East Fork White River at Columbus

1. 22.00 ftRiver levels approaching the 500 year flood. This level is more than 3 feet above June 2008. There is great destruction along SR 46 between I-65 and Columbus and along the SR 11 corridor south of Columbus to Seymour. Flood waters threaten old wellhouse. Columbus is cut off from the outside world via land transportation.
2. 19.50 ftRecord flooding is in progress. Flood flow may approximate that of the March 1913 estimated flow. Although 2nd Street and 3rd Street in Columbus are dry, one cannot enter Columbus via 2nd Street because the river bridge is flooded and one cannot leave Columbus via 3rd Street because SR 46 is extremely flooded west of the river. Thus Columbus is very likely isolated via land transportation.
3. 18.61 ftRecord flooding developed rapidly in June 2008 following rains of up to 11 inches in the Edinburgh area on very wet ground with the river already in flood at 10 ft when the rain began. Communications with the Columbus area were lost early during this flood and isolated the city. The severe river flooding occurred during darkness. While majority of flood damage to the city was caused by Haw Creek, this flood surpassed the March 1913 flood to be the greatest flood to strike this area of the East Fork White.
4. 18.60 ftDuring June 2008, Haw Creek flooded the first floor of the Columbus Hospital as well as numerous homes and businesses in the City of Columbus. Along SR 46 west of Columbus all businesses that were not raised above the 100 year flood elevations were heavily flooded (many have since been raised). SR 46 interchange with I-65 was flooded by 4 to 5 ft of water from a combination of river and storm drain backup. Flood waters extended 2 blocks west of the exit.
5. 18.00 ftState Road 46 flooded on both sides of I-65 at exit 68. Entrances to local businesses blocked by flood waters. A farm homestead located about 2/3 of a mile north of SR 46 just west of CR 325 W is an island. CR 325 W, CR 200 N, Georgetown and Tellman Roads submerged by several feet of water. Flood waters over east bound SR 46 bridge and SR 11 north and south of Columbus submerged by several feet of water. Serious flooding continues in Columbus and Garden City areas.
6. 17.00 ftApproaching a record flood. State Road 46 closed. Evacuations are likely on homes north of SR 46. Flood waters affect businesses along SR 46. This is the approximate height of the 100 year flood.
7. 16.00 ftWater flows over SR 46 west of Columbus. Water surrounds houses north of SR 46. Some evacuations are necessary. Businesses and houses beginning to flood along SR 46.
8. 15.90 ftSR 46 at Columbus completely closed from I-65 to Columbus during the December 2013 flood. Also SR 11 south of Columbus was closed. In the Walesboro area at least 10 homes experienced flooding in December 2013 and Southern Crossing was closed.
9. 15.00 ftThe river floods two of SR 46's 4 lanes just west of Columbus. Southern Crossing flooded at this level in June 2008. At least 10 homes in the Walesboro area began to flood or had water near their homes in December 2013. Southern Crossing was closed by high water.
10. 14.60 ftWater began to edge on to SR 46 east of Columbus at this level in December 2013. Local residents concerned along the Flatrock River at Columbus. Level of Flatrock River was 15.3 feet at US Highway 31.
11. 14.10 ftResidential areas in the Walesboro area near Southern Crossing begin to flood especially if the reading at Seymour is slightly over 18 feet.
12. 14.00 ftExtensive agricultural flooding from Columbus area downstream to Walesboro. Flooding of SR 11 from Columbus to Walesboro is in progress. Businesses and residences flood along SR 11. Mill Race Park and Tellman Road extensively flooded. CR 325 W south of Lowell Rd and local roads just north of West Hill Shopping Center flooded. According to Columbus Response Plan, Southern Gladstone Avenue is flooded. This is likely because of backwater from the East Fork White.
13. 13.50 ftExtensive lowland flooding in progress along the East Fork White River. CR 800 S is flooded.
14. 12.50 ftSR 11 north of CR 200 S flooded. This occurs about once every 1 to 2 years.
15. 12.00 ftExtensive agricultural flooding is in progress north of SR 46 and along right bank downstream of gage. Flood begins to go over CR 325 W south of Lowell Rd.
16. 11.60 ftWater is very close to CR 325 W just south of Lowell Rd. Mill Race Park flooded as is the area behind West Hill Shopping Center. Tellman Road is flooded.
17. 11.20 ftState Road 11 in the Garden City area closed at this level during March 2008 flood. Every road leading to or crossing the East Fork White River in Bartholomew County except for State Road 46 was flooded during the bigger March 2008 flood.
18. 10.00 ftEvery Bartholomew county road that approaches or crosses the East Fork White River including Southern Crossing is affected by flood waters. County Road 800 S is extensively flooded in southern Bartholomew County. Mill Race Park in Columbus is extensively flooded. Flood waters on SR 11 in the southbound lane about 1 mile north of CR 800 S.
19. 9.00 ftCabins begin to flood south of Tellman Road. Mill Race Park floods. Lowland flooding begins. State Road 11 between Southern Crossing and CR 550 S is closed.
20. 8.80 ftFlooding occurs along portions of the East Fork White River in the Columbus area including Mill Race Park.
21. 8.00 ftThe river is at an unusually high level. Tellman Road begins to flood just southwest of Indianapolis Road. High water begins to affect Mill Race Park.
22. 6.00 ftBackwater from the East Fork White River begins to affect (slow) the water flow of Haw and Clifty Creeks in the city of Columbus around this level.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.

Most recent crests

• August 15, 2026: 9.18 ft
• May 21, 2026: 9.37 ft
• March 6, 2026: 14.13 ft
• April 6, 2025: 17.09 ft
• April 13, 2024: 9.19 ft
• March 26, 2023: 10.81 ft
• March 8, 2022: 9.93 ft
• July 18, 2021: 10.78 ft
• July 18, 2021: 10.78 ft
• June 20, 2021: 10.75 ft

• UpstreamFlatrock River at Columbus
• DownstreamEast Fork White River at Seymour
• Haw Creek (IN) at East Columbus
• Clifty Creek at Columbus
• Haw Creek (IN) at Clifford
• Driftwood River at Edinburgh
• Haw Creek (IN) at Hope
• Sugar Creek (central) at Edinburgh
• Clifty Creek at Hartsville

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.