Rivers in Kansas

Walnut River near El Dorado

Butler County, KansasNWS EDEK1Wichita office

Below flood stage
2.02ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 11:00 AM CDT

Flood stage
19.00 ft
Record crest
26.65 ft1979

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood25.00 ft
Moderate flood23.00 ft
Minor flood19.00 ft
Action17.00 ft
  1. 26.65 ftWidespread flooding is anticipated. Approximately 200 homes may be affected by flood waters.
  2. 25.00 ftExpect nearly 100 homes to be affected by flood waters with extensive agricultural flooding.
  3. 24.50 ftApproximately 20 homes and about 45 thousand acres of crops flood.
  4. 23.00 ftExtensive flooding of low-lying areas on both sides of the bank can be expected. The Walnut River Apartments floods along with the extensive overflow from the left bank.
  5. 22.50 ftFlood waters from the east bank encroach on the Walnut River Apartments and nearby homes located 1 mile east of El Dorado and north of Highway 54.
  6. 19.00 ftSome flooding of low-lying areas and bottom land can be expected. Overflows especially on the upstream left bank will occur. Flood waters will impact Riverside Park by covering walk pathways and inundating playground equipment.
  7. 17.00 ftThe walking pathways in Riverside Park will be underwater.
  8. 10.00 ftA narrow overflow strip of about 100 ft starts on the east left bank.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

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

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 21, 2026.

Crest history

29 crests on NOAA’s list since 1961.

#DateStage
1June 8, 197926.65 ft
2June 5, 196524.95 ft
3July 3, 197624.45 ft
4August 25, 200523.08 ft
5June 3, 202521.31 ft
6May 25, 201920.14 ft
7April 27, 200919.92 ft
8November 1, 199819.77 ft
9July 23, 196119.60 ft
10April 27, 200919.30 ft
11September 12, 200819.12 ft
12May 21, 201918.63 ft
13May 26, 201918.29 ft
14July 3, 201617.49 ft
15May 8, 201916.04 ft
16October 10, 198514.52 ft
17May 8, 199311.78 ft
18May 12, 198211.59 ft
19October 3, 198610.95 ft
20June 10, 199210.04 ft
21August 29, 19898.79 ft
22April 1, 19888.11 ft
23April 5, 19837.59 ft
24March 18, 19847.58 ft
25May 7, 19857.57 ft

Most recent crests

  • June 3, 2025: 21.31 ft
  • May 26, 2019: 18.29 ft
  • May 25, 2019: 20.14 ft
  • May 21, 2019: 18.63 ft
  • May 8, 2019: 16.04 ft
  • July 3, 2016: 17.49 ft
  • April 27, 2009: 19.92 ft
  • April 27, 2009: 19.30 ft
  • September 12, 2008: 19.12 ft
  • August 25, 2005: 23.08 ft

Nearby

Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.

What this means

Forecasts by the Arkansas-Red Basin RFC. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. River forecasts for this location take into account past and future precipitation. Forecast stages may be different if forecast future rainfall does not occur.

Sources

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.