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SwedenWhite River at Petersburg water level
River gauge, White River, Indiana, United States
Right now
Below flood stage
Water level
- Flow
- 2,620 cfs
- Water temperature
- 63 °F
History
The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.20 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 01:00 AM. Issued Sunday, October 18 at 08:28 AM by NOAA National Weather Service.
What this means
Water levels are unremarkable at White River at Petersburg, where the gauge shows 2.85 ft.
It is 13.15 ft below the flood stage of 16.00 ft.
It is still going down, by 0.05 ft over the past 24 hours. The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.20 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 01:00 AM. The 30-day range is 2.74 ft – 2.90 ft.
The sensor also reports a water temperature of 63 °F.
Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge. How to read levels
Key numbers
- Highest on record
- 29.50 ftMarch 29, 1913
- Forecast peak
- 3.20 ftTuesday, October 20 at 01:00 AM
Paddling and fishing conditions
Most paddlers and anglers will find the river in good shape at this stage.
For reference, flood stage is 16.00 ft.
What happens at each level
- 40.00 ft
- Estimated low steel height of the SR 61 Bridge over the White River, a level more than 6 feet higher than any known flood.
- 30.00 ft
- Record flood is in progress. Possible concern about the former IPL Power Plant even though it is located above the 100 year flood plain. Immense flood destruction to roads, agricultural lands, oil fields and river cabins. Flood waters overtop any remaining agricultural levees. Evacuation is necessary of people and livestock. This is just above the estimated height of the March 1913 flood.
- 27.00 ft
- A near record flood is in progress. Water level is at a height approached in June 2008 and exceeded in January 2005. Evacuations are necessary. River cabins are destroyed. Great damage occurs to rural county road system. SR 56 begins to flood in the Bowman area. Flooding may damage railroads. Flood waters overtop almost all levees in the Petersburg area.
- 26.96 ft
- During the Great June 2008 flood, flood waters were at the edge of SR 56 near Bowman. US Highway 50 closed as record flood levels from Edwardsport area approached. During the June 2008 flood less water came from the Shoals area than in January 2005 flood. Shoals was above 5 ft higher during January 2005 and Edwardsport about 1.5 ft lower. Not much heard from the Petersburg area, but great agricultural damage and Dodge City probably cleared out.
- 26.00 ft
- The Dodge City area floods extensively. The January 2005 flood quickly passed this level and exceeded 27.5 feet. Nobody remained in Dodge City. The June 2008 and May 2011 floods also exceeded the 26 foot level.
- 25.80 ft
- Near major flooding in progress. During the May 1990 flood, the town of Petersburg lost their main water line at this level. This problem is believed to have been corrected. Seven floods since May 1990 have reached this level. Levees are monitored at this level. Numerous roads flooded. Flood waters approach SR 56 near Bowman. Extensive flooding in Dodge City.
- 25.00 ft
- A very significant flood is in progress. Emergency flood fighting may be needed. Evacuations would begin from river cabins in Dodge City. Livestock must be moved.
- 23.50 ft
- Extensive flooding in progress with several bottom land roads flooded in Pike County in March 2011. Pike County roads flooded...some by several feet of water...east of SR 57 included CR 750N...CR 600N and CR 1000E. Pike County roads flooded west of SR 57 included...River Rd...CR 250W...CR 400W...CR 675N...CR 700N...CR 1000W...CR 900W...CR 700W and CR 775W.
- 23.49 ft
- Water from the Great June 2008 Flood recedes from SR 257 south of Washington. The river stage at Shoals was less than 10 feet and less than 14 feet previous day. The Lost River was low...except for backwater from the East Fork White...during this entire flood event.
- 23.00 ft
- Extensive flooding is progress affecting agricultural and rural residential areas. Several rural county roads extensively flooded including Bottoms Rd...Brothers Rd and E. Governor Rd in Knox County. A few residents may move out in an area locally known as Dodge City. Several small oil fields are inaccessible. During agricultural season much flood damage can occur. High water isolates some river cabin residents.
- 21.30 ft
- State Road 257 south of Washington began to flood during May 2008 after local rains of more than an inch on very wet soils with Petersburg at 21.3 feet and rising and Shoals at 15.5 feet and rising.
- 21.01 ft
- During May 2008 and March 2011...flood waters recede from State Road 257 south of Washington when Petersburg was 21 feet and falling and Shoals slightly below 15 feet and falling. During March 2011...White River was rising very slowly and Shoals dropped to 14.7 feet and was leveling off.
