River Conditions
Illustrated map of Ohio River

River stage

Owensboro, Ohio River

River level
20.12 ft
Status
Below flood stage
Action stage
24.00 ft
Flood stage
40.00 ft
Record crest
54.80 ft

Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS OWBK2

Record crest
54.80 ft
Flood stage
40.00 ft
Moderate flood
44.00 ft
Major flood
49.00 ft
Crest date
1937-01-29

In brief

The Ohio River at Owensboro, KY read 20.12 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.88 ft below action stage.

Source: National Weather Service gauge OWBK2

Stage threshold profile

Action stage 24.00 ftMinor flooding 40.00 ftModerate flooding 44.00 ftMajor flooding 49.00 ft CURRENT 20.12 ft

Highest crests on record

RankCrestDate
1 54.80 ft 1937-01-29
2 49.70 ft 1945-03-11
3 49.50 ft 1964-03-15
4 49.30 ft 1913-04-01
5 49.00 ft 1997-03-09
6 47.72 ft 2025-04-11
7 47.30 ft 2018-02-28
8 47.00 ft 1948-04-20

Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.

What happens at each level

  1. 35.00 ft

    Bottomland begins to flood.

  2. 41.00 ft

    Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly bottomland and surrounding low lying areas.

  3. 44.00 ft

    Parts of Smothers Park may flood.

  4. 50.00 ft

    Moderate flooding occurs affecting the lowest land in Owensboro well back from the river due to sewers backing up.

  5. 54.80 ft

    This flood will exceed the highest stage on record. Large amounts of property damage can be expected. Evacuation of many homes and businesses becomes necessary.

Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Ohio River flooding at Owensboro?

No. The Ohio River at Owensboro is at 20.12 ft, 3.88 ft below action stage.

What is the flood stage at Owensboro?

The National Weather Service sets action stage 24 ft, minor flooding 40 ft, moderate flooding 44 ft and major flooding 49 ft.

What is the highest the Ohio River has been at Owensboro?

The highest crest on record is 54.8 ft, on 1937-01-29.

Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge OWBK2). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.