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Over 200 USGS real-time streamgages used to support NWS river forecasts and warnings are at risk of being discontinued. Click here for more information from the USGS...
Weather Forecast Office Paducah, KY Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center
Flood Warning
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Hydrograph River at a Glance Download
Ohio River at Cairo Stage (ft)Flow (kcfs)Highest Observation: 37.83 ft at 8:00AM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.76 ft at 9:00AM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.7 ft at 10:00AM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.63 ft at 11:00AM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.57 ft at 12:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.52 ft at 1:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.48 ft at 2:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.43 ft at 3:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.36 ft at 4:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.29 ft at 5:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.24 ft at 6:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.17 ft at 7:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.12 ft at 8:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.07 ft at 9:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 37.04 ft at 10:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 36.97 ft at 11:00PM May 22, 2013Observed: 36.94 ft at 12:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.89 ft at 1:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.84 ft at 2:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.78 ft at 3:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.72 ft at 4:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.68 ft at 5:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.63 ft at 6:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.58 ft at 7:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.54 ft at 8:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.49 ft at 9:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.45 ft at 10:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.41 ft at 11:00AM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.37 ft at 12:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.33 ft at 1:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.29 ft at 2:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.26 ft at 3:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.23 ft at 4:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.17 ft at 5:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.09 ft at 6:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 36.01 ft at 7:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 35.96 ft at 8:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 35.88 ft at 9:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 35.81 ft at 10:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 35.77 ft at 11:00PM May 23, 2013Observed: 35.71 ft at 12:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.66 ft at 1:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.61 ft at 2:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.54 ft at 3:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.49 ft at 4:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.42 ft at 5:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.35 ft at 6:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.28 ft at 7:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.23 ft at 8:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.18 ft at 9:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.14 ft at 10:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.09 ft at 11:00AM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.06 ft at 12:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 35.02 ft at 1:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.99 ft at 2:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.94 ft at 3:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.91 ft at 4:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.88 ft at 5:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.84 ft at 6:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.8 ft at 7:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.77 ft at 8:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.73 ft at 9:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.7 ft at 10:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.66 ft at 11:00PM May 24, 2013Observed: 34.63 ft at 12:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 34.6 ft at 1:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 34.54 ft at 2:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 34.51 ft at 3:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 34.48 ft at 4:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 34.44 ft at 5:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 34.41 ft at 6:00AM May 25, 2013Observed: 34.36 ft at 7:00AM May 25, 2013Highest Forecast: 34.5 ft 1:00PM May 25, 2013Forecast: 34.4 ft 7:00PM May 25, 2013Forecast: 34.3 ft 1:00AM May 26, 2013Forecast: 34.3 ft 7:00AM May 26, 2013Forecast: 34.1 ft 1:00PM May 26, 2013Forecast: 34 ft 7:00PM May 26, 2013Forecast: 33.9 ft 1:00AM May 27, 2013Forecast: 33.7 ft 7:00AM May 27, 2013Forecast: 33.5 ft 1:00PM May 27, 2013Forecast: 33.4 ft 7:00PM May 27, 2013Forecast: 33.2 ft 1:00AM May 28, 2013Forecast: 33 ft 7:00AM May 28, 2013Forecast: 32.7 ft 1:00PM May 28, 2013Forecast: 32.4 ft 7:00PM May 28, 2013Forecast: 32.1 ft 1:00AM May 29, 2013Forecast: 31.8 ft 7:00AM May 29, 2013CIRI2(plotting HGIRG) Graph Created (7:31AM May 25, 2013)ObservedForecast (issued 8:04PM May 24)Latest observed value: 34.36 ft at 7:00 AM CDT 25-May-2013. Flood Stage is 40 ft
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NOTE: Forecasts for the Ohio River at Cairo are issued routinely year-round.
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Upstream Gauge - at Grand Chain Lock and Dam Upstream Gauge
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage:53
Moderate Flood Stage:47
Flood Stage:40
Action Stage:32

Historical Crests
(1) 61.72 ft on 05/02/2011
(2) 59.50 ft on 02/03/1937
(3) 56.50 ft on 04/03/1975
(4) 56.40 ft on 04/20/1927
(5) 56.20 ft on 03/11/1997
Show More Historical Crests

Low Water Records
(1) -1.00 ft on 12/24/1871
(2) 0.30 ft on 12/30/1876
(3) 1.10 ft on 01/01/1877
Show More Low Water Records
Legend
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 Collapse
65 The river will reach the top of the protectio at Mounds and Mound City.
64 The river will reach the top of the protection of Cairo.
59.5 This flood will exceed the highest stage on record.
56 U.S. Highway 51 near Wickliffe is flooded.
50 The first gate is closed at Cairo.
40 Minor flooding occurs affecting mainly agricultural bottomland and low lying areas.
32 Cairo begins pumping operations.
Photos
(1) Gage House
(2) Ohio River Downstream
(3) Confluence Looking Toward Cairo
(4) Confluence at Fort Defiance
(5) Confluence Looking Up Mississippi
About This Location Collapse

Latitude: 37.000000° N, Longitude: 89.162500° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84

River Stage
Reference Frame		 Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 40 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 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other 270.47 ft 310.47 ft  
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Hydrologic Resources Additional Resources
Collaborative Agencies Collapse
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
Paducah Weather Forecast Office
8250 Highway 3520
West Paducah, KY 42086-6440
(270) 744-6440
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Page last modified: 13-Mar-2013 6:27 PM 		Disclaimer
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