Elkhorn River at Norfolk
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 4:15 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 12.00 ft
- Record crest
- 17.22 ft2010
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 17.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 13.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 12.00 ft |
| Action | 10.00 ft |
- 19.50 ftWater reaches the bottom of the Highway 81 bridge.
- 17.00 ftThe local levee protecting Tahazouka Park is overtopped.
- 16.00 ftU.S. Highway 81 will begin to be overtopped.
- 13.00 ftThe river is bankfull within the city limits of Norfolk. Outside the Norfolk area, serious flooding of lowlands and bridge approaches take place. Some county roads and rural homes flood.
- 12.00 ftConsiderable lowland flooding and approaches to bridges flood upstream and downstream of the gage for several miles.
- 10.00 ftThe trail under Highway 81 begins to flood.
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 August 26, 2026.
Crest history
95 crests on NOAA’s list since 1897.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 15, 2010 | 17.22 ft |
| 2 | March 11, 1949 | 15.63 ft |
| 3 | March 14, 2019 | 15.59 ft |
| 4 | May 31, 1995 | 13.05 ft |
| 5 | May 13, 1944 | 11.80 ft |
| 6 | June 6, 1940 | 11.70 ft |
| 7 | June 8, 2008 | 11.42 ft |
| 8 | February 20, 1982 | 11.37 ft |
| 9 | June 26, 1947 | 11.10 ft |
| 10 | June 21, 1942 | 10.20 ft |
| 11 | February 19, 1997 | 10.18 ft |
| 12 | March 20, 1987 | 9.96 ft |
| 13 | May 30, 1903 | 9.60 ft |
| 14 | June 18, 1998 | 9.53 ft |
| 15 | July 30, 1958 | 9.43 ft |
| 16 | April 8, 1949 | 9.40 ft |
| 17 | February 10, 2009 | 9.28 ft |
| 18 | June 16, 1990 | 9.25 ft |
| 19 | May 30, 2007 | 9.13 ft |
| 20 | June 4, 1991 | 9.10 ft |
| 21 | May 8, 1999 | 8.93 ft |
| 22 | March 16, 1978 | 8.90 ft |
| 23 | August 12, 1950 | 8.60 ft |
| 24 | March 30, 1960 | 8.60 ft |
| 25 | June 2, 1996 | 8.60 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 4, 2024: 8.04 ft
- February 27, 2023: 6.06 ft
- May 3, 2022: 4.44 ft
- March 15, 2021: 4.44 ft
- May 25, 2020: 5.52 ft
- March 14, 2019: 15.59 ft
- June 26, 2018: 5.68 ft
- October 10, 2017: 6.62 ft
- May 3, 2016: 7.13 ft
- August 28, 2015: 4.79 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Missouri Basin River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. 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. River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. Stage may be affected by ice.
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.