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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.

Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information.



Hydrograph River at a Glance Download
Ohio River at Tell City Stage (ft)Tell City Water PlantTELI3(plotting HGIRZ) Graph Created (2:40AM Mar 19, 2024)Flood Stage is 38 ft
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About this graph
Tabular Data (UTC)
Tabular Data (EDT)
XML Data
RSS Files
Datum: NGVD29
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: Gauge readings may not be available when the Ohio River is below 29 feet at this location.

NOTE: Forecasts for the Ohio River at Tell City are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.

Return to Area Map
Upstream Gauge - at Cannelton Lock and Dam Upstream Gauge Downstream Gauge Downstream Gauge - at Owensboro
Flood Categories (in feet)
Major Flood Stage: 50
Moderate Flood Stage: 44
Flood Stage: 38
Action Stage: 36
Low Stage (in feet): 9.7

Historic Crests
(1) 56.95 ft on 01/29/1937
(2) 53.00 ft on 03/08/1964
(3) 52.00 ft on 03/10/1945
(4) 50.80 ft on 02/15/1884
(5) 50.70 ft on 04/01/1913
(6) 50.40 ft on 03/08/1997
(7) 49.30 ft on 02/27/2018
(8) 49.00 ft on 04/20/1948
(9) 48.00 ft on 04/28/2011
(10) 47.80 ft on 03/06/1962
Show More Historic Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Recent Crests
(1) 45.00 ft on 03/07/2021 (P)
(2) 43.70 ft on 02/28/2019
(3) 45.00 ft on 02/14/2019
(4) 38.30 ft on 01/29/2019
(5) 38.10 ft on 12/28/2018
(6) 49.30 ft on 02/27/2018
(7) 42.00 ft on 12/30/2015
(8) 41.60 ft on 04/19/2015
(9) 46.10 ft on 03/17/2015
(10) 38.60 ft on 04/06/2014
Show More Recent Crests

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.

Low Water Records
Currently none available.

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

Zoom Level:12
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
60.5 Water reaches top of floodwall in Tell City Indiana and Hawesville Kentucky.
60 Water reaches top of floodwall in Cannelton Indiana.
57 Almost all businesses and one quarter of homes in Tell City flood.
48 Water reaches railroad tracks and starts up Main St. in Tell City.
46.5 Flood gates in Hawesville KY close.
44 Bottomland on both sides floods. Water reaches base of floodwall.
40 Indiana highway 66 closes above Cannelton.
38 Indiana highway 66 floods between Derby and Magnet...Rome and Derby...and at Rocky Point.
35.5 Floodgates begin closing.
Photos
(1) Looking downstream
(2) Looking upstream
(3) Sunset Park in front of floodwall
(4) Staff gauge on the floodwall
(5) Upper staff gauge
(6) Middle staff gauge
(7) Lowest staff gauge
(8) Lowest three staff gauges
(9) Kentucky bank looking upstream
(10) Road along the floodwall
(11) Floodwall
(12) Flood gate
(13) Walking path along the river
(14) 1997 Flood crest marker
(15) Past Flood Crests on floodwall
About This Location Collapse

Latitude: 37.953611° N, Longitude: 86.775278° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84

River Stage
Reference Frame
Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses
NWS stage 0 ft 38 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 29 347.62 385.62 Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks
MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks
Other Not Available Not Available  
Additional Information Collapse
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) River Forecast VS. River Potential
HEFS Ensemble NAEFS Ensemble River Forecast vs Potential

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.

How low could the river get?
Resources Collapse
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
Louisville Weather Forecast Office
6201 Theiler Lane
Louisville, KY 40229
(502) 969-8842
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Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:30 PM
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