River stage
Shelbyville, Big Blue River
- River level
- 4.80 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.06 ft
- Recent high
- 15.75 ft
- Recent low
- 4.69 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS SBVI3
- 30-day change
- -0.19 ft
- Average
- 5.77 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 20.20 ft
In brief
The Big Blue River at Shelbyville, IN read 4.80 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 4.20 ft below action stage. That is 0.19 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge SBVI3
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20.20 ft | 1913-03-28 |
| 2 | 19.98 ft | 2025-04-06 |
| 3 | 18.43 ft | 2005-01-06 |
| 4 | 18.41 ft | 1993-11-15 |
| 5 | 18.30 ft | 1937-01-25 |
| 6 | 18.30 ft | 1937-01-12 |
| 7 | 18.30 ft | 2013-12-23 |
| 8 | 18.06 ft | 2018-04-04 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 9.00 ft
River is near bankfull and impairing sewage treatment operation. Some flooding is likely in southwest Shelby county.
- 11.00 ft
Flooding begins at Bear Chase Golf Course. Lowland flooding begins in Sunset Park located on left bank about one-half mile downstream of gage site. Flood waters in agricultural fields in SR 44 area.
- 12.00 ft
Lowland flooding begins in Sunset Park on left bank about one-half downstream of gage site. Water very near and may start flowing over Shelby CR 425W south of Shelby CR 50S and north of Shelby CR 100S.
- 12.50 ft
Right bank 50 feet upstream of gage site overflows.
- 13.00 ft
Flood Stage. Water reaches CR 425W. Some agricultural land and extremely low-lying areas like Bear Chase golf course are flooded.
- 13.50 ft
Flooding affects Boggstown Road near sewage plant. Considerable flooding of agricultural fields south of Boggstown Road. Lowland flooding occurring along the Big Blue River in Johnson County.
- 14.00 ft
Flooding begins to affect business and residential property. West Washington Avenue east of rendering plant begins to flood. In winter and spring, persons are not too concerned. This level is rather unusual for summer.
- 15.00 ft
High water affects trucking firm on Boggstown Road.
- 16.30 ft
Extensive flooding occurring along Big Blue River. Several residences in Shelbyville had water in their yards on March 6, 2011. One day later extensive flooding at mile marker 82.5 in the Edinburgh area. Several homes along Sugar Creek were evacuated when the level peaked at nine ft on the New Palestine gage one day earlier.
- 17.00 ft
Extensive flooding along left bank affects business and residential property along Boggstown Road. Rural flooding of a few homes near CR 100N and Boggstown Road on April 21, 2011.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Big Blue River flooding at Shelbyville?
No. The Big Blue River at Shelbyville is at 4.8 ft, 4.2 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Shelbyville?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 9 ft, minor flooding 13 ft, moderate flooding 15 ft and major flooding 18 ft.
What is the highest the Big Blue River has been at Shelbyville?
The highest crest on record is 20.2 ft, on 1913-03-28.
Is the Big Blue River high or low right now at Shelbyville?
At 4.8 ft it is higher than 8% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge SBVI3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 03361500). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.