Animated American Flag Waving Ohio River History  

Maximum and Minimum Recorded Ohio River Stages at Cincinnati

YEAR

 

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

1951 HI 48.9 45.5 41.7 41.1 31.6 29.8 19.6 12.6 12.4 12.5 27.4 38.3
  LO 13.8 31.0 30.9 24.0 13.2 12.5 11.9 11.2 11.6 11.7 11.9 13.0
1952 HI 46.8 56.9 52.0 34.5 24.9 28.8 14.2 12.6 12.3 12.3 13.0 21.5
  LO 21.2 15.2 14.9 20.1 15.1 12.9 11.3 11.5 11.5 11.5 11.9 10.8
1953 HI 32.5 30.4 36.3 30.2 34.2 23.5 13.7 12.7 12.4 12.5 12.3 12.7
  LO 12.8 15.9 17.9 19.4 14.9 12.3 12.5 11.5 11.4 11.8 11.9 11.6
1954 HI 23.2 19.1 34.9 32.4 26.1 16.0 24.3 15.9 12.8 38.5 16.4 26.2
  LO 11.6 11.3 14.1 17.1 12.8 12.2 10.7 11.7 11.6 11.8 12.2 12.8
1955 HI 40.1 47.4 61.0 30.0 30.3 15.6 13.8 13.3 12.3 14.3 22.0 16.7
  LO 13.0 12.2 31.1 13.6 12.3 11.9 11.6 11.4 11.4 11.6 11.9 11.6
1956 HI 22.0 50.5 53.0 42.1 32.9 35.1 26.5 32.2 16.6 13.0 13.0 40.0
  LO 11.8 26.5 29.3 22.1 18.1 12.0 13.2 12.3 12.2 11.8 12.0 12.4
1957 HI 39.2 49.9 32.0 52.2 25.5 20.0 21.0 12.4 12.6 12.7 23.3 37.9
  LO 12.7 18.6 15.6 19.9 12.5 12.3 11.6 11.3 11.6 11.5 11.7 12.8
1958 HI 36.1 31.9 34.3 40.9 57.9 26.0 42.0 38.2 14.9 13.1 13.8 21.6
  LO 12.4 12.1 16.8 20.4 13.3 12.4 11.9 12.5 12.0 11.8 12.1 12.0
1959 HI 55.3 46.9 31.0 36.3 30.1 19.9 13.5 12.7 12.5 15.0 24.3 35.8
  LO 12.5 23.7 18.2 18.8 12.6 11.7 11.4 11.3 11.5 11.7 12.5 15.3
1960 HI 39.1 39.2 31.3 45.8 30.5 20.9 23.8 13.1 12.7 12.5 13.2 12.8
  LO 16.7 17.9 13.3 12.6 12.5 12.0 12.0 11.5 11.3 11.3 11.4 11.4
1961 HI 26.8 46.5 53.0 43.0 55.0 35.0 24.3 24.0 12.8 14.0 26.3 35.6
  LO 11.7 11.1 27.0 25.3 13.5 12.6 12.0 11.9 11.6 11.5 12.1 12.7
1962 HI 37.1 53.9 61.3 42.3 17.2 14.3 13.4 12.4 12.4 12.7 29.6 31.7
  LO 12.9 17.4 30.1 16.3 12.2 12.2 11.7 11.8 11.2 11.5 11.6 14.0
1963 HI 33.9 32.7 59.4 41.9 27.8 30.2 26.3 27.0 26.5 25.9 27.8 27.3
  LO 24.2 24.6 25.0 24.8 25.0 25.5 25.5 25.9 25.6 25.4 25.8 25.3
1964 HI 30.9 29.3 66.0 44.9 34.0 27.0 26.9 27.0 26.7 26.8 27.5 32.9
