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Hydrograph River at a Glance Download
Ohio River at Cairo Stage (ft)Highest Observation: 8.91 ft at 4:00AM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.86 ft at 5:00AM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.67 ft at 7:00AM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.57 ft at 8:00AM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.48 ft at 9:00AM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.39 ft at 10:00AM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.31 ft at 11:00AM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.24 ft at 12:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.18 ft at 1:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.13 ft at 2:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.09 ft at 3:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.05 ft at 4:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.02 ft at 5:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8 ft at 6:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8.01 ft at 7:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8 ft at 8:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 8 ft at 9:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 7.98 ft at 10:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 7.95 ft at 11:00PM Sep 16, 2023Observed: 7.88 ft at 12:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 7.8 ft at 1:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 7.69 ft at 2:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 7.57 ft at 3:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 7.43 ft at 4:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 7.3 ft at 5:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 7.16 ft at 6:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 7 ft at 7:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 6.84 ft at 8:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 6.68 ft at 9:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 6.53 ft at 10:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 6.39 ft at 11:00AM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 6.27 ft at 12:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 6.17 ft at 1:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 6.07 ft at 2:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.99 ft at 3:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.93 ft at 4:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.86 ft at 5:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.8 ft at 6:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.76 ft at 7:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.7 ft at 8:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.66 ft at 9:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.62 ft at 10:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.58 ft at 11:00PM Sep 17, 2023Observed: 5.55 ft at 12:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.53 ft at 1:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.51 ft at 2:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.53 ft at 3:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.55 ft at 4:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.59 ft at 5:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.65 ft at 6:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.73 ft at 7:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.82 ft at 8:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.9 ft at 9:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 5.98 ft at 10:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.07 ft at 11:00AM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.15 ft at 12:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.22 ft at 1:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.28 ft at 2:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.33 ft at 3:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.37 ft at 4:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.41 ft at 5:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.43 ft at 6:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.46 ft at 7:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.49 ft at 8:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.51 ft at 9:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.56 ft at 10:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.63 ft at 11:00PM Sep 18, 2023Observed: 6.71 ft at 12:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 6.79 ft at 1:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 6.87 ft at 2:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 6.96 ft at 3:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.03 ft at 4:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.13 ft at 5:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.23 ft at 6:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.32 ft at 7:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.39 ft at 8:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.46 ft at 9:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.51 ft at 10:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.58 ft at 11:00AM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.62 ft at 12:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.66 ft at 1:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.7 ft at 2:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.72 ft at 3:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.76 ft at 4:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.78 ft at 5:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.8 ft at 6:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.79 ft at 7:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.77 ft at 8:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.76 ft at 9:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.75 ft at 10:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.69 ft at 11:00PM Sep 19, 2023Observed: 7.64 ft at 12:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.57 ft at 1:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.48 ft at 2:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.3 ft at 4:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.25 ft at 5:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.19 ft at 6:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.16 ft at 7:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.2 ft at 8:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.22 ft at 9:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.25 ft at 10:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.28 ft at 11:00AM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.39 ft at 12:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.47 ft at 1:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.56 ft at 2:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.62 ft at 3:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.7 ft at 4:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.76 ft at 5:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.8 ft at 6:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.78 ft at 7:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.74 ft at 8:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.65 ft at 9:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.56 ft at 10:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.45 ft at 11:00PM Sep 20, 2023Observed: 7.35 ft at 12:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.27 ft at 1:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.19 ft at 2:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.12 ft at 3:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.06 ft at 4:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.02 ft at 5:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.01 ft at 6:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.05 ft at 8:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.08 ft at 9:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.11 ft at 10:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.14 ft at 11:00AM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.17 ft at 12:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.19 ft at 1:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.21 ft at 2:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.22 ft at 3:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.23 ft at 4:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.24 ft at 5:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.23 ft at 6:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.22 ft at 7:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.21 ft at 8:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.2 ft at 9:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.17 ft at 10:00PM Sep 21, 2023Observed: 7.09 ft at 12:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 7.04 ft at 1:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.99 ft at 2:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.92 ft at 3:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.82 ft at 4:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.64 ft at 6:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.56 ft at 7:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.47 ft at 8:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.4 ft at 9:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.33 ft at 10:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.29 ft at 11:00AM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.25 ft at 12:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.21 ft at 1:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.18 ft at 2:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.13 ft at 3:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.12 ft at 4:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.13 ft at 5:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.13 ft at 6:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.14 ft at 7:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.16 ft at 8:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.17 ft at 9:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.19 ft at 10:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.21 ft at 11:00PM Sep 22, 2023Observed: 6.23 ft at 12:00AM Sep 23, 2023Observed: 6.25 ft at 1:00AM Sep 23, 2023Observed: 6.28 ft at 2:00AM Sep 23, 2023Observed: 6.3 ft at 3:00AM Sep 23, 2023Forecast: 6.9 ft 7:00AM Sep 23, 2023Highest Forecast: 7 ft 1:00PM Sep 23, 2023Forecast: 6.8 ft 7:00PM Sep 23, 2023Forecast: 6.6 ft 1:00AM Sep 24, 2023Forecast: 6.3 ft 7:00AM Sep 24, 2023Forecast: 6 ft 1:00PM Sep 24, 2023Forecast: 5.7 ft 7:00PM Sep 24, 2023Forecast: 5.5 ft 1:00AM Sep 25, 2023Forecast: 5.2 ft 7:00AM Sep 25, 2023Forecast: 5.4 ft 1:00PM Sep 25, 2023Forecast: 5.5 ft 7:00PM Sep 25, 2023Forecast: 5.6 ft 1:00AM Sep 26, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 7:00AM Sep 26, 2023Forecast: 5.9 ft 1:00PM Sep 26, 2023Forecast: 6 ft 7:00PM Sep 26, 2023Forecast: 6.1 ft 1:00AM Sep 27, 2023Forecast: 6.2 ft 7:00AM Sep 27, 2023Forecast: 6.3 ft 1:00PM Sep 27, 2023Forecast: 6.4 ft 7:00PM Sep 27, 2023Forecast: 6.4 ft 1:00AM Sep 28, 2023Forecast: 6.4 ft 7:00AM Sep 28, 2023Forecast: 6.3 ft 1:00PM Sep 28, 2023Forecast: 6.2 ft 7:00PM Sep 28, 2023Forecast: 6.4 ft 1:00AM Sep 29, 2023Forecast: 6.3 ft 7:00AM Sep 29, 2023Forecast: 6.2 ft 1:00PM Sep 29, 2023Forecast: 6.1 ft 7:00PM Sep 29, 2023Forecast: 6.3 ft 1:00AM Sep 30, 2023Forecast: 6.2 ft 7:00AM Sep 30, 2023Forecast: 6.1 ft 1:00PM Sep 30, 2023Forecast: 6.1 ft 7:00PM Sep 30, 2023Forecast: 6.2 ft 1:00AM Oct 01, 2023Forecast: 6.2 ft 7:00AM Oct 01, 2023Forecast: 6.1 ft 1:00PM Oct 01, 2023Forecast: 6.2 ft 7:00PM Oct 01, 2023Forecast: 6.1 ft 1:00AM Oct 02, 2023Forecast: 6 ft 7:00AM Oct 02, 2023Forecast: 6.1 ft 1:00PM Oct 02, 2023Forecast: 6 ft 7:00PM Oct 02, 2023Forecast: 5.9 ft 1:00AM Oct 03, 2023Forecast: 5.9 ft 7:00AM Oct 03, 2023Forecast: 5.9 ft 1:00PM Oct 03, 2023Forecast: 5.9 ft 7:00PM Oct 03, 2023Forecast: 5.9 ft 1:00AM Oct 04, 2023Forecast: 5.9 ft 7:00AM Oct 04, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 1:00PM Oct 04, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 7:00PM Oct 04, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 1:00AM Oct 05, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 7:00AM Oct 05, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 1:00PM Oct 05, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 7:00PM Oct 05, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 1:00AM Oct 06, 2023Forecast: 5.8 ft 7:00AM Oct 06, 2023Forecast: 5.7 ft 1:00PM Oct 06, 2023Forecast: 5.7 ft 7:00PM Oct 06, 2023Forecast: 5.7 ft 1:00AM Oct 07, 2023CIRI2(plotting HGIRG) Graph Created (3:47AM Sep 23, 2023)ObservedForecast (issued 10:50AM Sep 22)Latest observed value: 6.3 ft at 3:00 AM CDT 23-Sep-2023. 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) 47.11 ft on 03/03/2022
(2) 40.58 ft on 01/12/2022
(3) 47.01 ft on 04/04/2021
(4) 52.64 ft on 03/31/2020
(5) 56.51 ft on 03/01/2019
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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