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Ohio River at Cincinnati water level

River gauge, Ohio River, Ohio, United States

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Right now

Very high for mid-October

Water level

28.58ft Down 0.45 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
79,000 cfs
25 38 50 63 Highest onrecord 66.20 ft Minor floodstage 52.00 ft

History

History
262830ftOct 11Oct 13Oct 16Oct 19Oct 22262830ftOct 11Oct 16Oct 22
304050ftSep 18Sep 26Oct 5Oct 13Oct 22Minor flood stage304050ftSep 18Oct 5Oct 22Minor flood stage
304050ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage304050ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
304050ftJanMarMayJulSepNov2026304050ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

The forecast expects the river to rise to 28.90 ft by Saturday, October 17 at 02:00 PM. Issued Saturday, October 17 at 10:47 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.

What this means

The gauge at Ohio River at Cincinnati shows 28.58 ft, well above normal for mid-October.

That puts it 2.01 ft above the median of 26.57 ft for mid-October, based on 33 years of readings. It is 23.42 ft below the flood stage of 52.00 ft. A year ago it stood at 26.58 ft (+2.00 ft).

The level is falling, down 0.45 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 28.90 ft by Saturday, October 17 at 02:00 PM. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 26.60 ft and 37.89 ft.

Compared with 33 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels

Key numbers

Median for this date
26.57 ft2.01 ft above the median for this date
Normal for this date
26.12 ft – 28.27 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (33 years of records)
Same day last year
26.58 ft+2.00 ft
Lowest and highest in 30 days
26.60 ft – 37.89 ft
Lowest and highest in 12 months
26.36 ft – 44.91 ft
Highest on record
66.20 ftMarch 11, 1964
Forecast peak
28.90 ftSaturday, October 17 at 02:00 PM

High water at Ohio River at Cincinnati

The National Weather Service splits flooding into minor, moderate and major flood stage, each tied to what starts to go under water at this particular gauge. Minor flooding usually means low roads, parks and farmland; major flooding reaches homes and businesses.

Keep children and dogs well back from the edge, and stay off flooded footpaths and towpaths.

