Ohio River at Cincinnati water level
River gauge, Ohio River, Ohio, United States
Right now
Very high for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 79,000 cfs
History
20252026
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 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 66.20 ft | March 11, 1964 |
| 2 | 64.80 ft | April 18, 1948 |
| 3 | 64.70 ft | March 5, 1997 |
| 4 | 61.32 ft | March 3, 1962 |
| 5 | 61.27 ft | March 1, 1962 |
| 6 | 61.00 ft | March 10, 1955 |
| 7 | 60.91 ft | April 7, 2025 |
| 8 | 60.53 ft | February 26, 2018 |
| 9 | 59.80 ft | March 11, 1967 |
| 10 | 59.40 ft | March 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.
Forecast: Open-Meteo
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
| Parameter | Last value | Time (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.
Readings are provisional, can be delayed or wrong and are not a flood warning. Read the disclaimer