Rivers in West Virginia
Ohio River at Wheeling
Below flood stage
17.45ftStage
Observed Mon, Sep 21, 10:30 PM EDT
- Flood stage
- 36.00 ft
- Forecast crest
- 22.50 ftThu, Sep 24, 2:00 AM EDT
- Record crest
- 55.20 ft1936
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 42.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 40.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 36.00 ft |
| Action | 26.70 ft |
- 47.70 ftMany areas of Warwood West Virginia are flooded.
- 46.70 ftAll major streets in business district flood.
- 42.70 ftMuch of southern half of Wheeling Island is flooded and up to Erie Street on the northern half of the island. Low lying sections of South Wheeling are flooded.
- 42.00 ftFlooding reaches the intersection of 39th and McColloch Streets and the intersection of Georgia and North Front Streets in Wheeling.
- 41.00 ftWater street in Wheeling is flooded near the intersctions with 12th, 21st, 45th, and 48th Streets.
- 40.00 ftBackwater flooding begins to affect Main Street near the water treatment plant in Wheeling.
- 39.00 ftThe southern tip of Wheeling Island including Wheeling Downs Racetrack and Gaming and Wheeling Stadium are flooded.
- 38.00 ftPortions of Jacob and Wood Streets, south of 43rd Street begin to flood. Wheeling island Casino has to be closed.
- 37.70 ftBasement flooding begins in businesses along Main Street.
- 36.60 ftWheeling Downs Racetrack on Wheeling Island floods.
- 36.00 ftFlooding begins in the vicinity or 25th and Market Streets, 34th and Market Streets, 36th and Chapline Streets in Wheeling. Water covers the lower parking lot at the Wheeling Island Casino.
- 34.00 ftSewers begin to back up in the lower end of Wheeling Island.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 10% |
| 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
50 crests on NOAA’s list since 1901.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | March 19, 1936 | 55.20 ft |
| 2 | December 31, 1942 | 51.50 ft |
| 3 | March 28, 1913 | 51.20 ft |
| 4 | March 15, 1907 | 50.10 ft |
| 5 | January 26, 1937 | 48.70 ft |
| 6 | March 8, 1945 | 47.30 ft |
| 7 | March 12, 1964 | 47.00 ft |
| 8 | June 23, 1972 | 46.60 ft |
| 9 | January 23, 1937 | 46.20 ft |
| 10 | March 27, 1937 | 45.80 ft |
| 11 | January 20, 1996 | 45.40 ft |
| 12 | September 19, 2004 | 45.30 ft |
| 13 | April 15, 1948 | 44.80 ft |
| 14 | October 17, 1954 | 44.70 ft |
| 15 | January 19, 1913 | 44.20 ft |
| 16 | January 28, 1952 | 44.00 ft |
| 17 | May 2, 1902 | 43.30 ft |
| 18 | January 23, 1959 | 43.30 ft |
| 19 | March 20, 1908 | 42.80 ft |
| 20 | March 22, 1905 | 42.70 ft |
| 21 | January 24, 1904 | 42.20 ft |
| 22 | January 7, 2005 | 42.17 ft |
| 23 | March 16, 1933 | 41.80 ft |
| 24 | January 22, 1901 | 41.70 ft |
| 25 | December 15, 1927 | 41.70 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 13, 2024: 37.80 ft
- April 5, 2024: 41.49 ft
- September 11, 2018: 38.34 ft
- February 18, 2018: 38.93 ft
- March 12, 2011: 37.22 ft
- March 24, 2007: 30.50 ft
- March 16, 2007: 33.12 ft
- January 13, 2005: 34.60 ft
- January 7, 2005: 42.17 ft
- September 19, 2004: 45.30 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Ohio River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued routinely year-round. The above river forecast includes future rainfall/snowmelt. Forecast stages may be different if the actual rainfall/snowmelt is different than the forecast rainfall/snowmelt. 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.