What happens at each level

80.00 ft
This flood will exceed the highest stage on record. Widespread property damage occurs, with devastating backwater flooding also occurring along Ohio River tributaries. The City of Cincinnati becomes flooded at low areas near the river, with many Ohio River communities flooded. Backwater flooding along the Little Miami, Great Miami and Licking Rivers also results in major damage. Thousands of evacuations are necessary.
76.00 ft
Major flooding occurs along the river in Hamilton and Clermont Counties in Ohio, as well as Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties in Kentucky. Hundreds of homes and businesses are flooded. Significant backwater flooding also occurs along the Little Miami, Great Miami and Licking Rivers.
72.00 ft
Major flooding continues within the flood plain along the Ohio River, especially in portions of California, New Richmond, and the East End of Cincinnati in Ohio, Ludlow and Bromley in Kentucky, and Lawrenceburg and Aurora in Indiana. Hundreds of homes and businesses are flooded as are many low-lying roads near the river. Street flooding worsens along the river in Cincinnati, with the flood waters reaching Third and Culvert Streets. Route 52 is flooded in many low areas.
71.00 ft
Major flooding continues within the flood plain, especially in portions of California and the East End. Street flooding occurs along Pete Rose and Mehring Way, as well as Eastern Avenue and River Road. Ludlow and Bromley, Kentucky incur major flooding, as well as Lawrenceburg and Aurora, Indiana. From Cincinnati to New Richmond, many areas along Route 52 are flooded. Backwater flooding affects low areas along the Little Miami, Licking and Great Miami Rivers.
70.00 ft
This is just above the FEMA 1 percent flood. Widespread flooding between Fort Washington Way and the river occurs. Inundation of unprotected property in Ohio extends from Cincinnati upstream along and south of Route 52. Downstream of Cincinnati, most property between Route 50 and the river is flooded. In Kentucky, widespread inundation occurs in unprotected areas between Route 8 and the river. In Indiana, unprotected areas from near Route 56 to the river are inundated including Aurora.
69.00 ft
Hundreds of homes and businesses in the Tri-State are flooded. Major flooding spreads through areas with no flood protection, with California, the East End, Aurora, and areas of Rising Sun between Poplar Street and the river having the most severe inundation.
66.00 ft
Many riverfront streets are flooded, such as Pete Rose Way and Delta and Congress Avenues. The East End and California experience major flooding with numerous homes and businesses severely flooded. Major flooding occurs in many areas near Route 52 from the East End through much of southern Ohio Township in Clermont County. Major flooding occurs in Aurora, Indiana, as well as Ludlow and Bromley, Kentucky. Indiana Route 56 is inundated in many locations with Route 50 also flooded near the river.
64.00 ft
Major flooding continues in portions of the East End and in California with numerous homes near the river flooded. Areas along Route 52 through Ohio Township in Clermont County are also flooded. In addition to flooding along and near Route 52 in Ohio, Route 56 in Indiana and Kentucky Route 8 are flooded. Much of the Village of New Richmond experiences major flooding. Portions of Ludlow and Bromley, Kentucky and Aurora, Indiana also experience flooding of riverside homes and businesses.
63.00 ft
Major flooding occurs in portions of the East End and California, as well as areas along Route 52 through Ohio Township in Clermont County. Much of the Village of New Richmond experiences major flooding. Portions of Ludlow and Bromley, Kentucky and Aurora, Indiana experience moderate flooding. Numerous homes and businesses are flooded along the river. The Fort Washington Way Transportation Center is also impacted.
61.00 ft
Flooding worsens in the East End, as well as along the riverfront. Pete Rose Way is flooded and Kellogg Road flooding worsens. Homes and businesses in the East End and California are significantly flooded. Much of Route 52 continues to flood between Cincinnati and New Richmond. Backwater flooding up the Little Miami River affects Anderson Township up to Newtown. Low-lying roads in Newport, Ludlow and Bromley, Kentucky flood, as well as portions of Lawrenceburg and Aurora, Indiana.
60.00 ft
Significant flooding in East End, California and New Richmond in Ohio, with backwater floods in Silver Grove, KY, and riverfront buildings in Aurora Indiana. Stretches of U.S. 52 are flooded, with numerous additional low lying roads near the river flooded. Backwater flooding along the Little Miami, Great Miami and Licking Rivers, also result in road closures. Some main level of homes flooded in the East End sections of Cincinnati.
59.00 ft
Some of Route 52 is flooded from Cincinnati to New Richmond. Some homes incur flooding in California, Ohio, with several roads, Coney Island, and PNC Pavilion flooded. Backwater flooding in Anderson Township, and Fourmile creek in Silver Grove, flooding some homes along the creek. Low roads in the East End are also flooded. Portions of Route 8 in northern Kentucky become flooded, as well as portions of Aurora, Indiana. Basement flooding of low lying homes and businesses is widespread.
28.58 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: 12 %.

RankLevelDate
166.20 ftMarch 11, 1964
264.80 ftApril 18, 1948
364.70 ftMarch 5, 1997
461.32 ftMarch 3, 1962
561.27 ftMarch 1, 1962
661.00 ftMarch 10, 1955
760.91 ftApril 7, 2025
860.53 ftFebruary 26, 2018
959.80 ftMarch 11, 1967
1059.40 ftMarch 10, 1963

Weather at the gauge

Rain in the last 3 days: 0.16 in. Rain that falls upstream can take hours or days to show up at a river gauge.

