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Ohio River at Portsmouth water level

River gauge, Ohio River, Ohio, United States

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Right now

Very high for mid-October

Water level

20.22ft Down 0.18 ft over the last 24 hours

13 25 38 50 Highest onrecord 53.78 ft Minor floodstage 50.00 ft

History

History
1520ftOct 13Oct 15Oct 18Oct 20Oct 231520ftOct 13Oct 18Oct 23
2040ftSep 20Sep 28Oct 6Oct 15Oct 23Minor flood stage2040ftSep 20Oct 6Oct 23Minor flood stage
2040ftOct 2025Jan 2026Apr 2026Jul 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage2040ftOct 2025Apr 2026Oct 2026Minor flood stage
2040ftJanMarMayJulSepNov20262040ftJanAprJulOct2026

20252026

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

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 %.

RankLevelDate
153.78 ftApril 7, 2025
253.67 ftFebruary 19, 2025
351.44 ftApril 7, 2024
450.58 ftApril 15, 2024

Weather at the gauge

The forecast is not available right now.

Sunrise 07:46 AM Sunset 06:49 PM Daylight 11 hr, 4 min First quarter 54%

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

ParameterLast valueTime (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.