Ohio River at Ironton water level
River gauge, Ohio River, Ohio, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 83,400 cfs
- Water temperature
- 66 °F
History
20252026
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Ohio River at Ironton, where the gauge shows 34.46 ft.
The median for mid-October is 34.31 ft, based on 10 years of readings, so the river stage is 0.15 ft above typical. It is 17.54 ft below the flood stage of 52.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 34.26 ft, a difference of +0.20 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. The 30-day range is 34.08 ft – 36.70 ft.
Fall is often low-water season on rivers, until steadier rain returns. The water temperature at the gauge is 66 °F.
Compared with 10 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 34.31 ft0.15 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 33.87 ft – 34.71 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (10 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 34.26 ft+0.20 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 34.08 ft – 36.70 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 34.08 ft – 38.69 ft
- Highest on record
- 54.67 ftFebruary 19, 2018
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 52.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 60.00 ft
- Several low areas along the Ohio River outside the Ironton flood wall, on both sides of the river, are flooded. Several roads along the Ohio River are flooded on both sides of the river. Several streams that flow into the Ohio River are backed up and flooded.
- 56.00 ft
- Storms Creek areas are flooded in Ohio. Some low areas outside the flood wall of Ironton start to flood, especially near the Hanging Rock area. Some low areas along the Ohio River in Kentucky start to flood.
- 52.00 ft
- Low areas along Storms Creek in Ohio are flooded.
- 34.46 ft
- Right now
Impact statements from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 54.67 ft | February 19, 2018 |
| 2 | 54.10 ft | March 4, 2021 |
| 3 | 53.01 ft | February 18, 2025 |
| 4 | 52.60 ft | February 14, 2020 |
| 5 | 52.05 ft | February 15, 2020 |
| 6 | 49.97 ft | December 24, 2018 |
| 7 | 34.69 ft | October 20, 2015 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Ohio River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio River at Hannibal Lock and Dam (Lower)River gauge, Ohio River | 13.82 ft | Below flood stage | +0.20 ft | 125 mi |
| Ohio River above SardisRiver gauge, Ohio River | 41,600 cfs | High | −1,400.0 cfs | 123 mi |
| Ohio River at MariettaRiver gauge, Ohio River | 17.12 ft | Below flood stage | +0.25 ft | 90 mi |
| Ohio River at ParkersburgRiver gauge, Ohio River | 21.91 ft | High | +0.09 ft | 79 mi |
| Ohio River at Point PleasantRiver gauge, Ohio River | 25.18 ft | Normal | +0.20 ft | 37 mi |
| Ohio River at HuntingtonRiver gauge, Ohio River | 27.16 ft | High | +0.19 ft | 13 mi |
| Ohio River at AshlandRiver gauge, Ohio River | 34.71 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 4.1 mi |
| Ohio River at Greenup Dam near GreenupRiver gauge, Ohio River | 85,400 cfs | Very high | +2,200 cfs | 12 mi |
| Ohio River at PortsmouthRiver gauge, Ohio River | 20.49 ft | High | +0.05 ft | 22 mi |
| Ohio River at MaysvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River | 34.35 ft | Normal | +0.15 ft | 60 mi |
| Ohio River at CincinnatiRiver gauge, Ohio River | 28.37 ft | High | −0.77 ft | 106 mi |
| Ohio River at Markland Dam near WarsawRiver gauge, Ohio River | 19.63 ft | High | −0.08 ft | 125 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symmes Creek at Aid OHRiver gauge, Symmes Creek | 6.27 ft | Below flood stage | −0.08 ft | 11 mi |
| Tygarts Creek near GreenupRiver gauge, Tygarts Creek | 2.85 ft | Below flood stage | −0.14 ft | 15 mi |
| Twelvepole Creek at LavaletteRiver gauge, Twelvepole Creek | 5.40 ft | Below flood stage | −1.65 ft | 19 mi |
| Little Sandy River at GraysonRiver gauge, Little Sandy River | 4.48 ft | Below flood stage | −0.15 ft | 20 mi |
| Twelvepole Creek below WayneRiver gauge, Twelvepole Creek | 5.90 ft | High | −1.36 ft | 24 mi |
| Big Sandy River at LouisaRiver gauge, Big Sandy River | 6.02 ft | Below flood stage | −1.30 ft | 25 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Ohio River at Ironton higher than last year?
Yes, it is 0.20 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 34.26 ft.
What is flood stage for the Ohio River at Ironton?
The official flood stage is 52.00 ft. The level is currently 17.54 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Ohio River at Ironton in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 34.31 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 33.87 ft and 34.71 ft, based on 10 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 Ironton today?
On Oct 17, 2026, 11:00 PM EDT, the water level was 34.46 ft. Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Ohio River at Ironton rising or falling?
Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 0.04 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Ohio River at Ironton normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 10 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:03216070(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.53206, -82.68594(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 | 34.46 ft | 2026-10-18 03:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 83,400 cfs | 2026-10-18 03:00 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 66 °F | 2026-10-18 03:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Ohio River at Ironton (usgs:03216070). Accessed October 18, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/ohio/ohio-river-at-ironton
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