Nivelmap
EN

Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw water level

River gauge, Ohio River, Kentucky, United States

Directions

Right now

Normal for mid-October

Water level

16.97ft Down 1.93 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
69,900 cfs
Water temperature
66 °F
25 50 75 Highest onrecord 76.10 ft Minor floodstage 51.00 ft

History

History
1520ftOct 16Oct 18Oct 20Oct 23Oct 251520ftOct 16Oct 20Oct 25
2040ftSep 22Sep 30Oct 8Oct 17Oct 25Minor flood stage2040ftSep 22Oct 8Oct 25Minor flood stage
2040ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage2040ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
2040ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20262040ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

Water level Normal range (10–90 %) Forecast Minor flood stage

The forecast expects the river to fall to 14.10 ft by Sunday, October 25 at 02:00 AM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 09:41 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The gauge at Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw reads 16.97 ft, a normal level for mid-October.

The median for mid-October is 13.80 ft, based on 17 years of readings, so the river stage is 3.17 ft above typical. It is 34.03 ft below the flood stage of 51.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 13.69 ft, a difference of +3.28 ft.

The level is falling, down 1.93 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 14.10 ft by Sunday, October 25 at 02:00 AM.

The water temperature at the gauge is 66 °F.

Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
13.80 ft3.17 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
12.66 ft – 22.41 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
Same day last year
13.69 ft+3.28 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
13.77 ft – 31.45 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
13.28 ft – 39.71 ft
Highest on record
76.10 ftJanuary 26, 1937
Forecast peak
16.90 ftTuesday, October 20 at 08:00 PM

What the stage means on the water

A normal level is usually prime time for floating and wade fishing, as long as the weather holds upstream.

The National Weather Service puts flood stage for this gauge at 51.00 ft, still 34.03 ft away.

What happens at each level

76.09 ft
This is the flood of record of January 1937. The entire flood plain is inundated at this level. Numerous homes, businesses and roads are flooded. Evacuations are required in the low areas of Switzerland County in Indiana, as well as Carroll and Gallatin Counties in Kentucky.
74.00 ft
Much of the flood plain is inundated, including major flooding near the river in Carrollton and Warsaw, Kentucky, and Patriot and Vevay, Indiana. Numerous structures between Indiana Route 156 and the river are inundated, as well as structures between Route 42 and the river on the Kentucky side. Substantial backwater flooding occurs along creeks and streams emptying into the river, including the Kentucky River itself. Backwater rises as far upstream as Gratz result in flooding along the Kentucky River.
65.00 ft
A flood of this level is roughly equivalent to the FEMA 1 percent flood. Much of Main Street in Carrolton is flooded, with stretches of Route 42 in Kentucky and Route 56 in Indiana under several feet of water due to backwater flooding into creeks. Front and Short Streets in Rising Sun are inundated. The entire area of Route 42 and Highway 1039 near Markland is flooded. Portions of Davis Street in Ghent is flooded, as is Locust Street in Warsaw.
64.00 ft
Widespread flooding occurs in southeast Indiana and northern Kentucky near the river. Parts of Warsaw, Kentucky and Route 42 become flooded, with flooding of Rabbit Hash and Rising Sun. Indiana Route 156 is flooded along long stretches.
62.00 ft
Significant backwater flooding can be expected resulting in flooding of parts of Carroll and Gallatin Counties in Kentucky and Switzerland County in Indiana. Parts of Markland, Kentucky and Florence, Indiana become flooded.
59.00 ft
Backwater flooding can be expected along creeks near the Ohio River and will also affect the Kentucky River. Lowland flooding becomes widespread near Carrollton, Ghent and Ethridge in Kentucky.
57.00 ft
Lowland and backwater flooding results in dozens of road closures near the Ohio, Kentucky River and creeks and streams emptying into the Ohio River experiencing backwater flooding. Counties affected include Gallatin and Carroll Counties in Kentucky and Switzerland County Indiana. Several roads along the river become flooded in areas. If the Kentucky River is also above the 32 foot flood stage at Lockport, backwater flooding closes dozens of roads in Carroll County alone.
55.00 ft
Water affects some trailers parked at the mouth of Craigs Creek, one and a half miles upstream of the dam near Ethridge, Kentucky. Water also begins to cover parts of Route 156 in Indiana. Lowland flooding worsens along the river in Switzerland County, Indiana and Gallatin and Carroll Counties in Kentucky. Backwater flooding also occurs along the Kentucky River near Carrollton.
52.00 ft
Lowland roads near the river are flooded including low-lying roads near Carrollton, Vevay, Warsaw and Florence. Portions of Indiana Route 56 are flooded downstream of Vevay.
51.00 ft
Mainly lowland areas near the river are impacted with some roads along both the Indiana and Kentucky side of the river experiencing minor flooding.
50.00 ft
Flooding occurs in the River Drive area upstream of Patriot with water approaching some homes. Flooding of Ogle Park in Vevay occurs, as well as flooding in the low areas of Carrollton along the Kentucky River due to backwater. Elsewhere, flooding of some streets and parks between Route 42 and the river occurs in Kentucky.
49.00 ft
Backwater flooding results in water covering a few roads including Notch Lick Road near Carrollton.
16.97 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 %.

