Rivers in Ohio
Black River at Elyria
Below flood stage
1.14ftStage
Observed Sun, Sep 20, 11:15 AM EDT
- Flood stage
- 9.50 ft
- Record crest
- 26.40 ft1969
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 20.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 17.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 9.50 ft |
| Action | 7.00 ft |
- 26.50 ftHistoric flooding exceeding 1969 levels.
- 24.00 ftRiver gage flooded in Cascade Park.
- 23.50 ftFlood levels near the 0.2 percent, or 500 year, recurrence interval.
- 21.00 ftFlood levels around the 1 percent, or 100 year, flood recurrence interval.
- 20.00 ftFlood waters up to East Bridge Street and Fourth Street bridges in Elyria.
- 19.00 ftFlood waters surround low lying properties on Quincy Street and Tannery Street in Elyria. Water overtops Grafton Road bridge.
- 18.00 ftThe East and West Branches of the Black River are out of banks in several locations between Carlisle, Penfield, and Elyria. Many creeks backed up as a result with widespread flooding. Several homes in Carlisle Township along Woodside Avenue and Greenview Drive flooded.
- 17.00 ftNickle Plate Diagonal Road inundated between Parsons and Whitehead Roads north of Carlisle Township.
- 16.00 ftState Route 303 east of Vermont Street becomes flooded. Vermont Street is also flooded south of State Route 303.
- 14.00 ftFlooding begins throughout Cascade Park in Elyria.
- 11.00 ftFlooding along the East Branch of the Black River on Foster Road in Penfield Township. Ford Road hear I-90 may be closed for high water.
- 9.50 ftFlooding begins south of Elyria in Carlisle Township along Woodside Drive.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 19% |
| 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
83 crests on NOAA’s list since 1946.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 6, 1969 | 26.40 ft |
| 2 | January 22, 1959 | 22.90 ft |
| 3 | May 13, 1956 | 18.02 ft |
| 4 | May 22, 2004 | 17.29 ft |
| 5 | December 15, 1977 | 17.03 ft |
| 6 | December 31, 1990 | 17.03 ft |
| 7 | March 1, 2011 | 16.99 ft |
| 8 | February 24, 1985 | 16.97 ft |
| 9 | June 23, 2006 | 16.86 ft |
| 10 | February 7, 2008 | 16.71 ft |
| 11 | July 18, 2021 | 16.64 ft |
| 12 | July 11, 2013 | 16.51 ft |
| 13 | March 22, 1984 | 16.43 ft |
| 14 | January 27, 1952 | 16.39 ft |
| 15 | March 9, 2009 | 15.77 ft |
| 16 | March 29, 2020 | 15.61 ft |
| 17 | April 13, 1994 | 15.53 ft |
| 18 | August 25, 2023 | 15.52 ft |
| 19 | January 7, 2007 | 15.21 ft |
| 20 | March 5, 1979 | 15.19 ft |
| 21 | January 7, 2007 | 15.19 ft |
| 22 | January 9, 1998 | 15.03 ft |
| 23 | June 2, 1997 | 15.03 ft |
| 24 | February 14, 1950 | 14.96 ft |
| 25 | January 31, 1968 | 14.95 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 3, 2026: 14.39 ft
- May 7, 2025: 9.69 ft
- April 6, 2025: 12.14 ft
- April 12, 2024: 9.90 ft
- April 3, 2024: 12.53 ft
- August 25, 2023: 15.52 ft
- March 24, 2023: 10.35 ft
- March 5, 2023: 10.86 ft
- May 8, 2022: 11.29 ft
- March 8, 2022: 11.26 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.