Ohio River at Portsmouth
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
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Observed (OBS) 04/14/2025 3:00 AM EDTOfficial Forecast (FCST) 04/13/2025 10:40 AM EDTNormal Pool: 14.2 ftRecord: 74.2 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 66 ft Moderate Flooding 57 ft Minor Flooding 50 ft Action 35 ft Reliability of the Forecast: Based on current and forecast river, weather and reservoir conditions
NOTE: Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.
River Forecasts typically include ONLY 2 days of future rain from forecast issuance time (lower right of graph). Occasionally 3 days of future rain included.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 74.23 - 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 - 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 - 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.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 53.67 ft | on 02-19-2025 | (P) |
| 2. | 50.58 ft | on 04-15-2024 | (P) |
| 3. | 51.44 ft | on 04-07-2024 | (P) |
| 4. | 56.09 ft | on 03-04-2021 | 1 |
| 5. | 53.26 ft | on 02-15-2020 | 1 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 53.67 ft | on 02-19-2025 | (P) |
| 2. | 50.58 ft | on 04-15-2024 | (P) |
| 3. | 51.44 ft | on 04-07-2024 | (P) |
| 4. | 56.09 ft | on 03-04-2021 | 1 |
| 5. | 53.26 ft | on 02-15-2020 | 1 |
| 6. | 51.80 ft | on 02-26-2019 | 1 |
| 7. | 51.01 ft | on 02-15-2019 | 1 |
| 8. | 50.71 ft | on 04-07-2018 | 1 |
| 9. | 52.70 ft | on 02-26-2018 | 1 |
| 10. | 55.30 ft | on 02-20-2018 | 1 |
| 11. | 44.36 ft | on 02-14-2018 | 1 |
| 12. | 53.36 ft | on 03-15-2015 | 1 |
| 13. | 52.14 ft | on 03-07-2015 | 1 |
| 14. | 55.42 ft | on 03-13-2011 | 1 |
| 15. | 48.28 ft | on 03-04-2011 | 1 |
| 16. | 50.38 ft | on 03-16-2010 | 1 |
| 17. | 51.87 ft | on 01-17-2005 | 1 |
| 18. | 55.90 ft | on 01-10-2005 | 1 |
| 19. | 51.48 ft | on 02-09-2004 | 1 |
| 20. | 54.28 ft | on 01-08-2004 | 1 |
| 21. | 50.73 ft | on 02-25-2003 | 1 |
| 22. | 52.00 ft | on 02-21-2000 | 1 |
| 23. | 59.80 ft | on 03-04-1997 | 1 |
| 24. | 52.68 ft | on 01-22-1996 | 1 |
| 25. | 52.20 ft | on 01-31-1994 | 1 |
| 26. | 53.70 ft | on 01-03-1991 | 1 |
| 27. | 55.80 ft | on 12-11-1978 | 1 |
| 28. | 60.80 ft | on 03-12-1964 | 1 |
| 29. | 59.70 ft | on 03-09-1963 | 1 |
| 30. | 59.10 ft | on 03-02-1962 | 1 |
| 31. | 60.60 ft | on 03-09-1955 | 1 |
| 32. | 64.10 ft | on 04-17-1948 | 1 |
| 33. | 64.90 ft | on 03-09-1945 | 1 |
| 34. | 61.20 ft | on 01-03-1943 | 1 |
| 35. | 74.23 ft | on 01-27-1937 | 1 |
| 36. | 67.90 ft | on 03-31-1913 | 1 |
| 37. | 60.80 ft | on 03-18-1907 | 1 |
| 38. | 66.26 ft | on 02-12-1884 | 1 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 74.23 ft | on 01-27-1937 | 1 |
| 2. | 67.90 ft | on 03-31-1913 | 1 |
| 3. | 66.26 ft | on 02-12-1884 | 1 |
| 4. | 64.90 ft | on 03-09-1945 | 1 |
| 5. | 64.10 ft | on 04-17-1948 | 1 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 74.23 ft | on 01-27-1937 | 1 |
| 2. | 67.90 ft | on 03-31-1913 | 1 |
| 3. | 66.26 ft | on 02-12-1884 | 1 |
| 4. | 64.90 ft | on 03-09-1945 | 1 |
| 5. | 64.10 ft | on 04-17-1948 | 1 |
| 6. | 61.20 ft | on 01-03-1943 | 1 |
| 7. | 60.80 ft | on 03-18-1907 | 1 |
| 8. | 60.80 ft | on 03-12-1964 | 1 |
| 9. | 60.60 ft | on 03-09-1955 | 1 |
| 10. | 59.80 ft | on 03-04-1997 | 1 |
| 11. | 59.70 ft | on 03-09-1963 | 1 |
| 12. | 59.10 ft | on 03-02-1962 | 1 |
| 13. | 56.09 ft | on 03-04-2021 | 1 |
| 14. | 55.90 ft | on 01-10-2005 | 1 |
| 15. | 55.80 ft | on 12-11-1978 | 1 |
| 16. | 55.42 ft | on 03-13-2011 | 1 |
| 17. | 55.30 ft | on 02-20-2018 | 1 |
| 18. | 54.28 ft | on 01-08-2004 | 1 |
| 19. | 53.70 ft | on 01-03-1991 | 1 |
| 20. | 53.67 ft | on 02-19-2025 | (P) |
| 21. | 53.36 ft | on 03-15-2015 | 1 |
| 22. | 53.26 ft | on 02-15-2020 | 1 |
| 23. | 52.70 ft | on 02-26-2018 | 1 |
| 24. | 52.68 ft | on 01-22-1996 | 1 |
| 25. | 52.20 ft | on 01-31-1994 | 1 |
| 26. | 52.14 ft | on 03-07-2015 | 1 |
| 27. | 52.00 ft | on 02-21-2000 | 1 |
| 28. | 51.87 ft | on 01-17-2005 | 1 |
| 29. | 51.80 ft | on 02-26-2019 | 1 |
| 30. | 51.48 ft | on 02-09-2004 | 1 |
| 31. | 51.44 ft | on 04-07-2024 | (P) |
| 32. | 51.01 ft | on 02-15-2019 | 1 |
| 33. | 50.73 ft | on 02-25-2003 | 1 |
| 34. | 50.71 ft | on 04-07-2018 | 1 |
| 35. | 50.58 ft | on 04-15-2024 | (P) |
| 36. | 50.38 ft | on 03-16-2010 | 1 |
| 37. | 48.28 ft | on 03-04-2011 | 1 |
| 38. | 44.36 ft | on 02-14-2018 | 1 |
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 535.01 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 526.01 ft |
| minor Flooding | 519.01 ft |
| action | 504.01 ft |
| Latest Value | 499.39 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 469.01 ft |
Gauge Photos
No Images Found
Unique Local Info
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Potential River Levels Used to Estimate the Chance of Flooding and the Range of Possible River Levels |
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| 10 Day (HEFS) | 10 Day (NAEFS) | River Forecast VS. River Potential |
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Note: Use the official hydrograph at the top of this web page for river levels within the next 72 hours.
See the Product Description Document link for more details on the interpretation of the 10 day graphics.
Click individual graphics to enlarge.
'Normal' pool elevation is 14.2'Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.
Resources
Hydrologic Resource Links
- River Forecast Centers
- NEW!! Mobile friendly river forecasts for the entire Ohio River
- Text Products
- Past Precipitation - OHRFC
- Forecast Precipitation included in river forecasts
- Significant/Moderate Flood Outlook (next 5 days)
- Ohio Basin Water Resources Outlook
- Inundation Mapping Locations
- Archived Radar/Raingage Precipitation