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Weather Forecast Office Indianapolis, IN

Ohio River Forecast Center

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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About this graph

Tabular Data (UTC)

Tabular Data (EDT)

Datum: NAVD88

Metadata

Reliability of the Forecast: Based on current and forecast river, weather and reservoir conditions

NOTE: Forecasts for the East Fork White River at Columbus are issued routinely year-round.

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Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet)

Major Flood Stage:	16
Moderate Flood Stage:	14
Flood Stage:	9
Action Stage:	4.5
Low Flow (in KCFS):	0.133

Historic Crests
(1) 18.61 ft on 06/08/2008
(2) 17.90 ft on 03/27/1913
(3) 17.05 ft on 01/07/2005
(4) 16.23 ft on 03/06/1963
(5) 16.13 ft on 12/23/2013
(6) 16.00 ft on 01/28/1952
(7) 15.67 ft on 01/01/1991
(8) 15.35 ft on 11/16/1993
(9) 15.12 ft on 05/09/1961
(10) 15.10 ft on 01/12/1937
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 9.19 ft on 04/13/2024 (P)
(2) 10.81 ft on 03/26/2023 (P)
(3) 9.93 ft on 03/08/2022 (P)
(4) 10.78 ft on 07/18/2021 (P)
(5) 10.78 ft on 07/18/2021 (P)
(6) 10.75 ft on 06/20/2021 (P)
(7) 12.91 ft on 03/21/2020 (P)
(8) 11.71 ft on 01/13/2020 (P)
(9) 14.78 ft on 02/09/2019
(10) 9.20 ft on 11/04/2018
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
(1) -0.38 ft on 09/19/2013
(2) -0.32 ft on 08/26/2012
(3) 0.78 ft on 10/07/1954

For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov.

Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers

Zoom Level:16

	Gauge Location	Disclaimer
Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
22	River levels approaching the 500 year flood. This level is more than 3 feet above June 2008. There is great destruction along SR 46 between I-65 and Columbus and along the SR 11 corridor south of Columbus to Seymour. Flood waters threaten old wellhouse. Columbus is cut off from the outside world via land transportation.
19.5	Record flooding is in progress. Flood flow may approximate that of the March 1913 estimated flow. Although 2nd Street and 3rd Street in Columbus are dry, one cannot enter Columbus via 2nd Street because the river bridge is flooded and one cannot leave Columbus via 3rd Street because SR 46 is extremely flooded west of the river. Thus Columbus is very likely isolated via land transportation.
18.61	Record flooding developed rapidly in June 2008 following rains of up to 11 inches in the Edinburgh area on very wet ground with the river already in flood at 10 ft when the rain began. Communications with the Columbus area were lost early during this flood and isolated the city. The severe river flooding occurred during darkness. While majority of flood damage to the city was caused by Haw Creek, this flood surpassed the March 1913 flood to be the greatest flood to strike this area of the East Fork White.
18.6	During June 2008, Haw Creek flooded the first floor of the Columbus Hospital as well as numerous homes and businesses in the City of Columbus. Along SR 46 west of Columbus all businesses that were not raised above the 100 year flood elevations were heavily flooded (many have since been raised). SR 46 interchange with I-65 was flooded by 4 to 5 ft of water from a combination of river and storm drain backup. Flood waters extended 2 blocks west of the exit. The first floor of Holiday Inn Express flooded.
18	State Road 46 flooded on both sides of I-65 at exit 68. Entrances to local businesses blocked by flood waters. A farm homestead located about 2/3 of a mile north of SR 46 just west of CR 325 W is an island. CR 325 W, CR 200 N, Georgetown and Tellman Roads submerged by several feet of water. Flood waters over east bound SR 46 bridge and SR 11 north and south of Columbus submerged by several feet of water. Serious flooding continues in Columbus and Garden City areas.
17	Approaching a record flood. State Road 46 closed. Evacuations are likely on homes north of SR 46. Flood waters affect businesses along SR 46. This is the approximate height of the 100 year flood.
16	Water flows over SR 46 west of Columbus. Water surrounds houses north of SR 46. Some evacuations are necessary. Businesses and houses beginning to flood along SR 46.
15.9	SR 46 at Columbus completely closed from I-65 to Columbus during the December 2013 flood. Also SR 11 south of Columbus was closed. In the Walesboro area at least 10 homes experienced flooding in December 2013 and Southern Crossing was closed. Seymour rose as this crest moved downstream and reached 19.1 feet.
15	The river floods two of SR 46's 4 lanes just west of Columbus. Southern Crossing flooded at this level in June 2008. At least 10 homes in the Walesboro area began to flood or had water near their homes in December 2013. The river reading at Seymour was around 18.8 feet. Southern Crossing was closed by high water.
14.6	Water began to edge on to SR 46 east of Columbus at this level in December 2013. Local residents concerned along the Flatrock River at Columbus. Level of Flatrock River was 15.3 feet at US Highway 31.
14.1	Residential areas in the Walesboro area near Southern Crossing begin to flood especially if the reading at Seymour is slightly over 18 feet.
14	Extensive agricultural flooding from Columbus area downstream to Walesboro. Flooding of SR 11 from Columbus to Walesboro is in progress. Businesses and residences flood along SR 11. Mill Race Park and Tellman Road extensively flooded. CR 325 W south of Lowell Rd and local roads just north of West Hill Shopping Center flooded. According to Columbus Response Plan, Southern Gladstone Avenue is flooded. This is likely because of backwater from the East Fork White.
13.5	Extensive lowland flooding in progress along the East Fork White River. CR 800 S is flooded.
12.5	SR 11 north of CR 200 S flooded. This occurs about once every 1 to 2 years.
12	Extensive agricultural flooding is in progress north of SR 46 and along right bank downstream of gage. Flood begins to go over CR 325 W south of Lowell Rd.
11.6	Water is very close to CR 325 W just south of Lowell Rd. Mill Race Park flooded as is the area behind West Hill Shopping Center and portions of the Holiday Inn Express parking lot. Tellman Road is flooded.
11.2	State Road 11 in the Garden City area closed at this level during March 2008 flood. Every road leading to or crossing the East Fork White River in Bartholomew County except for State Road 46 was flooded during the bigger March 2008 flood.
10.1	The lowest portions of the parking lot for the Holiday Inn Express near I-65 was extensively flooded in March 2008. Also flooded were the nearby walking trails and the basketball goal.
10	Every Bartholomew county road that approaches or crosses the East Fork White River including Southern Crossing is affected by flood waters. County Road 800 S is extensively flooded in southern Bartholomew County. Mill Race Park in Columbus is extensively flooded. Flood waters on SR 11 in the southbound lane about 1 mile north of CR 800 S.
9	Cabins begin to flood south of Tellman Road. Mill Race Park floods. Lowland flooding begins. State Road 11 between Southern Crossing and CR 550 S is closed.
8.8	Flooding occurs along portions of the East Fork White River in the Columbus area including Mill Race Park.
8	The river is at an unusually high level. Tellman Road begins to flood just southwest of Indianapolis Road. High water begins to affect Mill Race Park.
6	Backwater from the East Fork White River begins to affect (slow) the water flow of Haw and Clifty Creeks in the city of Columbus around this level.
Photos (1) Upstream view from SR 46 West Br. on Mar 6, 2008. Level 10.3 ft. (2) Downstream view from SR 46 West Br. on Mar 6, 2008. Level 10.3 ft. (3) View from downstream right bank of SR 46 West Br. on Mar 6, 2008. Level 10.3 ft. (4) Upstream view from SR 46 East Br. on Mar 6, 2008 of SR 46 West Br.. Level 10.3 ft. (5) Upstream view of left bank from SR 46 East Br. on Mar 6, 2008. Level 10.3 ft. (6) Upstream view of right bank from SR 46 East Br. on Mar 6, 2008. Level 10.3 ft. (7) June 8, 2008. SR 46 looking east. Courtesy of INDOT. (8) East Fork of the White River at Columbus

About This Location

Latitude: 39.200000° N, Longitude: 85.925600° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD27

River Stage Reference Frame	Gauge Height	Flood Stage	Uses
NWS stage	0 ft	9 ft	Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps
Vertical Datum	Elevation (gauge height = 0)	Elevation (gauge height = flood stage)	Elevation information source
NAVD88	602.61 ft	611.61 ft	Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29	603.12 ft	612.12 ft	Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL	Not Available	Not Available	Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other	Not Available	Not Available

Current/Historical Observations:

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Columbus

Additional Information

Potential River Levels - Used to

Potential River Levels Used to Estimate the Chance of Flooding and the Range of Possible River Levels
10 Day (HEFS)	10 Day (NAEFS)	10 Day (GEFS)

Note: Use the official hydrograph at the top of this web page for river levels within the next 72 hours.

Click individual graphics to enlarge.

USGS Streamflow Duration Hydrographs

Resources

Hydrologic Resources

Additional Resources

Collaborative Agencies

The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.

NWS Information

National Weather Service
Indianapolis Weather Forecast Office
6900 West Hanna Ave.
Indianapolis, IN 46241
(317) 856-0360
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Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:30 PM

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