Hocking River at Athens

1. 33.70 ftIn Athens, Ohio University, U.S. Route 3, two eastern pump stations, the heating plant, and most of the city flood.
2. 28.00 ftAreas in Athens, located near the river and Ohio University, flood.
3. 26.00 ftAreas in downtown Athens begin to flood. Water surrounds the hospital.
4. 25.00 ftIn Coolville, Frost Road bridge floods.
5. 24.00 ftIn Nelsonville, four homes adjacent to the river and across railroad below Farrow Street flood.
6. 23.00 ftNumerous homes and roads along the mouth of the river flood. In Athens, several businesses and homes along West Union Street near the river flood.
7. 22.50 ftNumerous homes and roads along the river, approximately 1 mile upstream from Ohio River, flood. In Coolville, Frost Road and Ohio Route 144 flood.
8. 22.00 ftSections of East State Street along with adjacent business parking lots flood. Ohio Route 33 south of Nelsonville begins to flood.
9. 21.50 ftFour homes along 1100 block of Harmony Road flood at 21 to 22 feet. Athens Community Center parking lot and tennis courts flood.
10. 21.00 ftSouth Canaan Road and Township Road 605 in the vicinity of US Route 50 flood. Glen Ebon Road begins to flood. Hockhocking Adena Bikeway near West State Street begins to flood. In Chauncey, areas along Ohio Routes 13 and 682 flood.
11. 20.00 ftLow areas, campground, and private camps along the river between Athens and Coolville begin to flood. Much of the city of Athens is protected up to 26 feet by levees. In Nelsonville, the baseball field adjacent to Lake Hope Drive floods.
12. 18.00 ftLow sections of Harmony Road begin to flood. In Nelsonville, the baseball fields along Watkins Street flood.

Chance of flooding, September to November

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 15, 2026.

Most recent crests

• April 6, 2025: 20.83 ft
• February 19, 2022: 20.10 ft
• February 14, 2019: 21.11 ft
• February 10, 2019: 20.14 ft
• February 9, 2019: 22.08 ft
• April 17, 2018: 18.66 ft
• April 5, 2018: 22.52 ft
• March 3, 2017: 21.30 ft
• May 1, 2014: 19.29 ft
• April 21, 2011: 21.14 ft

• UpstreamHocking River at Enterprise
• Sunday Creek at Glouster
• Sunday Creek at Tom Jenkins Dam (Burr Oak Lake)
• Sunday Creek at Tom Jenkins Dam
• Ohio River at Pomeroy
• Shade River at Chester
• Ohio River at Belleville Lock
• Muskingum River at McConnelsville

Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. River Forecasts typically include ONLY 2 days of future rain from <u>forecast issuance time</u> (lower right of graph). Occasionally 3 days of future rain included.

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.