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SwedenBlack River at Poplar Bluff water level
River gauge, Black River, Missouri, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 321 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to −0.20 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 01:00 AM. Issued Saturday, October 17 at 08:47 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Black River at Poplar Bluff, where the gauge shows −0.34 ft.
It is 16.34 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.12 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to −0.20 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 01:00 AM. The 30-day range is −0.34 ft – 0.33 ft.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 22.15 ftMarch 20, 2008
- Forecast peak
- −0.20 ftSunday, October 18 at 01:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 16.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 18.00 ft
- U.S. Highway 60 begins to flood heading toward Baskey.
- 17.00 ft
- Farmland south of Poplar Bluff floods.
- 16.00 ft
- Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas. If the water continues to rise, Hillcrest Park will be affected.
- 13.00 ft
- The Black River enters the Palmer Slough flood plain.
- −0.34 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
Chance of at least minor flooding in October to December: < 5 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.15 ft | March 20, 2008 |
| 2 | 21.96 ft | May 1, 2017 |
| 3 | 21.68 ft | December 4, 1982 |
| 4 | 21.41 ft | April 26, 2011 |
| 5 | 21.10 ft | March 12, 1935 |
| 6 | 20.80 ft | June 10, 1945 |
| 7 | 20.77 ft | May 12, 1943 |
| 8 | 20.60 ft | May 16, 1933 |
| 9 | 20.30 ft | April 16, 1927 |
| 10 | 20.21 ft | August 16, 2016 |
Weather at the gauge
No rain in the last 3 days.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Map
Other gauges on the Black River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black River near AnnapolisRiver gauge, Black River | 3.78 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 46 mi |
| Black River at LeeperRiver gauge, Black River | 229 cfs | Very low | −7.0 cfs | 26 mi |
| Black River above WilliamsvilleRiver gauge, Black River | 3.03 ft | No reference yet | +0.03 ft | 19 mi |
| Black River near CorningRiver gauge, Black River | 1.04 ft | Below flood stage | +0.30 ft | 26 mi |
| Black River near Peach OrchardRiver gauge, Black River | 261.95 ft | No reference yet | +0.39 ft | 36 mi |
| Black River at PocahontasRiver gauge, Black River | 0.29 ft | Below flood stage | +0.04 ft | 48 mi |
| Black River at Black RockRiver gauge, Black River | 0.86 ft | Below flood stage | ±0 | 60 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Francis River at WappapelloRiver gauge, St. Francis River | 171 cfs | Normal | ±0 | 13 mi |
| Little Black River below FairdealingRiver gauge, Little Black River | 45.9 cfs | Normal | −1.3 cfs | 14 mi |
| Current River at DoniphanRiver gauge, Current River | −0.68 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 27 mi |
| St. Francis River near PattersonRiver gauge, St. Francis River | 4.55 ft | Below flood stage | −0.01 ft | 31 mi |
| Castor River at ZalmaRiver gauge, Castor River | 80.1 cfs | Normal | −1.0 cfs | 32 mi |
| Big Creek at Sam A Baker State ParkRiver gauge, Big Creek | 25.3 cfs | Very low | −1.1 cfs | 35 mi |
| Big Spring near Van BurenRiver gauge, Big Spring | 272 cfs | Very low | ±0 | 36 mi |
| Little River Ditch No. 1 near MorehouseRiver gauge, Little River Ditch No. 1 | 70.5 cfs | Normal | +1.4 cfs | 37 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the Black River at Poplar Bluff?
The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 16.34 ft below it.
Is gage height the same as water depth?
No. Gage height is measured from a fixed reference point chosen by the agency, so a reading of 10 ft does not mean the river is 10 ft deep.
What is the water level of Black River at Poplar Bluff today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 05:15 AM CDT, the water level was −0.34 ft. Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Black River at Poplar Bluff rising or falling?
Down 0.12 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Black River at Poplar Bluff normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Black River at Poplar Bluff?
The highest level on record is 22.15 ft on March 20, 2008.
Is Black River at Poplar Bluff expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to −0.20 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 01:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:07063000(Agency page)- Coordinates
36.75975, -90.38783(WGS84)- Vertical datum
- NAVD88
- Update interval
- every 15 minutes
- Licence
- Public domain. Data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), provisional data subject to revision
Published series
| Parameter | Last value | Time (UTC) | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water level | −0.34 ft | 2026-10-18 10:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 321 cfs | 2026-10-18 10:15 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Black River at Poplar Bluff (usgs:07063000). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/missouri/black-river-at-poplar-bluff
How we check values
Each reading is stored as published. We hold back values that jump faster than physically plausible and show the measurement time with every value.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer