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Web Portal Changes: In Spring 2024, the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) hosted at https://water.weather.gov will be replaced by the National Water Prediction Service (NWPS) at a repurposed https://water.noaa.gov. A preview of NWPS is available here, where you can see your station hydrograph by replacing SSSSS with the station 5-character id: https://preview.water.noaa.gov/gauges/SSSSS.

Flood Inundation Mapping: Experimental real-time flood Inundation mapping services for 10% of the United States are now available via the NWS Map Viewer. Additional products and geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model forecasts continue to be accessible as described in the StoryMap here.

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Hydrograph River at a Glance Download
Ohio River at Cairo Stage (ft)Observed: 27.75 ft at 6:00AM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.77 ft at 7:00AM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.79 ft at 8:00AM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.81 ft at 9:00AM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.84 ft at 10:00AM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.87 ft at 11:00AM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.9 ft at 12:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.92 ft at 1:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.94 ft at 2:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.96 ft at 3:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.98 ft at 4:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 28 ft at 5:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 28.01 ft at 6:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.99 ft at 7:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.98 ft at 8:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.97 ft at 9:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.95 ft at 10:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.92 ft at 11:00PM Mar 12, 2024Observed: 27.91 ft at 12:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.89 ft at 1:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.86 ft at 2:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.84 ft at 3:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.82 ft at 4:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.79 ft at 5:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.77 ft at 6:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.75 ft at 7:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.74 ft at 8:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.72 ft at 9:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.7 ft at 10:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.68 ft at 11:00AM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.66 ft at 12:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.64 ft at 1:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.65 ft at 2:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.64 ft at 3:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.64 ft at 4:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.64 ft at 5:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.64 ft at 6:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.64 ft at 7:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.64 ft at 8:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.64 ft at 9:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.65 ft at 10:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.65 ft at 11:00PM Mar 13, 2024Observed: 27.67 ft at 12:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.67 ft at 1:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.68 ft at 2:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.68 ft at 3:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.7 ft at 4:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.72 ft at 5:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.73 ft at 6:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.75 ft at 7:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.76 ft at 8:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.78 ft at 9:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.79 ft at 10:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.81 ft at 11:00AM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.83 ft at 12:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.85 ft at 1:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.87 ft at 2:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.89 ft at 3:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.91 ft at 4:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.95 ft at 5:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 27.97 ft at 6:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 28.01 ft at 7:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 28.02 ft at 8:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 28.06 ft at 9:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 28.07 ft at 10:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 28.1 ft at 11:00PM Mar 14, 2024Observed: 28.14 ft at 12:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.17 ft at 1:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.18 ft at 2:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.22 ft at 3:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.25 ft at 4:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.28 ft at 5:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.31 ft at 6:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.34 ft at 7:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.38 ft at 8:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.38 ft at 9:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.4 ft at 10:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.41 ft at 11:00AM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.43 ft at 12:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.45 ft at 1:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.48 ft at 2:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.5 ft at 3:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.51 ft at 4:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.53 ft at 5:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.56 ft at 6:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.58 ft at 7:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.6 ft at 8:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.63 ft at 9:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.65 ft at 10:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.68 ft at 11:00PM Mar 15, 2024Observed: 28.7 ft at 12:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.73 ft at 1:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.74 ft at 2:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.77 ft at 3:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.79 ft at 4:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.81 ft at 5:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.83 ft at 6:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.86 ft at 7:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.89 ft at 8:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.91 ft at 9:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.93 ft at 10:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.96 ft at 11:00AM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 28.98 ft at 12:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29 ft at 1:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.04 ft at 2:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.06 ft at 3:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.09 ft at 4:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.13 ft at 5:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.16 ft at 6:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.18 ft at 7:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.21 ft at 8:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.24 ft at 9:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.27 ft at 10:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.3 ft at 11:00PM Mar 16, 2024Observed: 29.34 ft at 12:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.37 ft at 1:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.41 ft at 2:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.45 ft at 3:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.46 ft at 4:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.5 ft at 5:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.54 ft at 6:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.58 ft at 7:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.62 ft at 8:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.66 ft at 9:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.69 ft at 10:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.72 ft at 11:00AM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.76 ft at 12:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.8 ft at 1:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.83 ft at 2:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.88 ft at 3:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.91 ft at 4:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.94 ft at 5:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 29.97 ft at 6:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 30 ft at 7:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 30.03 ft at 8:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 30.07 ft at 9:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 30.08 ft at 10:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 30.1 ft at 11:00PM Mar 17, 2024Observed: 30.12 ft at 12:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.15 ft at 1:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.16 ft at 2:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.18 ft at 3:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.2 ft at 4:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.22 ft at 5:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.24 ft at 6:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.25 ft at 7:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.26 ft at 8:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.26 ft at 9:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.26 ft at 10:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.26 ft at 11:00AM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.24 ft at 12:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.24 ft at 1:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.23 ft at 2:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.22 ft at 3:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.21 ft at 4:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.21 ft at 5:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.22 ft at 6:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.24 ft at 7:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.25 ft at 8:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.26 ft at 9:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.27 ft at 10:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.28 ft at 11:00PM Mar 18, 2024Observed: 30.29 ft at 12:00AM Mar 19, 2024Observed: 30.31 ft at 1:00AM Mar 19, 2024Observed: 30.31 ft at 2:00AM Mar 19, 2024Observed: 30.32 ft at 3:00AM Mar 19, 2024Observed: 30.33 ft at 4:00AM Mar 19, 2024Highest Observation: 30.34 ft at 5:00AM Mar 19, 2024Forecast: 30.5 ft 7:00AM Mar 19, 2024Highest Forecast: 30.7 ft 1:00PM Mar 19, 2024Highest Forecast: 30.7 ft 7:00PM Mar 19, 2024Forecast: 30.5 ft 1:00AM Mar 20, 2024Forecast: 30.4 ft 7:00AM Mar 20, 2024Forecast: 30.3 ft 1:00PM Mar 20, 2024Forecast: 30.2 ft 7:00PM Mar 20, 2024Forecast: 30.2 ft 1:00AM Mar 21, 2024Forecast: 30.1 ft 7:00AM Mar 21, 2024Forecast: 30 ft 1:00PM Mar 21, 2024Forecast: 29.8 ft 7:00PM Mar 21, 2024Forecast: 29.5 ft 1:00AM Mar 22, 2024Forecast: 29.2 ft 7:00AM Mar 22, 2024Forecast: 28.8 ft 1:00PM Mar 22, 2024Forecast: 28.4 ft 7:00PM Mar 22, 2024Forecast: 28 ft 1:00AM Mar 23, 2024Forecast: 27.5 ft 7:00AM Mar 23, 2024Forecast: 26.9 ft 1:00PM Mar 23, 2024Forecast: 26.3 ft 7:00PM Mar 23, 2024Forecast: 25.7 ft 1:00AM Mar 24, 2024Forecast: 25.3 ft 7:00AM Mar 24, 2024Forecast: 24.9 ft 1:00PM Mar 24, 2024Forecast: 24.6 ft 7:00PM Mar 24, 2024Forecast: 24.3 ft 1:00AM Mar 25, 2024Forecast: 24 ft 7:00AM Mar 25, 2024Forecast: 23.8 ft 1:00PM Mar 25, 2024Forecast: 23.4 ft 7:00PM Mar 25, 2024Forecast: 23 ft 1:00AM Mar 26, 2024Forecast: 22.7 ft 7:00AM Mar 26, 2024Forecast: 22.5 ft 1:00PM Mar 26, 2024Forecast: 22.2 ft 7:00PM Mar 26, 2024Forecast: 22 ft 1:00AM Mar 27, 2024Forecast: 21.7 ft 7:00AM Mar 27, 2024Forecast: 21.5 ft 1:00PM Mar 27, 2024Forecast: 21.4 ft 7:00PM Mar 27, 2024Forecast: 21.3 ft 1:00AM Mar 28, 2024Forecast: 21.2 ft 7:00AM Mar 28, 2024Forecast: 21.1 ft 1:00PM Mar 28, 2024Forecast: 21 ft 7:00PM Mar 28, 2024Forecast: 20.9 ft 1:00AM Mar 29, 2024Forecast: 20.8 ft 7:00AM Mar 29, 2024Forecast: 20.7 ft 1:00PM Mar 29, 2024Forecast: 20.6 ft 7:00PM Mar 29, 2024Forecast: 20.5 ft 1:00AM Mar 30, 2024Forecast: 20.4 ft 7:00AM Mar 30, 2024Forecast: 20.3 ft 1:00PM Mar 30, 2024Forecast: 20.2 ft 7:00PM Mar 30, 2024Forecast: 20.1 ft 1:00AM Mar 31, 2024Forecast: 19.9 ft 7:00AM Mar 31, 2024Forecast: 19.8 ft 1:00PM Mar 31, 2024Forecast: 19.8 ft 7:00PM Mar 31, 2024Forecast: 19.7 ft 1:00AM Apr 01, 2024Forecast: 19.6 ft 7:00AM Apr 01, 2024Forecast: 19.6 ft 1:00PM Apr 01, 2024Forecast: 19.5 ft 7:00PM Apr 01, 2024Forecast: 19.4 ft 1:00AM Apr 02, 2024CIRI2(plotting HGIRG) Graph Created (5:47AM Mar 19, 2024)ObservedForecast (issued 9:53AM Mar 18)Latest observed value: 30.34 ft at 5:00 AM CDT 19-Mar-2024. Flood Stage is 40 ft
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About this graph
Tabular Data (UTC)
Tabular Data (CDT)
XML Data
RSS Files
Datum: Not Available
Metadata
NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.

