Canada
United States
Belgium
France
Ireland
Netherlands
United Kingdom
Austria
Czechia
Germany
Poland
Slovenia
Switzerland
Italy
Spain
Türkiye
Denmark
Finland
Norway
SwedenLicking River at Catawba water level
River gauge, Licking River, Kentucky, United States
Right now
Normal for mid-October
Water level
- Flow
- 704 cfs
History
The forecast expects the river to fall to 5.70 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 08:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 09:13 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at Licking River at Catawba, where the gauge shows 6.35 ft.
It is on the way up, by 0.62 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to fall to 5.70 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 08:00 AM. The 30-day range is 5.51 ft – 6.43 ft.
Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 57.57 ftMarch 3, 1997
- Forecast peak
- 6.30 ftMonday, October 19 at 02:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 57.57 ft | March 3, 1997 |
| 2 | 52.60 ft | March 10, 1964 |
| 3 | 47.00 ft | April 14, 1948 |
| 4 | 45.98 ft | January 23, 1937 |
| 5 | 44.57 ft | April 6, 2025 |
| 6 | 43.98 ft | February 16, 1989 |
| 7 | 43.03 ft | May 9, 1961 |
| 8 | 41.76 ft | February 19, 2000 |
| 9 | 41.35 ft | March 7, 1945 |
| 10 | 40.10 ft | May 20, 2020 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the Licking River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licking River near Newark OHRiver gauge, Licking River | 3.25 ft | Below flood stage | −0.05 ft | 141 mi |
| Licking River below Dillon Dam near Dillon Falls OHRiver gauge, Licking River | 4.13 ft | High | −0.01 ft | 148 mi |
| Licking River below Mason Fork near SalyersvilleRiver gauge, Licking River | 4.90 ft | Below flood stage | −0.10 ft | 96 mi |
| Licking River at FarmersRiver gauge, Licking River | 8.67 ft | No reference yet | ±0 | 58 mi |
| Licking River at Highway 60 at FarmersRiver gauge, Licking River | 2.50 ft | No reference yet | +0.09 ft | 57 mi |
| Licking River at Blue Lick SpringsRiver gauge, Licking River | 5.26 ft | Below flood stage | −0.80 ft | 26 mi |
| Licking River at McKinneysburgRiver gauge, Licking River | 5.44 ft | Below flood stage | −0.35 ft | 8 mi |
| Licking River at Highway 536 near AlexandriaRiver gauge, Licking River | 374 cfs | Normal | +75.0 cfs | 16 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Fork Licking River at HayesRiver gauge, South Fork Licking River | 124 cfs | Normal | +120 cfs | 4.2 mi |
| Twelvemile Creek at Highway 1997 near AlexandriaRiver gauge, Twelvemile Creek | 1.65 ft | Below flood stage | +0.04 ft | 17 mi |
| North Fork Licking River near Mount OlivetRiver gauge, North Fork Licking River | 1.55 ft | Below flood stage | −0.02 ft | 18 mi |
| Fourmile Creek at Poplar Ridge Road near AlexandriaRiver gauge, Fourmile Creek | 0.6 cfs | Normal | −0.3 cfs | 19 mi |
| Fourmile Creek at Grays Crossing at Silver GroveRiver gauge, Fourmile Creek | 3.00 ft | Very low | ±0 | 22 mi |
| South Fork Licking River at CynthianaRiver gauge, South Fork Licking River | 5.11 ft | Below flood stage | −0.04 ft | 22 mi |
| Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 near ErlangerRiver gauge, Banklick Creek @ Highway 1829 | 0.2 cfs | Very low | −0.2 cfs | 22 mi |
| East Fork Lake near Bantam OHLake, East Fork Lake | 730.72 ft | Normal | −0.09 ft | 23 mi |
Questions and answers
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 Licking River at Catawba today?
On Oct 19, 2026, 05:00 AM EDT, the water level was 6.35 ft. Up 0.62 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is Licking River at Catawba rising or falling?
Up 0.62 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of Licking River at Catawba normal?
Normal for mid-October. Compared with 5 years of daily readings for this time of year.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at Licking River at Catawba?
The highest level on record is 57.57 ft on March 3, 1997.
Is Licking River at Catawba expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to fall to 5.70 ft by Thursday, October 22 at 08:00 AM.
How often is this data updated?
The U.S. Geological Survey publishes a new reading every 15 minutes. This page refreshes within minutes of each update.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:03253500(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.71035, -84.31077(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 | 6.35 ft | 2026-10-19 09:00 | Provisional |
| Flow | 704 cfs | 2026-10-19 09:00 | 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: Licking River at Catawba (usgs:03253500). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/kentucky/licking-river-at-catawba
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