Arkansas River at Van Buren

Last updated: Aug 7, 2025, 2:35 PM UTC

Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Scale to Flood Categories

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Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display

CATEGORY STAGE

Major Flooding 31 ft

Moderate Flooding 26 ft

Minor Flooding 22 ft

Action 22 ft

Reliability of the Forecast:

NOTE: Forecasts are issued routinely year-round.

River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
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	CATEGORY	STAGE
	Major Flooding	31 ft
	Moderate Flooding	26 ft
	Minor Flooding	22 ft
	Action	22 ft

Flood Impacts 🅘

40 - near catastrophic flooding occurs along the Arkansas River. Approaches to the Highway 71B Midland bridge and I-540 bridge may be covered by high water. The Highway 64 bridge approach in Oklahoma is flooded. The port of Fort Smith and nearby businesses are severely flooded. Several residential subdivisions around Fort Smith are flooded. This approaches the flood of record from June 1, 2019 when the river crested at 40.79 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
38 - near catastrophic flooding occurs along the Arkansas River. The port of Fort Smith and nearby businesses are severely flooded. Several residential subdivisions around Fort Smith are flooded. The Highway 64 bridge approach in Oklahoma is flooded. Backwater flooding occurs in the trailer parks next to Lee Creek. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
37 - near catastrophic flooding occurs along the Arkansas River. The port of Fort Smith and nearby businesses are severely flooded. Several residential subdivisions around Fort Smith are flooded. Backwater flooding occurs in the trailer parks next to Lee Creek. Moffett is cut off from access. This exceeds conditions which occurred on May 5, 1990 when the river crested at 36.1 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.

Gauge Info

Coordinates	35.4314, -94.3561
RFC	ABRFC
State	AR
WFO	TSA
County	Crawford
Data Provider(s)
USGS	07250500
COE	Website

Gauge Location

Recent Crests

1.	22.14 ft	on 06-19-2025
2.	24.99 ft	on 06-16-2025
3.	24.19 ft	on 06-08-2025
4.	23.92 ft	on 05-27-2025
5.	22.89 ft	on 05-01-2025

Historic Crests

1.	40.79 ft	on 06-01-2019
2.	40.26 ft	on 05-28-2019	(P)
3.	38.10 ft	on 04-16-1945
4.	38.00 ft	on 05-12-1943
5.	37.30 ft	on 11-03-1941

Vertical Datum Table

type	NAVD88
major Flooding	403.57 ft
moderate Flooding	398.57 ft
minor Flooding	394.57 ft
action	394.57 ft
Latest Value	391.99 ft
Gauge Zero	372.57 ft

Gauge Photos

Photo 1 of 1

downstream

Probability Information

Photo 1 of 3

Short Range Forecast Uncertainty
About this graph | Product Description Document
Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels
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Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period
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Unique Local Info

River flow forecast can be found at the following link: http://www.weather.gov/images/abrfc/lwr_ark/VAN_BUREN_QT.gif

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.

