Rivers in Missouri
Black River at Poplar Bluff
Below flood stage
0.42ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 11:15 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 16.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 0.20 ftWed, Sep 23, 1:00 AM CDT
- Record crest
- 22.15 ft2008
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 21.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 19.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 16.00 ft |
| Action | 12.00 ft |
- 18.00 ftU.S. Highway 60 begins to flood heading toward Baskey.
- 17.00 ftFarmland south of Poplar Bluff floods.
- 16.00 ftMinor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas. If the water continues to rise, Hillcrest Park will be affected.
- 13.00 ftThe Black River enters the Palmer Slough flood plain.
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 16, 2026.
Crest history
37 crests on NOAA’s list since 1927.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 20, 2008 | 22.15 ft |
| 2 | May 1, 2017 | 21.96 ft |
| 3 | December 4, 1982 | 21.68 ft |
| 4 | April 26, 2011 | 21.41 ft |
| 5 | March 12, 1935 | 21.10 ft |
| 6 | June 10, 1945 | 20.80 ft |
| 7 | May 12, 1943 | 20.77 ft |
| 8 | May 16, 1933 | 20.60 ft |
| 9 | April 16, 1927 | 20.30 ft |
| 10 | August 16, 2016 | 20.21 ft |
| 11 | May 15, 1929 | 20.20 ft |
| 12 | March 28, 1977 | 20.17 ft |
| 13 | December 15, 1927 | 20.10 ft |
| 14 | May 26, 1946 | 20.02 ft |
| 15 | March 31, 1985 | 19.94 ft |
| 16 | April 6, 2025 | 19.90 ft |
| 17 | March 10, 1964 | 19.72 ft |
| 18 | February 1, 1982 | 19.69 ft |
| 19 | December 30, 2015 | 19.57 ft |
| 20 | January 30, 1969 | 19.00 ft |
| 21 | December 23, 2013 | 18.86 ft |
| 22 | January 12, 2020 | 18.71 ft |
| 23 | November 13, 2009 | 18.63 ft |
| 24 | May 9, 2002 | 18.45 ft |
| 25 | November 26, 1973 | 18.30 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 6, 2025: 19.90 ft
- May 28, 2024: 17.27 ft
- March 4, 2023: 17.40 ft
- January 12, 2020: 18.71 ft
- February 25, 2018: 16.42 ft
- May 1, 2017: 21.96 ft
- August 16, 2016: 20.21 ft
- December 30, 2015: 19.57 ft
- April 29, 2014: 17.60 ft
- December 23, 2013: 18.86 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Lower Mississippi 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 24 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.