17 Sat 56° 42° 0.04 in, 23% Wind 13 mph
18 Sun 67° 38° – Wind 7 mph
19 Mon 69° 40° – Wind 4 mph
20 Tue 70° 47° – Wind 5 mph
21 Wed 69° 47° – Wind 5 mph
22 Thu 69° 46° – Wind 5 mph
23 Fri 72° 47° – Wind 4 mph

Forecast: Open-Meteo

Sunrise 07:50 AM Sunset 06:58 PM Daylight 11 hr, 8 min First quarter 44%

Map

Other gauges on the Ohio River

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Ohio River at Point PleasantRiver gauge, Ohio River 24.94 ft Normal +0.25 ft 129 mi
Ohio River at HuntingtonRiver gauge, Ohio River 27.21 ft High −0.07 ft 118 mi
Ohio River at AshlandRiver gauge, Ohio River 34.79 ft Below flood stage −0.20 ft 109 mi
Ohio River at IrontonRiver gauge, Ohio River 34.54 ft High −0.22 ft 106 mi
Ohio River at Greenup Dam near GreenupRiver gauge, Ohio River 85,400 cfs Very high +2,200 cfs 94 mi
Ohio River at PortsmouthRiver gauge, Ohio River 20.33 ft High −0.46 ft 85 mi
Ohio River at MaysvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River 34.14 ft Normal −0.25 ft 48 mi
Ohio River at Markland Dam near WarsawRiver gauge, Ohio River 19.58 ft High −0.10 ft 33 mi
Ohio River at MadisonRiver gauge, Ohio River 15.39 ft No reference yet −0.25 ft 53 mi
Ohio River at Water Tower at LouisvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River 107,000 cfs High +4,000 cfs 85 mi
Ohio River at LouisvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River 18.36 ft Very high +0.50 ft 89 mi
Ohio River below Riverview Park near LouisvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River 16.08 ft No reference yet +0.48 ft 100 mi

Nearby gauges

Gauge Level Compared with normal 24 hours Distance
Taylor Creek at Donnermeyer Drive at BellevueRiver gauge, Taylor Creek 0.7 cfs Normal −0.9 cfs 1.5 mi
Pleasant Run Creek at Oak Street near LudlowRiver gauge, Pleasant Run Creek 0.3 cfs Low −4.6 cfs 2.6 mi
Threemile Creek at Three Mile Road at CovingtonRiver gauge, Threemile Creek 2.01 ft High −0.08 ft 3.4 mi
Dry Creek at Sewage Plant near ErlangerRiver gauge, Dry Creek 3.0 cfs Normal −12.4 cfs 6 mi
Mill Creek at Carthage OHRiver gauge, Mill Creek 66.0 cfs Normal −21.9 cfs 8 mi
Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 near ErlangerRiver gauge, Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 0.1 cfs Very low ±0 8 mi
Fourmile Creek at Grays Crossing at Silver GroveRiver gauge, Fourmile Creek 3.00 ft Very low −0.02 ft 9 mi
Mill Creek at Reading OHRiver gauge, Mill Creek 5.26 ft Normal −0.14 ft 9 mi

Questions and answers

How does the Ohio River at Cincinnati compare with last year?

It is 2.00 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 26.58 ft.

What is flood stage for the Ohio River at Cincinnati?

The official flood stage is 52.00 ft. The level is currently 23.42 ft below it.

What is a normal level for the Ohio River at Cincinnati in mid-October?

The median for mid-October is 26.57 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 26.12 ft and 28.27 ft, based on 33 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 Cincinnati today?

On Oct 17, 2026, 06:00 PM EDT, the water level was 28.58 ft. Down 0.45 ft over the last 24 hours.

Is Ohio River at Cincinnati rising or falling?

Down 0.45 ft over the last 24 hours. Up 1.80 ft over the last 7 days.

Is the level of Ohio River at Cincinnati normal?

Very high for mid-October. Compared with 33 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:03255000 (Agency page)
Coordinates
39.09450, -84.51050 (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 28.58 ft 2026-10-17 22:00 Provisional
Flow 79,000 cfs 2026-10-17 22:00 Provisional

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How to cite

U.S. Geological Survey: Ohio River at Cincinnati (usgs:03255000). Accessed October 17, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/ohio/ohio-river-at-cincinnati

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.