Rivers in Kentucky
Kentucky River at Frankfort Lock
Below flood stage
6.91ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 2:30 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 31.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 7.10 ftThu, Sep 24, 2:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 48.47 ft1978
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 40.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 35.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 31.00 ft |
| Action | 29.00 ft |
- 51.50 ftWater reaches the top of protection in South Frankfort.
- 51.00 ftWater reaches the top of protection in North Frankfort.
- 48.00 ftAreas outside of floodwall are covered. Many county roads are closed. Most of Buffalo Trace Distillery is flooded.
- 47.00 ftBuffalo Trace Distillery offices flood along Fair Oaks Lane.
- 44.00 ftHomes along Big Eddy Road flood. Parts of Port Collins Road and Polsgrove Road flood and cutoff homes. Water crosses Wilkinson Boulevard at Leestown Lane which cuts off Frankfort Housing Authority and Walter Todd Drive. Buffalo Trace Distillery Ash Building (across Wilkinson Boulevard) floods.
- 43.00 ftBellepoint is cut off. Indian Gap Road, Bates Road and River Valley Road flood. Water Plant is affected. Todd Park floods.
- 40.00 ftPaul Sawyier Drive, East Second Street, East Fourth Street and Admirals Landing flood. The entrance at McDonald Ferry Road floods. Buffalo Trace Distillery Visitor Parking Lot floods.
- 39.00 ftPortions of Logan Street, Norton Street and Murray Street flood. Riverboat Landing is flooded. Steele Branch Road is flooded resulting in some homes being cut off and Kentucky River Campground closure.
- 38.00 ftKY 420 (Old Lawrenceburg Road) closes. Wilkinson Street (dead end), Watson Court, Wilson Street and Kentucky Avenue flood. Many basements of homes flood in south Frankfort along Paul Sawyier Drive and Hermitage Drive.
- 37.00 ftTaylor Avenue floods near quarry. Swallowfield Road floods at Bates Road.
- 36.00 ftTravis Circle, Onans Bend Road, and Polsgrove Road flood.
- 33.00 ftSteele Branch Road floods at dead end. Stoney Creek Road and Shadrick Ferry Road close. Buffalo Trace Distillery buildings along the river flood.
- 31.00 ftBenson Valley Road floods. Water approaches Stoney Creek Road.
- 28.00 ftPortions of Still Waters Campground flood.
- 27.00 ftLewis Ferry Road floods.
- 26.00 ftStoney Creek Road floods. Portions of Kentucky River Campground flood.
- 24.00 ftNorth Stoney Creek Road floods.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.
Crest history
61 crests on NOAA’s list since 1817.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | December 10, 1978 | 48.47 ft |
| 2 | April 7, 2025 | 48.35 ft |
| 3 | January 25, 1937 | 47.46 ft |
| 4 | March 3, 1997 | 45.22 ft |
| 5 | February 16, 1989 | 44.17 ft |
| 6 | May 5, 2010 | 42.84 ft |
| 7 | February 1, 1883 | 42.80 ft |
| 8 | April 16, 1972 | 42.25 ft |
| 9 | March 1, 1962 | 40.73 ft |
| 10 | March 5, 2021 | 40.16 ft |
| 11 | February 17, 2025 | 39.40 ft |
| 12 | May 9, 1984 | 38.99 ft |
| 13 | March 10, 1964 | 38.71 ft |
| 14 | March 27, 1913 | 38.20 ft |
| 15 | February 2, 1950 | 37.84 ft |
| 16 | January 1, 1817 | 37.50 ft |
| 17 | March 6, 1955 | 37.10 ft |
| 18 | February 1, 1880 | 37.00 ft |
| 19 | January 1, 1847 | 37.00 ft |
| 20 | March 1, 1854 | 36.50 ft |
| 21 | December 19, 1915 | 36.20 ft |
| 22 | April 5, 2015 | 36.15 ft |
| 23 | March 22, 2002 | 35.81 ft |
| 24 | January 11, 1913 | 35.80 ft |
| 25 | February 17, 1948 | 35.61 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 7, 2025: 48.35 ft
- February 17, 2025: 39.40 ft
- March 5, 2021: 40.16 ft
- February 25, 2019: 32.33 ft
- April 5, 2015: 36.15 ft
- May 5, 2010: 42.84 ft
- June 1, 2004: 34.41 ft
- February 20, 2003: 35.16 ft
- March 22, 2002: 35.81 ft
- March 3, 1997: 45.22 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. 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.
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.