  LO 25.6 23.9 26.1 28.5 25.8 25.7 25.7 25.3 25.6 25.6 25.8 26.1
1965 HI 37.9 42.3 46.8 45.6 35.0 26.7 26.7 26.3 28.1 27.2 27.2 26.9
  LO 26.1 26.3 29.0 31.5 26.4 25.8 24.9 25.2 25.8 26.0 25.9 25.8
1966 HI 36.8 52.9 32.6 46.3 51.3 26.7 27.1 26.9 27.4 27.7 29.1 44.3
  LO 25.7 25.7 27.0 26.6 26.2 25.9 25.9 25.8 25.7 25.8 25.2 25.8
1967 HI 30.1 32.2 59.8 35.4 49.8 27.9 26.9 26.7 27.2 27.3 28.8 32.6
  LO 26.1 26.7 27.2 29.4 14.8 26.0 25.9 25.7 25.8 25.8 26.3 26.7
1968 HI 34.0 44.0 44.2 41.6 56.8 53.6 26.7 29.2 26.4 27.2 29.1 35.6
  LO 26.4 26.0 25.9 26.4 26.4 26.1 25.6 25.7 25.6 25.8 25.8 26.5
1969 HI 39.9 40.7 30.8 34.9 32.8 27.5 28.7 31.1 26.8 26.5 27.5 37.3
  LO 26.3 26.6 26.1 27.7 26.3 27.5 26.0 25.4 25.8 25.7 25.9 26.0
1970 HI 44.7 41.6 37.4 50.3 40.9 27.4 27.2 27.2 26.9 29.1 32.8 44.9
  LO 26.0 27.6 27.7 29.0 26.4 26.0 25.7 25.9 25.8 25.9 26.6 27.3
1971 HI 40.4 47.7 41.6 28.9 44.8 28.1 28.3 30.2 31.4 27.5 27.0 37.9
  LO 26.9 26.6 28.1 25.8 26.2 26.1 25.5 25.6 25.8 25.8 25.7 26.8
1972 HI 39.9 48.9 47.7 51.4 33.9 44.6 41.5 28.4 26.4 27.9 35.5 53.8
  LO 27.3 26.8 30.6 27.9 26.0 25.8 25.7 25.6 25.4 25.9 27.5 29.3
1973 HI 33.7 38.8 46.7 48.9 49.3 34.4 27.5 27.0 26.3 27.6 46.7 47.2
  LO 26.5 27.0 27.3 31.0 27.8 26.6 25.9 25.4 25.8 25.4 26.0 27.1
1974 HI 53.5 37.6 44.5 44.9 40.6 43.1 30.0 29.1 32.7 26.9 30.4 37.4
  LO 31.2 28.2 28.9 27.1 26.8 26.1 25.9 25.8 25.9 25.8 26.0 29.6
1975 HI 39.1 48.3 50.0 49.5 44.9 31.1 26.9 28.0 38.8 40.4 33.1 34.6
  LO 30.6 31.4 31.1 27.1 27.6 25.7 25.1 25.5 25.8 26.0 25.9 26.6
1976 HI 39.9 48.9 47.7 51.4 33.9 44.6 41.5 28.4 26.4 27.9 35.5 53.8
  LO 27.3 28.5 28.8 25.9 25.8 25.6 25.9 25.5 25.7 26.0 25.7 26.1
1977 HI 26.5 42.6 41.8 50.9 33.3 27.1 27.6 31.7 27.5 30.2 31.6 42.0
  LO 25.6 25.4 30.1 26.4 25.8 25.4 26.1 25.9 25.7 26.2 26.2 29.2
1978 HI 54.0 41.6 54.9 41.0 39.9 29.9 30.4 28.7 28.3 27.8 29.0 58.4
  LO 27.1 27.0 26.4 28.2 27.7 26.3 26.0 26.3 25.9 26.0 25.6 27.2
1979 HI 48.6 57.8 58.6 42.8 27.6 32.8 32.7 34.9 42.0 36.9 40.9 38.3