- 2.85 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: 54 %.
| Rank | Level | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 29.50 ft | March 29, 1913 |
| 2 | 28.30 ft | January 22, 1937 |
| 3 | 27.66 ft | April 11, 2025 |
| 4 | 27.64 ft | January 11, 2005 |
| 5 | 26.96 ft | June 12, 2008 |
| 6 | 26.88 ft | May 3, 2011 |
| 7 | 26.75 ft | April 27, 2011 |
| 8 | 26.27 ft | January 11, 1950 |
| 9 | 26.14 ft | May 13, 1961 |
| 10 | 25.89 ft | March 25, 2008 |
Weather at the gauge
The forecast is not available right now.
Map
Other gauges on the White River
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White River at Indianapolis Museum of ArtRiver gauge, White River | 3.66 ft | Below flood stage | +0.03 ft | 109 mi |
| White River at 16th Street at IndianapolisRiver gauge, White River | 6.55 ft | Below flood stage | +0.02 ft | 106 mi |
| White River at Michigan Street at IndianapolisRiver gauge, White River | 7.11 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 105 mi |
| White River at IndianapolisRiver gauge, White River | 2.94 ft | Normal | −0.05 ft | 104 mi |
| White River at Stout Gen. Stn. at IndianapolisRiver gauge, White River | 1.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.06 ft | 102 mi |
| White River at Southport Road at IndianapolisRiver gauge, White River | 4.78 ft | No reference yet | −0.14 ft | 98 mi |
| White River near CentertonRiver gauge, White River | 1.12 ft | Normal | −0.09 ft | 83 mi |
| White River at SpencerRiver gauge, White River | 2.88 ft | Normal | −0.28 ft | 60 mi |
| White River at NewberryRiver gauge, White River | 2.29 ft | Below flood stage | +0.20 ft | 32 mi |
| White River near EdwardsportRiver gauge, White River | 5.09 ft | Below flood stage | +0.32 ft | 20 mi |
| White River above PetersburgRiver gauge, White River | 3.81 ft | Below flood stage | −0.03 ft | 2.3 mi |
| White River at HazletonRiver gauge, White River | 2.25 ft | Below flood stage | +0.05 ft | 14 mi |
Nearby gauges
| Gauge | Level | Compared with normal | 24 hours | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patoka River at WinslowRiver gauge, Patoka River | 7.93 ft | Low | −0.09 ft | 10 mi |
| Patoka River near PrincetonRiver gauge, Patoka River | 3.06 ft | Low | −0.17 ft | 16 mi |
| Wabash River at Memorial Bridge at VincennesRiver gauge, Wabash River | 4.76 ft | Below flood stage | −0.19 ft | 18 mi |
| Pigeon Creek near Fort BranchRiver gauge, Pigeon Creek | 2.2 cfs | Normal | +0.3 cfs | 22 mi |
| Smothers Creek near PlainvilleRiver gauge, Smothers Creek | 6.00 ft | Below flood stage | +0.01 ft | 23 mi |
| Patoka River at JasperRiver gauge, Patoka River | 9.00 ft | Very high | +0.24 ft | 23 mi |
| Embarras River at LawrencevilleRiver gauge, Embarras River | 16.75 ft | Low | ±0 | 25 mi |
Questions and answers
What is flood stage for the White River at Petersburg?
The official flood stage is 16.00 ft. The level is currently 13.15 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 White River at Petersburg today?
On Oct 18, 2026, 07:45 PM CDT, the water level was 2.85 ft. Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is White River at Petersburg rising or falling?
Down 0.05 ft over the last 24 hours.
Is the level of White River at Petersburg normal?
Below flood stage. Judged against the official flood stage for this gauge.
What is the highest water level ever recorded at White River at Petersburg?
The highest level on record is 29.50 ft on March 29, 1913.
Is White River at Petersburg expected to rise?
The forecast expects the river to rise to 3.20 ft by Tuesday, October 20 at 01:00 AM.
For specialists
Station codes, datum, parameters, data quality and downloads
- Operator
- U.S. Geological Survey
- Station code
usgs:03374000(Agency page)- Coordinates
38.51089, -87.28945(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 | 2.85 ft | 2026-10-19 00:45 | Provisional |
| Flow | 2,620 cfs | 2026-10-19 00:45 | Provisional |
| Water temperature | 63 °F | 2026-10-19 01:30 | Provisional |
Download
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How to cite
U.S. Geological Survey: White River at Petersburg (usgs:03374000). Accessed October 19, 2026 via Nivelmap, https://nivelmap.com/en/united-states/indiana/white-river-at-petersburg
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