Rivers in Kentucky
North Fork Kentucky River at Hazard
Below flood stage
4.24ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 7:45 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 20.00 ft
- Record crest
- 37.54 ft1957
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 33.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 27.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 20.00 ft |
| Action | 16.00 ft |
- 37.50 ftFlooding will exceed highest stage on record. Most of Hazard is covered. Water is four feet deep in some sections of business district.
- 34.60 ftMain street is flooded in front of the First National Bank building.
- 33.00 ftMajor flooding occurs. Much of the business district is covered.
- 29.40 ftFlooding reaches the front of the old railroad station.
- 28.50 ftFlood waters cover the foot of the Depot bridge.
- 27.00 ftModerate flooding occurs. The lower part of the business district is affected.
- 25.00 ftFlooding begins in some basements.
- 20.00 ftLow lying areas flood. The street at the mouth of Big Bottom Branch is flooded.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 6% |
| 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
56 crests on NOAA’s list since 1912.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 29, 1957 | 37.54 ft |
| 2 | January 1, 1912 | 36.30 ft |
| 3 | March 12, 1963 | 35.00 ft |
| 4 | May 30, 1927 | 34.00 ft |
| 5 | May 7, 1984 | 32.12 ft |
| 6 | April 5, 1977 | 32.06 ft |
| 7 | February 16, 2025 | 30.52 ft |
| 8 | February 3, 1939 | 29.95 ft |
| 9 | March 7, 1967 | 29.85 ft |
| 10 | October 17, 1989 | 27.35 ft |
| 11 | February 1, 1951 | 27.20 ft |
| 12 | June 22, 1974 | 26.94 ft |
| 13 | February 16, 2003 | 26.94 ft |
| 14 | January 8, 1946 | 26.55 ft |
| 15 | August 5, 1947 | 25.94 ft |
| 16 | February 7, 2020 | 25.80 ft |
| 17 | April 19, 1998 | 25.47 ft |
| 18 | March 4, 1997 | 25.14 ft |
| 19 | March 1, 2021 | 25.01 ft |
| 20 | May 7, 1971 | 24.91 ft |
| 21 | March 28, 2021 | 24.84 ft |
| 22 | March 17, 1973 | 24.71 ft |
| 23 | December 31, 1969 | 24.31 ft |
| 24 | March 18, 2002 | 24.26 ft |
| 25 | March 5, 2015 | 24.18 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 16, 2025: 30.52 ft
- March 28, 2021: 24.84 ft
- March 1, 2021: 25.01 ft
- February 7, 2020: 25.80 ft
- February 11, 2018: 23.66 ft
- April 24, 2017: 20.07 ft
- March 5, 2015: 24.18 ft
- April 11, 2003: 20.36 ft
- February 16, 2003: 26.94 ft
- March 18, 2002: 24.26 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.
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.