  LO 32.3 26.3 29.8 27.9 26.7 26.5 26.2 26.2 26.5 26.6 27.1 27.4
1980 HI 36.9 35.2 43.8 43.2 34.1 33.9 34.8 38.7 26.9 26.9 29.1 29.7
  LO 27.4 25.8 26.6 27.5 26.3 25.7 26.3 26.3 25.7 25.8 25.8 26.0
1981 HI 27.9 46.4 39.7 39.4 39.3 47.3 28.4 26.6 27.4 28.9 27.9 35.0
  LO 25.9 26.9 27.1 28.4 27.3 27.8 25.8 25.7 25.6 25.5 25.9 26.4
1982 HI 43.4 43.0 48.1 36.1 34.6 36.4 29.7 27.0 27.2 26.6 31.1 35.7
  LO 27.0 28.4 28.1 26.5 26.2 26.1 25.8 25.8 26.0 25.8 26.0 27.3
1983 HI 32.8 37.1 35.8 42.7 51.7 31.4 29.0 26.5 26.8 31.3 33.3 38.2
  LO 26.5 27.0 27.3 31.0 27.8 26.6 25.9 25.4 25.8 25.4 26.0 27.1
1984 HI 32.4 45.1 47.0 47.3 45.0 36.4 29.5 29.4 26.8 27.6 31.1 40.8
  LO 26.8 28.2 28.8 31.6 28.3 26.1 26.1 26.1 25.7 25.8 26.1 27.2
1985 HI 36.4 47.9 47.3 46.5 33.8 30.2 28.3 26.8 26.4 27.1 50.0 52.3
  LO 26.5 27.0 28.4 26.3 26.4 25.9 25.7 25.9 25.9 25.6 25.9 26.4
1986 HI 36.2 49.7 44.6 28.8 27.8 29.2 32.1 26.5 27.3 31.1 40.7 41.6
  LO 26.0 27.7 27.4 26.2 26.0 26.1 26.1 25.8 25.7 26.0 26.0 27.5
1987 HI 38.2 31.3 36.1 49.3 33.9 27.3 31.1 27.1 27.5 26.8 26.8 34.6
  LO 26.6 26.7 26.1 30.4 26.3 26.0 25.4 25.8 26.0 26.1 25.9 26.8
1988 HI 36.6 44.8 40.1 34.8 29.4 26.5 27.4 26.5 26.6 26.7 33.6 35.6
  LO 26.3 26.8 26.9 26.7 26.2 26.0 25.9 26.1 26.0 26.1 26.1 25.9
1989 HI 40.6 52.2 47.9 47.6 46.4 44.1 33.8 31.3 32.7 40.5 37.0 28.8
  LO 26.7 26.5 28.0 27.5 32.1 28.1 26.1 26.2 25.9 26.1 26.4 26.2
1990 HI 44.3 47.0 31.5 35.2 46.1 45.0 36.1 29.1 28.4 34.3 29.4 52.9
  LO 27.6 30.3 27.7 27.1 26.1 26.3 26.3 26.1 26.0 26.5 26.2 26.8
1991 HI 56.9 43.3 47.5 44.7 28.3 27.1 27.5 26.6 26.9 26.6 28.8 45.4
  LO 29.3 30.6 28.9 28.0 26.2 26.3 26.3 26.1 26.2 26.2 26.2 26.3
1992 HI 32.7 35.3 42.8 35.6 32.3 29.3 36.3 31.8 29.0 26.7 31.6 36.6
  LO 26.6 26.2 28.2 27.5 26.1 26.1 26.0 26.2 26.3 26.1 26.3 26.5
1993 HI 35.9 42.8 51.6 46.9 36.7 29.1 27.8 26.6 27.0 27.3 36.4 43.6
  LO 28.1 26.7 28.2 30.7 26.2 25.9 26.2 26.1 26.0 26.2 26.4 26.7
1994 HI 54.6 54.3 52.3 51.2 44.4 27.6 27.6 32.9 27.6 26.7 28.2 35.2
