Wabash River at Bluffton
Observed Mon, Sep 21, 11:45 PM EDT
- Flood stage
- 10.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 11.90 ftTue, Sep 22, 2:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 21.00 ft1913
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 18.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 14.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 10.00 ft |
| Action | 7.00 ft |
- 20.50 ftFlood water hits the highest point of the bottom of the bridge at the gage site.
- 20.00 ftWater is at the top of the levee protecting the wastewater treatment plant. The power plant area is affected by high water with extensive flooding of rural areas. Homes are flooded and some county and state roads are closed. Flood water may stop rail traffic. A record flood is in progress at this stage. There is extensive flooding or northern parts of Bluffton. The commercial area in northwest Bluffton along SR 1 is affected by flood water. Some evacutations are necessary.
- 18.00 ftWater approaches the power plant. Rural residences along Elm Road begin to flood and the railroad is threatened. A major flood is in progress. Commercial and municipal property along SR 1 begins to flood. Evacuations are necessary in northern parts of Bluffton. Water is at a critical level on the levee protecting the wastewater treatment plant.
- 16.00 ftThe outlying portion of West Washington Street becomes impassible and SR 116 west of Bluffton begins to flood.
- 14.00 ftFlooding begins to affect residential areas in northern Bluffton. Low areas near the wastewater treatment plant begin to flood. Portions of Elm Grove Road and County Road 450 begin to flood.
- 13.30 ftRiver Road in Bluffton is flooded and closed along the River Green Way.
- 13.00 ftAccess road to Bluffton wastewater treatment plant is flooded.
- 12.00 ftWater reaching the bottom of the bridge at East River Road and 450 East. River Road and a few county roads are closed by high water.
- 11.00 ftRiver Road at Bluffton begins to flood. Flood waters isolate the amphitheater at Kehoe Park in Bluffton.
- 10.00 ftThe river is at flood stage. Flooding of agricultural land begins.
Flood outlook
Significant river flooding is occurring here through September 27.
Significant flooding is already occurring or is forecast to occur during the outlook period.
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 39% |
| Moderate flooding | 6% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The five-day outlook is from the Weather Prediction Center with the River Forecast Centers. The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.
Crest history
192 crests on NOAA’s list since 1904.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 25, 1913 | 21.00 ft |
| 2 | July 9, 2003 | 18.43 ft |
| 3 | January 14, 2005 | 17.17 ft |
| 4 | June 19, 2015 | 16.74 ft |
| 5 | March 1, 1904 | 16.70 ft |
| 6 | February 7, 2008 | 16.43 ft |
| 7 | February 25, 1985 | 16.20 ft |
| 8 | March 2, 2011 | 16.12 ft |
| 9 | February 15, 1950 | 16.07 ft |
| 10 | March 13, 1982 | 16.00 ft |
| 11 | January 24, 1999 | 15.50 ft |
| 12 | February 23, 2014 | 15.49 ft |
| 13 | January 14, 2013 | 15.36 ft |
| 14 | January 14, 1930 | 15.20 ft |
| 15 | January 16, 1937 | 15.02 ft |
| 16 | March 2, 2011 | 15.00 ft |
| 17 | February 10, 1959 | 14.95 ft |
| 18 | May 19, 1943 | 14.74 ft |
| 19 | April 28, 2019 | 14.73 ft |
| 20 | March 18, 1978 | 14.70 ft |
| 21 | March 22, 1978 | 14.60 ft |
| 22 | January 4, 1916 | 14.50 ft |
| 23 | March 5, 1979 | 14.50 ft |
| 24 | March 4, 2007 | 14.40 ft |
| 25 | July 4, 1993 | 14.40 ft |
Most recent crests
- May 12, 2021: 11.57 ft
- May 10, 2021: 10.49 ft
- January 13, 2020: 11.64 ft
- April 28, 2019: 14.73 ft
- April 6, 2018: 11.86 ft
- May 7, 2017: 13.64 ft
- January 1, 2016: 10.83 ft
- June 19, 2015: 16.74 ft
- February 23, 2014: 15.49 ft
- January 14, 2013: 15.36 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. 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.