Ohio River at Portsmouth water level
River gauge, Ohio River, Ohio, United States
Right now
Very high for mid-October
Water level
History
20252026
The forecast expects the river to rise to 20.40 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 08:00 PM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 09:25 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
The gauge at Ohio River at Portsmouth shows 20.22 ft, well above normal for mid-October.
The median for mid-October is 15.83 ft, based on 17 years of readings, so the river stage is 4.39 ft above typical. It is 29.78 ft below the flood stage of 50.00 ft. On the same day last year the reading was 15.52 ft, a difference of +4.70 ft.
The level is falling, down 0.18 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 20.40 ft by Sunday, October 18 at 08:00 PM. Over the past 30 days it has moved between 15.60 ft and 34.00 ft.
Compared with 17 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Median for this date
- 15.83 ft4.39 ft above the median for this date
- Normal for this date
- 14.67 ft – 19.73 ft8 years in 10 fall in this range (17 years of records)
- Same day last year
- 15.52 ft+4.70 ft
- Lowest and highest in 30 days
- 15.60 ft – 34.00 ft
- Lowest and highest in 12 months
- 15.33 ft – 40.74 ft
- Highest on record
- 53.78 ftApril 7, 2025
- Forecast peak
- 20.40 ftSunday, October 18 at 08:00 PM
High water at Ohio River at Portsmouth
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
- 74.23 ft
- This flood will exceed the highest stage on record. Widespread damage occurs. Backwater flooding along the Scioto River produces additional damage to homes, farms and businesses. Most of the City of Portsmouth is protected to a stage of 77 feet by the flood walls. Inundation of homes and businesses east of Portsmouth and elsewhere along the Ohio River within Scioto County occurs.
- 72.00 ft
- Major flooding occurs in Wheelersburg, with hundreds of homes and businesses along Route 52 flooded. Backwater flooding inundates nearly all of Garrison, Vanceburg, and Buena Vista Ohio. Low areas of West Portsmouth flood, with backwater route 104 flooded in some stretches.
- 66.00 ft
- This is approximately the FEMA 1 percent flood. Route 52 is under water through much of the region, with homes flooded along 52 and between 52 and the river. Backwater flooding also affects low areas of Friendship and West Portsmouth, Ohio. Structures in the bottom land of Kentucky between Route 8 and the river flood. Backwater flooding up Kinney Creek floods low areas near Garrison KY, with nearly all of Vanceburg flooded.
- 62.00 ft
- Water rises onto the east end of the Scioto River Bridge, and significant flooding occurs in many areas outside of Portsmouth in Scioto and Adams Counties along the Ohio River. Areas hardest hit include South Portsmouth, Fullerton and low-lying areas near Friendship.
- 60.00 ft
- The low area along Main Street in Fullerton, Ohio becomes flooded. More homes are affected by flood waters in South Portsmouth. Long stretches of Route 52 are flooded.
- 56.00 ft
- Flooding through Scioto County continues, with water entering lower levels of homes in Fullerton. Portions of Route 52 are closed due to flooding.
- 55.00 ft
- Backwater flooding affects portions of Sciotoville, New Boston and other sections outside of the flood wall area. Backwater flooding along Pond Creek near West Portsmouth floods some county roads.
- 53.00 ft
- Backwater flooding on tributaries occurs, with low lying impacts and flooding of some county roads. Riverfront homes near Shannoah Lane near Ziegler Lane become surrounded by water with some homes flooded by several feet of water.
- 51.00 ft
- Low-lying flooding occurs along the southern border of Scioto County, as well as in South Portsmouth. Routes 73 and 239 are closed near the Ohio River. Much of Portsmouth itself is protected by flood walls.
- 50.00 ft
- Lowland flooding affects southern Scioto County. Backwater flooding occurs into the Scioto River, as well as along smaller creeks flowing into the Ohio River. Flood waters expand across route 73, as well as State Route 239. Much of Portsmouth itself is protected by flood walls.
- 49.00 ft
- Lowland flooding affects southern Scioto County. Backwater flooding begins into the Scioto River, as well as along smaller creeks and streams. State Route 73 is closed near the river.