  LO 27.0 33.2 33.5 28.9 26.6 26.3 26.4 26.3 26.2 26.1 26.5 26.6
1995 HI 45.3 38.8 38.9 30.2 50.6 34.0 28.4 30.6 26.6 27.0 29.2 38.7
  LO 26.4 26.2 26.9 26.6 26.9 26.4 26.2 25.9 26.1 26.0 26.2 26.1
1996 HI 57.3 46.1 46.5 42.0 53.7 41.5 36.1 32.5 31.7 31.7 38.5 44.7
  LO 26.6 28.0 31.7 27.5 35.0 26.7 25.9 26.1 26.3 26.1 26.7 29.7
1997 HI 39.1 38.1 64.7 35.1 37.3 41.7 29.3 30.0 27.1 27.3 28.7 29.5
  LO 26.3 28.1 30.8 26.6 27.8 26.6 25.9 26.3 26.2 26.4 26.4 26.3
1998 HI 49.3 42.9 44.1 46.7 42.7 42.2 46.8 26.5 26.4 27.1 26.5 27.7
  LO 26.5 28.2 28.0 27.9 26.2 26.1 26.1 26.0 25.9 26.1 26.0 25.9
1999 HI 45.8 36.0 41.5 32.9 29.4 26.7 26.7 26.6 26.6 26.8 29.9 35.6
  LO 26.2 27.0 27.5 27.1 26.1 26.0 25.9 26.2 26.1 26.2 26.1 26.1
2000 HI 31.7 54.5 35.7 44.3 30.8 30.8 28.3 29.3 29.2 26.9 26.8 38.5
  LO 26.2 26.1 26.1 27.0 26.2 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.0 26.0 26.0 26.2
2001 HI 32.1 42.1 34.6 38.8 44.3 34.1 34.1 34.6 27.1 26.9 28.8 33.1
  LO 26.2 27.9 27.2 27.1 26.4 26.4 26.4 26.3 26.1 26.1 26.2 26.4
2002 HI 36.2 32.0 50.4 44.7 44.8 36.9 27.4 27.0 26.9 28.0 30.3 35.8
  LO 26.1 25.9 26.4 28.5 27.4 26.2 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.6 26.4
2003 HI 40.4 50.8 42.0 41.8 46.2 43.6 35.9 31.1 39.5 30.2 49.8 39.8
  LO 27.6 27.3 29.6 26.9 26.9 26.6 26.4 26.1 26.2 26.3 27.2 30.1
2004 HI 53.4 50.5 48.1 50.0 45.0 44.8 30.3 30.7 51.2 32.5 33.6 41.9
  LO 28.3 28.0 28.2 29.5 27.3 27.1 26.4 26.3 26.2 26.8 26.2 28.2
2005 HI 56.7 38.8 38.6 46.9 39.5 27.2 27.0 28.6 28.0 27.8 28.5 35.1
  LO 30.0 30.0 29.8 27.0 26.5 26.0 25.8 26.3 26.7 26.1 26.4 26.6
2006 HI 34.8 33.4 39.4 34.2 30.0 33.4 33.4 28.0 31.4 41.7 40.6 33.0
  LO 28.0 27.3 26.5 27.4 26.5 26.3 26.6 26.2 26.6 27.1 27.3 26.8
2007 HI 46.9 38.8* 48.1 47.3 30.9 26.8 26.8 27.5 26.7 27.4 29.9 47.7
  LO 28.8 27.9* 30.0 28.0 26.1 26.1 26.1 26.1 25.9 26.2 26.3 27.9
2008 HI 40.6 49.4 51.9 45.0 42.7 44.5 30.6 27.0 27.4      
  LO 26.7 31.2 32.2 27.2 26.9 26.7 26.3 26.2 26.2      

