River stage
Norfolk, Elkhorn River
- River level
- 3.02 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.14 ft
- Recent high
- 4.05 ft
- Recent low
- 2.53 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS NFKN1
- 30-day change
- +0.17 ft
- Average
- 3.05 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 17.22 ft
In brief
The Elkhorn River at Norfolk, NE read 3.02 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 6.98 ft below action stage. That is 0.17 ft higher than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge NFKN1
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17.22 ft | 2010-06-15 |
| 2 | 15.63 ft | 1949-03-11 |
| 3 | 15.59 ft | 2019-03-14 |
| 4 | 13.05 ft | 1995-05-31 |
| 5 | 11.80 ft | 1944-05-13 |
| 6 | 11.70 ft | 1940-06-06 |
| 7 | 11.42 ft | 2008-06-08 |
| 8 | 11.37 ft | 1982-02-20 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 10.00 ft
The trail under Highway 81 begins to flood.
- 12.00 ft
Considerable lowland flooding and approaches to bridges flood upstream and downstream of the gage for several miles.
- 13.00 ft
The river is bankfull within the city limits of Norfolk. Outside the Norfolk area, serious flooding of lowlands and bridge approaches take place. Some county roads and rural homes flood.
- 16.00 ft
U.S. Highway 81 will begin to be overtopped.
- 17.00 ft
The local levee protecting Tahazouka Park is overtopped.
- 19.50 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the Highway 81 bridge.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Elkhorn River flooding at Norfolk?
No. The Elkhorn River at Norfolk is at 3.02 ft, 6.98 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at Norfolk?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 10 ft, minor flooding 12 ft, moderate flooding 13 ft and major flooding 17 ft.
What is the highest the Elkhorn River has been at Norfolk?
The highest crest on record is 17.22 ft, on 2010-06-15.
Is the Elkhorn River high or low right now at Norfolk?
At 3.02 ft it is higher than 52% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge NFKN1); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 06799000). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.