River stage
Van Buren, Arkansas River
- River level
- 19.18 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.19 ft
- Recent high
- 20.00 ft
- Recent low
- 18.69 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS VBUA4
- 30-day change
- -0.10 ft
- Average
- 19.35 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 40.79 ft
In brief
The Arkansas River at Van Buren, AR read 19.18 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 2.82 ft below action stage. That is 0.10 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge VBUA4
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40.79 ft | 2019-06-01 |
| 2 | 40.26 ft | 2019-05-28 |
| 3 | 38.10 ft | 1945-04-16 |
| 4 | 38.00 ft | 1943-05-12 |
| 5 | 37.30 ft | 1941-11-03 |
| 6 | 36.70 ft | 1927-04-16 |
| 7 | 36.10 ft | 1990-05-05 |
| 8 | 35.97 ft | 1957-05-28 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 22.00 ft
minor lowland flooding occurs along the shoreline from the I-540 bridge east towards Lavaca.
- 23.00 ft
minor lowland flooding occurs along the shoreline from the I-540 bridge east towards Lavaca.
- 24.00 ft
minor lowland flooding occurs along the shoreline from the I-540 bridge east towards Lavaca. Some rural roads near Lavaca may be impassable. Parts of Kelley Park northwest of downtown Fort Smith experience minor flooding.
- 25.00 ft
extensive agricultural lowland flooding occurs along the shoreline from Van Buren downstream to Lavaca. Hickman Bluff Road and Highway 255 west of Lavaca will flood. Some rural roads near Lavaca are impassable. Much of Kelley Park northwest of downtown Fort Smith is flooded.
- 26.00 ft
extensive lowland flooding occurs from the I-540 bridge downstream to Vache Grasse Creek. Sand and gravel companies and marine terminals in the floodplain along the river should take precautions. The lowest seating rows of the amphitheater at Kelley Park may be covered by high water.
- 27.00 ft
extensive lowland flooding occurs east of the I-540 bridge to Vache Grasse Creek. Sand and gravel companies, marine terminals, and similar businesses in the floodplain begin to flood. The lowest seating rows in the Kelley Park amphitheater are covered by high water.
- 28.00 ft
flooding affects sand and gravel companies, marine terminals, and similar businesses along the river. Backwater flooding of roads and trailer parks occurs next to Lee Creek. Much of the seating areas of the Kelley Park amphitheater are covered by high water.
- 29.00 ft
flooding of sand and gravel companies and other businesses occurs along the river. Some backwater flooding occurs in the roads and trailer parks near Lee Creek. The staff at the Kelley Park amphitheater may be covered by high water. Minor flooding begins in Moffett, Oklahoma.
- 31.00 ft
extensive flooding occurs to industrial businesses in the floodplain around Fort Smith. Flooding occurs in Moffett, Oklahoma. Backwater flooding occurs in the trailer parks near Lee Creek. Some residential subdivisions in the floodplain around Fort Smith begin to flood. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
- 33.00 ft
damaging flooding occurs along the Arkansas River floodplain from Moffett, Oklahoma downstream to Lock and Dam 13. The port of Fort Smith and nearby businesses are flooded. Backwater flooding occurs in the trailer parks next to Lee Creek. Some residential subdivisions around Fort Smith are flooded. Moffet City Hall is threatened by high water. This will approach the December 30, 2015 flood when the river crested at 34.63 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Arkansas River flooding at Van Buren?
No. The Arkansas River at Van Buren is at 19.18 ft, 2.82 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Van Buren?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 22 ft, minor flooding 22 ft, moderate flooding 26 ft and major flooding 31 ft.
What is the highest the Arkansas River has been at Van Buren?
The highest crest on record is 40.79 ft, on 2019-06-01.
Is the Arkansas River high or low right now at Van Buren?
At 19.18 ft it is higher than 16% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge VBUA4); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 07250500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.