* Gage frozen; exact stage unknown

Flood Crests
Highest Annual / Lowest Annual

This tabulation represents a continuous record since June 1, 1858 of Flood Crests or highest annual and lowest annual stages of the Ohio River at Cincinnati. These readings are based on observations taken at the following locations.

(ORD) Ohio River Datum = Elevation of "Gage 0" above MSL

Flood Stages at Cincinnati:
1873 to 1893: 45 feet
1899 to Mar 31, 1922: 50 feet
Apr 1, 1922 to Present: 52 feet

Sources of information used in compiling this continuous record:

  1. Stages of Mississippi River above Cairo. Mississippi River Commission 2d ed. 1891. Cincinnati stages June 1, 1858 to December 31, 1886.
  2. U.S. Weather Bureau/National Weather Service, Daily River Stages, Cincinnati Stages November 1, 1874 to present.

Note: For the period November 1, 1874 to December 31, 1889 the records were under the Army Signal Corps

The following crest-stage information has not been documented nor tied in with any specific gage. It is only given to offer some idea of floods prior to 1858. This crest-stage information was taken from old records on file in the Ohio River Forecast Center of the Weather Bureau in Cincinnati.

DATE CREST-STAGE
1773 76.0 feet
1774 65.0 feet
1815 MAR - APR 62.0 feet
1828 58.0 feet
1786 59.0 feet
1789 62.0 feet
1792 63.0 feet
1793 57.0 feet
1832 FEB 18 64.2 feet
1847 DEC 17 63.6 feet
1852 APR 02 54.0 feet