RankLevelDate
176.10 ftJanuary 26, 1937
266.70 ftApril 1, 1913
365.20 ftMarch 8, 1945
464.50 ftMarch 12, 1964
560.72 ftMarch 6, 1997
660.20 ftApril 18, 1948
758.60 ftMarch 23, 1933
857.76 ftApril 8, 2025
957.04 ftFebruary 26, 2018
1056.40 ftMarch 10, 1955

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:56 AM Sunset 06:55 PM Daylight 10 hr, 59 min Waxing gibbous 73%

Map

Other gauges on the Ohio River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Ohio River at AshlandRiver gauge, Ohio River 34.40 ft Below flood stage −0.37 ft 127 mi
Ohio River at IrontonRiver gauge, Ohio River 34.30 ft Normal −0.35 ft 125 mi
Ohio River at Greenup Dam near GreenupRiver gauge, Ohio River 12.81 ft Below flood stage −4.89 ft 114 mi
Ohio River at PortsmouthRiver gauge, Ohio River 17.39 ft Normal −0.91 ft 106 mi
Ohio River at MaysvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River 33.94 ft Normal −0.21 ft 64 mi
Ohio River at CincinnatiRiver gauge, Ohio River 27.38 ft Normal −0.78 ft 33 mi
Ohio River at MadisonRiver gauge, Ohio River 14.25 ft No reference yet −0.82 ft 22 mi
Ohio River at Water Tower at LouisvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River 52,600 cfs Normal −23,100.0 cfs 52 mi
Ohio River at LouisvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River 15.98 ft High −1.37 ft 56 mi
Ohio River below Riverview Park near LouisvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River 14.24 ft No reference yet −0.98 ft 67 mi
Ohio River at Cannelton Dam at CanneltonRiver gauge, Ohio River 14.19 ft Normal −0.13 ft 112 mi
Ohio River at Riverport at OwensboroRiver gauge, Ohio River 19.92 ft No reference yet +0.07 ft 136 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Eagle Creek at GlencoeRiver gauge, Eagle Creek 1.27 ft Below flood stage +0.02 ft 9 mi
Kentucky River at Lock 1 near CarrolltonRiver gauge, Kentucky River 9.60 ft High −0.19 ft 12 mi
Mud Lick Creek at Highway 42 near BeaverlickRiver gauge, Mud Lick Creek 1.26 ft Normal −0.01 ft 14 mi
Indian-Kentuck Creek near CanaanRiver gauge, Indian-Kentuck Creek 0.1 cfs Low ±0 17 mi
Woolper Creek at Woolper Road near BurlingtonRiver gauge, Woolper Creek 0.6 cfs Low −0.2 cfs 20 mi
Gunpowder Creek at Camp Ernst Road near UnionRiver gauge, Gunpowder Creek 2.4 cfs Low −0.3 cfs 20 mi
Tanners Creek at LawrenceburgRiver gauge, Tanners Creek 32.15 ft High −0.48 ft 23 mi
Kentucky River at Lock 2 at LockportRiver gauge, Kentucky River 9.29 ft Below flood stage −0.22 ft 23 mi

Questions and answers

Is the Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw higher than last year?

Yes, it is 3.28 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 13.69 ft.

What is flood stage for the Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw?

The official flood stage is 51.00 ft. The level is currently 34.03 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 13.80 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 12.66 ft and 22.41 ft, based on 17 years of records.

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 Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw today?

On Oct 20, 2026, 07:45 PM EDT, the water level was 16.97 ft. Down 1.93 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw rising or falling?

Down 1.93 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 4.70 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw normal?

Normal for mid-October. Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year.

For specialists

Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
Operator
U.S. Geological Survey
Station code
usgs:03277200 (Agency page)
Coordinates
38.77525, -84.97239 (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

ParameterLast valueTime (UTC)Quality
Water level 16.97 ft 2026-10-20 23:45 Provisional
Flow 69,900 cfs 2026-10-20 21:00 Provisional
Water temperature 66 °F 2026-10-21 00:35 Provisional

Download

Embed this gauge

Add a live card for this gauge to your website. It updates on its own and links back here.

How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Ohio River at Markland Dam near Warsaw (usgs:03277200). Accessed October 21, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kentucky/ohio-river-at-markland-dam-near-warsaw

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.