Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort water level
River gauge, Elkhorn Creek, Kentucky, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 106 cfs
- Water temperature
- 59 °F
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.30 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 08:00 PM. Issued Tuesday, October 20 at 09:29 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort, where the gauge shows 2.37 ft.
It is 7.63 ft below the flood stage of 10.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.06 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.30 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 08:00 PM. The 30-day range is 2.36 ft – 3.10 ft.
The water temperature at the gauge is 59 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 17.96 ftMarch 4, 1997
- Forecast peak
- 2.40 ftTuesday, October 20 at 02:00 PM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 10.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 15.00 ft
- Georgetown Road (US 460) floods in village of Forks of Elkhorn.
- 14.00 ft
- Jones Lane floods. Water approaches Georgetown Road (US 460).
- 13.00 ft
- Switzer (County 1689) and Indian Gap Roads flood. Goshen Road floods at back entrance to Two Creeks subdivision.
- 12.00 ft
- North Scruggs Lane floods near Elkhorn Campground. Portions of Peaks Mill Road flood near Sullivan Lane and Saufley Bottom.
- 11.00 ft
- Schoolhouse Road floods.
- 10.00 ft
- Stillhouse Hollow Road floods.
- 2.37 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: 14 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.96 ft | March 4, 1997 |
| 2 | 17.50 ft | September 2, 1932 |
| 3 | 17.20 ft | January 1, 1937 |
| 4 | 15.75 ft | April 4, 2015 |
| 5 | 15.26 ft | February 16, 1989 |
| 6 | 14.99 ft | April 5, 2025 |
| 7 | 14.69 ft | May 3, 2010 |
| 8 | 14.50 ft | April 14, 1948 |
| 9 | 14.35 ft | March 5, 1964 |
| 10 | 14.32 ft | April 5, 2008 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on Elkhorn Creek
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhorn Creek at BurdineRiver gauge, Elkhorn Creek | 3.48 ft | No reference yet | −0.01 ft | 142 mi |
| Elkhorn Creek at Freedom Lane at JenkinsRiver gauge, Elkhorn Creek | 2.66 ft | No reference yet | ±0 | 141 mi |
| Elkhorn Creek at Barnhill Road near DunhamRiver gauge, Elkhorn Creek | 2.65 ft | No reference yet | −0.01 ft | 140 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky River at Lock 4 at FrankfortRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 7.48 ft | Normal | −0.15 ft | 5.1 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 3 at GestRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 8.26 ft | Very low | −0.26 ft | 11 mi |
| South Elkhorn Creek near MidwayRiver gauge, South Elkhorn Creek | 63.6 cfs | Normal | −3.0 cfs | 13 mi |
| North Elkhorn Creek at GeorgetownRiver gauge, North Elkhorn Creek | 31.8 cfs | Normal | −7.8 cfs | 14 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 2 at LockportRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 9.35 ft | Below flood stage | −0.22 ft | 14 mi |
| Royal Springs at GeorgetownRiver gauge, Royal Springs | 0.3 cfs | Low | −0.3 cfs | 14 mi |
| Kentucky River at Lock 5 near TyroneRiver gauge, Kentucky River | 1,580 cfs | Normal | −370.0 cfs | 15 mi |
| Town Branch at Yarnallton Road at YarnalltonRiver gauge, Town Branch | 38.3 cfs | Normal | −2.8 cfs | 17 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort?
The official flood stage is 10.00 ft. The level is currently 7.63 ft below it.
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 Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort today?
On Oct 20, 2026, 02:15 PM EDT, the water level was 2.37 ft. Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort rising or falling?
Down 0.06 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort?
The highest level on record is 17.96 ft on March 4, 1997.
Is Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 2.30 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 08:00 PM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:03289500(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.26868, -84.81467(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 | 2.37 ft | 2026-10-20 18:15 | Provisional |
| Flow | 106 cfs | 2026-10-20 18:15 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 59 °F | 2026-10-20 18:00 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: Elkhorn Creek near Frankfort (usgs:03289500). Accessed October 20, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kentucky/elkhorn-creek-near-frankfort
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