Rivers in Kentucky
Levisa Fork at Paintsville
Below flood stage
2.71ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 11:45 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 35.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 3.70 ftThu, Sep 24, 8:00 PM EDT
- Record crest
- 46.60 ft1862
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 42.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 38.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 35.00 ft |
| Action | 28.00 ft |
- 47.40 ft100 year return period flood.
- 45.92 ftFlooding will exceed the highest flood on record. Ninety percent of businesses and eighty percent of homes are flooded.
- 44.60 ft50 year return period flood.
- 44.00 ftRight bank overtopped.
- 42.00 ftMajor flooding occurs. Businesses begin to flood.
- 39.00 ft10 year return period flood.
- 38.00 ftModerate flooding occurs. Water enters houses along Bridge Street, Frank Street, and Euclid Avenue.
- 35.50 ftWater is in the Veterans Referral Center building on Euclid Avenue.
- 35.00 ftLow lying areas flood. The underpass at KY 40 is closed, separating the town east of the river. Left bank is overtopped, flooding Bridge Street.
- 32.00 ftWater covers low spot on underpass of KY 40.
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
29 crests on NOAA’s list since 1862.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 1, 1862 | 46.60 ft |
| 2 | January 31, 1957 | 45.92 ft |
| 3 | March 14, 1963 | 44.20 ft |
| 4 | April 6, 1977 | 42.19 ft |
| 5 | February 4, 1939 | 42.15 ft |
| 6 | January 29, 1918 | 42.00 ft |
| 7 | March 24, 1929 | 42.00 ft |
| 8 | March 1, 1955 | 41.36 ft |
| 9 | May 8, 1958 | 41.06 ft |
| 10 | January 9, 1946 | 41.06 ft |
| 11 | January 18, 1918 | 40.70 ft |
| 12 | May 9, 1984 | 40.45 ft |
| 13 | February 17, 2025 | 40.02 ft |
| 14 | March 1, 2021 | 39.72 ft |
| 15 | February 15, 1948 | 39.15 ft |
| 16 | February 3, 1950 | 38.88 ft |
| 17 | February 27, 1962 | 38.57 ft |
| 18 | March 8, 1967 | 37.85 ft |
| 19 | February 17, 2003 | 37.67 ft |
| 20 | January 31, 1932 | 37.37 ft |
| 21 | February 26, 1972 | 37.26 ft |
| 22 | April 17, 1956 | 36.81 ft |
| 23 | March 4, 1934 | 36.60 ft |
| 24 | March 7, 1955 | 36.20 ft |
| 25 | January 12, 1974 | 35.17 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 17, 2025: 40.02 ft
- March 1, 2021: 39.72 ft
- February 24, 2019: 35.00 ft
- February 17, 2003: 37.67 ft
- May 9, 1984: 40.45 ft
- December 9, 1978: 34.21 ft
- April 6, 1977: 42.19 ft
- January 12, 1974: 35.17 ft
- February 26, 1972: 37.26 ft
- March 8, 1967: 37.85 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.
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.