- 42.00 ft
- Lane restrictions and closings occur at the ramp to west Route 52 from State Route 239, with flooding possibly made worse if the Scioto River is also flooded. High water also affects eastbound Route 73 between Second Street and Route 852.
- 20.22 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 | 53.78 ft | April 7, 2025 |
| 2 | 53.67 ft | February 19, 2025 |
| 3 | 51.44 ft | April 7, 2024 |
| 4 | 50.58 ft | April 15, 2024 |
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 above SardisRiver gauge, Ohio River | 42,500 cfs | Very high | +1,500 cfs | 130 mi |
| Ohio River at MariettaRiver gauge, Ohio River | 16.86 ft | Below flood stage | −0.46 ft | 95 mi |
| Ohio River at ParkersburgRiver gauge, Ohio River | 21.68 ft | Normal | −0.36 ft | 85 mi |
| Ohio River at Point PleasantRiver gauge, Ohio River | 24.67 ft | Very low | −0.50 ft | 47 mi |
| Ohio River at HuntingtonRiver gauge, Ohio River | 27.05 ft | Normal | −0.12 ft | 35 mi |
| Ohio River at AshlandRiver gauge, Ohio River | 34.86 ft | Below flood stage | +0.12 ft | 26 mi |
| Ohio River at IrontonRiver gauge, Ohio River | 34.66 ft | High | +0.17 ft | 22 mi |
| Ohio River at Greenup Dam near GreenupRiver gauge, Ohio River | 12.97 ft | Below flood stage | −8.02 ft | 9 mi |
| Ohio River at MaysvilleRiver gauge, Ohio River | 34.50 ft | High | +0.25 ft | 43 mi |
| Ohio River at CincinnatiRiver gauge, Ohio River | 28.50 ft | High | +0.02 ft | 85 mi |
| Ohio River at Markland Dam near WarsawRiver gauge, Ohio River | 18.76 ft | High | −0.87 ft | 106 mi |
| Ohio River at MadisonRiver gauge, Ohio River | 15.06 ft | No reference yet | −0.42 ft | 128 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tygarts Creek near GreenupRiver gauge, Tygarts Creek | 2.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 12 mi |
| Upper Twin Creek at McGaw OHRiver gauge, Upper Twin Creek | 1.6 cfs | Normal | +0.1 cfs | 13 mi |
| Ohio Brush Creek near West Union OHRiver gauge, Ohio Brush Creek | 2.34 ft | Below flood stage | −0.12 ft | 23 mi |
| Scioto River at Piketon OHRiver gauge, Scioto River | 2.90 ft | Below flood stage | −0.16 ft | 24 mi |
| Little Sandy River at GraysonRiver gauge, Little Sandy River | 4.38 ft | Below flood stage | −0.11 ft | 28 mi |
| Symmes Creek at Aid OHRiver gauge, Symmes Creek | 6.07 ft | Below flood stage | −0.22 ft | 29 mi |
| Tygarts Creek at Lawton Road at Olive HillRiver gauge, Tygarts Creek | 1.13 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 32 mi |
Questions and answers
Is the Ohio River at Portsmouth higher than last year?
Yes, it is 4.70 ft higher than on the same day last year, when the reading was 15.52 ft.
What is flood stage for the Ohio River at Portsmouth?
The official flood stage is 50.00 ft. The level is currently 29.78 ft below it.
What is a normal level for the Ohio River at Portsmouth in mid-October?
The median for mid-October is 15.83 ft. In 8 years out of 10 the reading falls between 14.67 ft and 19.73 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 Portsmouth today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 09:00 PM EDT, the water level was 20.22 ft. Down 0.18 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Ohio River at Portsmouth rising or falling?
Down 0.18 ft over the last 24 hours. Down 3.11 ft over the last 7 days.
Is the level of Ohio River at Portsmouth normal?
Very high 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:03217200(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.72910, -82.99684(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 | 20.22 ft | 2026-10-19 01:00 | Provisional |
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Ohio River at Portsmouth (usgs:03217200). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/ohio/ohio-river-at-portsmouth
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