Nivelmap
EN

Ohio River at Ironton water level

River gauge, Ohio River, Ohio, United States

Directions

Right now

Normal for mid-October

Water level

34.46ft Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours

Flow
83,400 cfs
Water temperature
66 °F
40 50 Highest onrecord 54.67 ft Minor floodstage 52.00 ft

History

History
34.034.535.0ftOct 12Oct 13Oct 15Oct 16Oct 1834.034.535.0ftOct 12Oct 15Oct 18
34363840ftSep 19Sep 26Oct 3Oct 10Oct 1834363840ftSep 19Oct 3Oct 18
4050ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage4050ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
4050ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20264050ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

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

RankLevelDate
154.67 ftFebruary 19, 2018
254.10 ftMarch 4, 2021
353.01 ftFebruary 18, 2025
452.60 ftFebruary 14, 2020
552.05 ftFebruary 15, 2020
649.97 ftDecember 24, 2018
734.69 ftOctober 20, 2015

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:43 AM Sunset 06:50 PM Daylight 11 hr, 7 min First quarter 46%

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

ParameterLast valueTime (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

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 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.