Osage River near Taberville

1. 56.00 ftflood waters reach the top of Highway M Bridge at the Schell City gage site.
2. 55.00 ftWater floods the Highway H bridge at the Taberville gage site.
3. 50.00 ftEstimated level where flood waters reach the Post Office Building in Schell City. Railroad tracks and much of the SE side of Schell City floods. The Old Service Station in Schell City floods with two feet of water. Residences on Park Avenue in Schell City may flood.
4. 48.50 ftflood waters affect a few residences in Schell City. Flood waters also affect the railroad tracks east of town and the Old Service Station on the SE side of Schell City.
5. 48.00 ftflood waters affect residences along Millers Branch and a small tributary in Schell City. Water levels back up and affect the low area of Park Avenue in Schell City.
6. 46.00 ftMajor Flood Stage. Some residences in the lower portions of Taberville and Schell City flood. The town of Schell City can only be accessed by Highway C from Walker. The remaining highways and county roads on the west and northwest side of Schell City are impassable.
7. 45.50 ftflood waters spill over the levees north of Schell City which begins to backwater Miller Branch. Water is several feet deep over portions of State Highway AA south of Schell City. Low areas on Old River Road, northwest of Schell City, become impassable north of Fifth Avenue. Flood waters reach the bottom I-beam of the Highway M Bridge. State Highway C becomes the only access to Schell City.
8. 44.50 ftflood waters affect Highway M. Portions of Highway M south of the bridge become impassable.
9. 43.50 ftWater goes over SW 200 Road west of Highway H in Taberville.
10. 43.00 ftThe town of Schell City can only be accessed by Highway C from Walker. The remaining highways and county roads on the west and northwest side of Schell City are impassable.
11. 42.00 ftflood waters impact county roads on Ladies Branch, west of State Highway M, northwest of Schell City. Water is up to one foot in depth over portions of Highway AA south of Schell City.
12. 41.00 ftflood waters impact Highway M, north of the M Highway Bridge and Highway AA south of Schell City. In addition, State Highway RA, heading into the Schell-Osage Conservation Area becomes impassable west of Lost Creek.
13. 37.00 ftHighway BB east of Taberville between Routes NW 771 and SW 701 floods.
14. 34.00 ftModerate Flood Stage. B Highway 2.5 miles east of Rich Hill in the vicinity of the Bates County Drainage Ditch is under several feet of water.
15. 31.00 ftflooding occurs around the Schell-Osage Conservation area.
16. 29.00 ftflood waters impact B Highway 2.5 miles east of Rich Hill in the vicinity of the Bates County Drainage Ditch.
17. 27.50 ftflood waters impact all of the low lying areas in the Schell Osage Conservation Area as well as several county roads west of Schell City.
18. 26.50 ftflood waters impact all of the low lying areas in the Schell Osage Conservation Area as well as several county roads west of Schell City.
19. 26.00 ftthe main road of the Schell Osage Conservation Area floods west of the conservation office. The north campground main road of the Schell Osage Conservation area floods.
20. 25.00 ftflood waters affect the Schell Osage Conservation Area, the Old River Road North of Schell City and Lost Creek west of Schell Lake. Flood waters overflow the main river channel at the gage site.
21. 23.30 ftThe handicapped access to the Osage River launch near Taberville floods.
22. 23.00 ftFlood Stage. Flood waters impact roadways in the Schell Osage Wildlife Refuge area.
23. 21.50 ftWater goes over SW 871 Road north of SW 400 due to backwater effects from Truman Lake.
24. 20.80 ftThe Pape Bridge and surrounding roads flood due to backwater effects from Truman Lake east of the gage site.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 26, 2026.

Most recent crests

• May 30, 2022: 25.63 ft
• May 22, 2022: 23.24 ft
• May 10, 2022: 29.72 ft
• July 21, 2021: 26.77 ft
• July 14, 2021: 23.52 ft
• July 5, 2021: 29.55 ft
• May 28, 2021: 27.77 ft
• March 22, 2021: 33.76 ft
• June 1, 2020: 24.66 ft
• March 25, 2020: 26.39 ft

• UpstreamOsage River at Schell City
• DownstreamOsage River at Truman Dam
• Cedar Creek at Pleasant View
• Sac River at Caplinger Mills
• Little Osage River at Horton
• Sac River at Highway J near Stockton
• Marmaton River at Nevada
• Sac River at Stockton Dam
• Sac River at Stockton Dam

Forecasts by the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. Gauge reading may be affected by ice.

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.