. 5.50 ftMinor basement flooding begins at the first house near the gage.
  5. 5.00 ftExpect overflows into wooded areas, yards, a few outbuildings, and farmland adjacent to the river.
  6. 4.50 ftRiver is near bankfull.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor flooding12%
Moderate flooding6%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Crest history

70 crests on NOAA’s list since 1947.

#DateStage
1February 22, 20186.18 ft
2May 19, 20205.83 ft
3June 2, 19895.81 ft
4August 18, 20165.78 ft
5June 21, 20195.66 ft
6April 7, 19475.66 ft
7March 23, 19485.65 ft
8September 15, 20085.62 ft
9April 4, 19505.55 ft
10February 27, 19855.55 ft
11May 19, 20185.49 ft
12March 7, 20185.49 ft
13March 21, 19825.48 ft
14February 3, 19685.47 ft
15January 13, 20205.46 ft
16March 12, 20095.46 ft
17July 17, 20245.45 ft
18March 5, 19765.38 ft
19March 31, 20175.36 ft
20June 30, 19785.35 ft
21June 8, 19805.23 ft
22January 30, 19695.23 ft
23January 2, 19735.22 ft
24March 6, 19795.21 ft
25March 9, 19745.21 ft

Most recent crests

  • July 17, 2024: 5.45 ft
  • July 10, 2024: 5.06 ft
  • January 30, 2024: 5.13 ft
  • April 10, 2023: 4.94 ft
  • February 23, 2022: 5.09 ft
  • June 27, 2021: 4.86 ft
  • May 19, 2020: 5.83 ft
  • January 13, 2020: 5.46 ft
  • June 21, 2019: 5.66 ft
  • May 20, 2019: 5.20 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the North Central 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 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. 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. Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.

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.