Rivers in Kentucky
North Fork Kentucky River at Jackson
Below flood stage
1.37ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 6:00 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 29.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 1.60 ftTue, Sep 22, 8:00 PM EDT
- Record crest
- 43.46 ft2022
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 40.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 31.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 29.00 ft |
| Action | 23.00 ft |
- 43.46 ftFlooding will exceed the highest flood on record. Large sections of the downtown Jackson are inundated.
- 41.30 ftMany homes and businesses are inundated in downtown Jackson.
- 40.00 ftMajor flooding. Several homes and businesses are affected in downtown Jackson.
- 37.00 ftTraffic stopped on left side of bridge on KY 30 and 52.
- 31.00 ftModerate flooding. Evacuation of homes begins.
- 29.00 ftLow lying areas flood. Water begins inundating Wolverine Road just north of the Hays Depot bridge.
- 25.00 ftHWY 541 near the Kentucky Mountain Bible College is impassable.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 6% |
| Moderate flooding | 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.
Crest history
65 crests on NOAA’s list since 1913.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 29, 2022 | 43.46 ft |
| 2 | February 4, 1939 | 43.10 ft |
| 3 | May 30, 1927 | 42.90 ft |
| 4 | May 8, 1984 | 41.97 ft |
| 5 | February 2, 1951 | 41.28 ft |
| 6 | February 14, 1948 | 40.55 ft |
| 7 | January 30, 1957 | 40.41 ft |
| 8 | January 28, 1918 | 40.00 ft |
| 9 | March 1, 1913 | 40.00 ft |
| 10 | March 24, 1929 | 39.90 ft |
| 11 | March 2, 2021 | 39.04 ft |
| 12 | January 8, 1946 | 38.80 ft |
| 13 | February 28, 1962 | 37.99 ft |
| 14 | February 17, 2025 | 37.69 ft |
| 15 | February 28, 1955 | 37.34 ft |
| 16 | February 17, 2003 | 37.29 ft |
| 17 | March 13, 1935 | 37.20 ft |
| 18 | March 13, 1963 | 37.17 ft |
| 19 | March 14, 1975 | 36.64 ft |
| 20 | January 11, 1974 | 36.50 ft |
| 21 | February 3, 1950 | 36.50 ft |
| 22 | December 3, 1991 | 36.18 ft |
| 23 | February 19, 1956 | 36.04 ft |
| 24 | April 6, 1977 | 35.87 ft |
| 25 | December 9, 1978 | 35.03 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 17, 2025: 37.69 ft
- July 29, 2022: 43.46 ft
- March 2, 2021: 39.04 ft
- February 12, 2018: 29.09 ft
- March 5, 2015: 29.69 ft
- May 10, 2009: 34.34 ft
- May 31, 2004: 32.17 ft
- February 7, 2004: 29.26 ft
- February 17, 2003: 37.29 ft
- April 20, 1998: 33.30 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.