Annual Ohio River Stage Extremes at Cincinnati

1858 JUN 16 43.7 18581 SEP 28 2.4
1859 FEB 22 55.4 1859 SEP 12 4.0
1860 APR 17 49.1 1860 SEP 29 5.7
1861 APR 20 49.4 18611 JUL 03 5.2
1862 JAN 24 57.3 18621 OCT 08 2.3
1862 APR 26 52.2        
1863 MAR 12 42.8 18631 OCT 06 2.5
1864 DEC 23 45.1 1864 AUG 06 3.1
1865 MAR 07 56.2 1865 OCT 19 5.7
1866 SEP 26 41.2 18661 AUG 17 4.8
1867 MAR 15 55.7 18671 OCT 19 3.0
1868 MAR 30 48.2 1868 JUL 28 5.1
1869 APR 02 48.8 18691 AUG 27 5.3
1870 JAN 19 55.2 1870 OCT 05 3.0
1871 MAY 13 40.5 18711 OCT 11 2.7
1872 APR 13 41.8 1872 OCT 14 3.0
1873 DEC 18 44.4 1873 OCT 12 3.7
1874 JAN 11 47.9 1874 SEP 22 2.3
1875 AUG 06 55.4 1875 SEP 18 4.1
1876 JAN 29 51.8 1876 SEP 04 6.2
1877 JAN 20 53.0 18771 Oct 07 3.4
1878 DEC 15 41.2 1878 OCT 22 4.3
1879 DEC 27 42.3 1878 OCT 23 2.4
1880 FEB 17 53.2 18801 OCT 28 3.8
1881 FEB 16 50.8 18811 SEP 17 1.9
1882 FEB 21 58.6 1882 NOV 01 6.0
1883 FEB 15 66.3 18831 SEP 20 3.6
1884 FEB 14 71.1 1884 SEP 26 2.5
1885 JAN 20 46.0 18851 OCT 11 3.9
1886 APR 09 55.8 1886 NOV 02 3.0
1887 FEB 06 56.3 18871 SEP 17 2.8
1887 FEB 28 54.3        
1888 APR 01 39.9 1888 AUG 07 5.5
1889 FEB 22 38.3 1889 SEP 13 5.3
1890 MAR 01 56.9 18901 AUG 04 5.8
1890 MAR 25 59.2        
1891 FEB 25 57.4 18911 OCT 10 4.5
1892 APR 25 43.8 18921 NOV 05 3.5
1893 FEB 20 54.9 18931 AUG 29 32.6
1894 FEB 15 35.6 18941 SEP 14 3.1
1895 JAN 14 48.4 18951 OCT 27 2.3
1896 APR 04 47.7 1896 SEP 25 5.5
1897 FEB 26 61.2 1897 OCT 26 3.0
1898 JAN 26 52.2 1898 OCT 06 4.5
1898 MAR 29 61.4        
1899 MAR 08 57.4 1899 NOV 02 3.4
1900 DEC 01 40.0 1900 OCT 21 3.1
1901 APR 27 59.7 19011 NOV 11 4.2
1902 MAR 05 50.9 19021 SEP 24 3.9
1903 MAR 05 53.2 19031 OCT 07 4.5
1904 MAR 09 45.9 19041 OCT 06 3.3
1905 MAR 13 48.3 1905 OCT 11 6.5
1906 APR 02 50.4 1906 SEP 22 7.1
1907 JAN 21 65.2 1907 OCT 31 7.0
1907 MAR 19 62.1        
1908 MAR 11 53.4 19081 OCT 06 2.8
1908 APR 04 55.9        
1909 FEB 28 54.6 1909 OCT 15 3.6
1910 MAR 07 51.8 19101 AUG 28 4.0
1911 FEB 03 49.1 1911 JUL 25 4.6
1912 MAR 27 53.4 1912 JUL 18 6.7
1913 JAN 14 62.2 19132 JUN 27 7.5
1913 APR 01 69.9        
1914 APR 04 47.2 19141 JUN 04 8.2
1915 FEB 07 55.9 1915 DEC 12 9.0
1916 JAN 14 53.2 19162 OCT 31 7.8
1916 APR 01 53.5        
1917 MAR 17 56.1 19172 JUN 25 9.3
1918 FEB 01-02 61.2 1918 JUN 19 6.6
1918 FEB 12 61.8        
1919 JAN 06 52.0 19192 JUN 11 9.6
1920 MAR 22 54.6 19202 OCT 25 8.0
1920 APR 23 52.6        
1921 DEC 27 56.1 1921 JUN 11 6.1
1922 MAR 18 52.2 1922 AUG 31 6.5
1923 FEB 05 47.6 19232 OCT 22 6.8
1924 JAN 06 55.8 1924 JUL 22 6.0
1925 FEB 18 42.3 1925 DEC 25 8.2
1926 JAN 25 46.3 1926 MAY 28 6.4
1927 JAN 27 59.1 1927 OCT 30 5.3
1928 JUL 02 43.8 1928 MAR 09 11.0
1929 MAR 04 52.7 1929 OCT 12 10.0
1930 JAN 15 41.0 1930 MAY 09 9.5
1931 APR 08 44.1 19312 FEB 27 9.7
1932 FEB 07 50.4 19322 SEP 19 11.4
1933 MAR 21 63.6 193312 JUL 15 11.5
1933 MAY 15 54.1        
1934 MAR 09 46.6 1934 FEB 16 7.8
1935 MAR 16 52.4 19352 OCT 21 8.4
1936 MAR 28 60.6 19362 JUN 20 12.0
1936 APR 10 54.0        
1937 JAN 26 80.0 19372 JUL 24 12.1
1938 APR 13 44.2 19382 NOV 09 12.2
1939 FEB 07 58.3 1939 DEC 26 12.1
1939 APR 19 58.1        
1940 APR 25 60.0 1940 FEB 01 10.6
1941 JUN 09 35.5 19412 OCT 07 12.3
1942 DEC 31 50.4 19422 APR 27 11.0
1943 JAN 04 60.8 19432 JUN 22 11.6
1943 MAR 23 59.9        
1944 APR 16 48.6 19442 JAN 11 12.1
1945 MAR 07 69.2 19452 SEP 03 12.2
1946 JAN 12 47.3 19462 OCT 02 11.8
1947 JAN 24 41.0 19472 SEP 22 10.0
1948 FEB 18 54.0 194812 JAN 21 11.3
1948 APR 18 64.8        
1949 JAN 30 52.6 19492 OCT 28 11.1
1950 JAN 11 52.9 1950 AUG 25 11.8
1950 FEB 05 59.0        
1950 DEC 10 56.04        
1951 JAN 19 49.0 19512 AUG 28 11.2
1952 FEB 02 56.9 19522 DEC 19 10.3
1952 MAR 26 52.0        
1953 MAR 07 36.3 19532 SEP 03 11.4
1954 OCT 21 38.5 19542 FEB 04 10.0
1955 MAR 10 61.0 195512 AUG 06 11.5
1956 MAR 18 53.2 195612 JAN 28 11.8
1957 APR 11 52.3 195712 AUG 13 11.3
1958