NOTE: When the Ohio River at Olmsted Upper stage is greater than 22 ft, the USACE project has limited capacity to regulate changes in flow which may result in stage fluctuations greater than 2 feet downstream of the Olmsted gage.

NOTE: Forecasts for the Ohio River at Cairo are issued routinely year-round.

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Upstream Gauge - at Olmsted Lock and Dam Tailwater Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - above Wickliffe
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 53
Moderate Flood Stage: 47
Flood Stage: 40
Action Stage: 32
Low Stage (in feet): 9.2

Historic Crests
(1) 61.72 ft on 05/02/2011
(2) 59.50 ft on 02/03/1937
(3) 56.51 ft on 03/01/2019
(4) 56.50 ft on 04/03/1975
(5) 56.40 ft on 04/20/1927
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 43.76 ft on 03/10/2023
(2) 47.11 ft on 03/03/2022
(3) 40.58 ft on 01/12/2022
(4) 47.01 ft on 04/04/2021
(5) 52.64 ft on 03/31/2020
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

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

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

Zoom Level:16
KML Image
Gauge LocationGauge Map Marker
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
If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
65 The river will reach the top of the protection at Mounds and Mound City.
64 The river will reach the top of the protection of Cairo.
61.72 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: NAD27

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 270.87 310.87 Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps
NGVD 29 270.47 310.47 Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other 270.9 ft 310.9 ft Ohio River Datum
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Hydrologic Resources Additional Resources
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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: 2-Nov-2020 7:29 PM
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