Resources

Hydrologic Resource Links

Additional Resource Links

WFO Information

Weather Forecast Office

Tulsa

10159 E. 11th St. Suite 300

Tulsa, OK 74128

(918) 838-7838

Ask Questions/Webmaster

Official Homepage

1.	22.14 ft	on 06-19-2025
2.	24.99 ft	on 06-16-2025
3.	24.19 ft	on 06-08-2025
4.	23.92 ft	on 05-27-2025
5.	22.89 ft	on 05-01-2025
6.	21.09 ft	on 04-05-2025
7.	21.99 ft	on 05-08-2024
8.	21.55 ft	on 05-04-2024
9.	24.98 ft	on 06-11-2022
10.	23.63 ft	on 06-09-2022
11.	27.33 ft	on 05-06-2022
12.	26.88 ft	on 04-29-2021	(P)
13.	24.09 ft	on 05-26-2020
14.	22.99 ft	on 05-16-2020	(P)
15.	22.44 ft	on 04-04-2020	(P)
16.	24.06 ft	on 03-21-2020	(P)
17.	22.72 ft	on 01-11-2020	(P)
18.	22.51 ft	on 07-03-2019
19.	27.06 ft	on 06-24-2019
20.	26.39 ft	on 06-08-2019
21.	40.79 ft	on 06-01-2019
22.	40.26 ft	on 05-28-2019	(P)
23.	22.12 ft	on 05-12-2019
24.	21.75 ft	on 05-09-2019
25.	21.28 ft	on 05-02-2019
26.	23.55 ft	on 02-25-2018
27.	26.32 ft	on 05-21-2017	(P)
28.	24.31 ft	on 04-30-2017
29.	22.58 ft	on 04-26-2017
30.	21.68 ft	on 04-30-2016
31.	34.63 ft	on 12-30-2015	(P)
32.	24.00 ft	on 12-14-2015	(P)
33.	22.38 ft	on 07-09-2015
34.	22.47 ft	on 07-08-2015
35.	24.06 ft	on 06-20-2015
36.	23.13 ft	on 06-17-2015
37.	33.53 ft	on 05-31-2015
38.	33.39 ft	on 05-26-2015
39.	24.02 ft	on 05-20-2015
40.	22.10 ft	on 05-17-2015
41.	27.41 ft	on 05-11-2015
42.	24.48 ft	on 03-21-2012
43.	22.16 ft	on 05-24-2011
44.	28.72 ft	on 04-26-2011
45.	23.04 ft	on 09-09-2010
46.	22.85 ft	on 10-10-2009
47.	22.17 ft	on 05-14-2009
48.	23.78 ft	on 05-06-2009
49.	22.75 ft	on 05-03-2009
50.	22.17 ft	on 05-15-2008
51.	27.97 ft	on 03-20-2008
52.	22.92 ft	on 03-03-2008
53.	22.25 ft	on 07-28-2007
54.	27.90 ft	on 07-14-2007
55.	22.76 ft	on 06-28-2007
56.	23.06 ft	on 06-24-2007
57.	22.21 ft	on 05-12-2007
58.	22.60 ft	on 01-13-2005
59.	22.22 ft	on 01-06-2005
60.	26.16 ft	on 07-03-2004
61.	22.76 ft	on 04-24-2004
62.	24.78 ft	on 04-08-2002
63.	22.98 ft	on 03-20-2002
64.	23.10 ft	on 05-31-2001
65.	23.60 ft	on 02-25-2001
66.	26.00 ft	on 06-21-2000
67.	24.60 ft	on 07-01-1999
68.	22.50 ft	on 06-26-1999
69.	23.20 ft	on 06-03-1999
70.	23.80 ft	on 05-24-1999
71.	24.00 ft	on 05-18-1999
72.	24.00 ft	on 04-28-1999
73.	22.59 ft	on 03-19-1999
74.	23.27 ft	on 03-14-1999
75.	22.30 ft	on 11-15-1998
76.	22.10 ft	on 11-12-1998
77.	24.10 ft	on 10-07-1998
78.	22.00 ft	on 04-03-1998
79.	22.40 ft	on 03-31-1998
80.	24.80 ft	on 03-21-1998
81.	23.30 ft	on 03-18-1998
82.	23.80 ft	on 01-16-1998
83.	27.90 ft	on 01-05-1998
84.	23.80 ft	on 02-28-1997
85.	22.50 ft	on 02-24-1997
86.	24.60 ft	on 02-21-1997
87.	22.80 ft	on 11-30-1996
88.	26.10 ft	on 11-25-1996
89.	25.00 ft	on 11-07-1996
90.	31.38 ft	on 06-14-1995
91.	25.92 ft	on 06-06-1995
92.	26.64 ft	on 05-09-1995
93.	22.15 ft	on 04-17-1994
94.	23.87 ft	on 06-10-1993
95.	31.12 ft	on 05-11-1993
96.	22.00 ft	on 05-08-1993
97.	22.00 ft	on 05-07-1993
98.	22.49 ft	on 04-19-1993
99.	24.37 ft	on 04-15-1993
100.	22.29 ft	on 04-05-1993
101.	22.75 ft	on 02-26-1993
102.	22.15 ft	on 01-21-1993
103.	24.56 ft	on 01-05-1993
104.	28.39 ft	on 12-16-1992
105.	22.32 ft	on 12-10-1992
106.	22.08 ft	on 12-04-1992
107.	22.01 ft	on 11-27-1992
108.	22.50 ft	on 11-22-1992
109.	22.90 ft	on 12-21-1991
110.	36.10 ft	on 05-05-1990	(P)
111.	34.75 ft	on 10-09-1986	(P)
112.	29.00 ft	on 11-19-1985	(P)
113.	28.24 ft	on 03-31-1985	(P)
114.	24.60 ft	on 01-02-1985	(P)
115.	25.50 ft	on 06-05-1982	(P)
116.	22.77 ft	on 01-31-1982
117.	26.55 ft	on 04-21-1976
118.	25.25 ft	on 03-29-1975
119.	27.85 ft	on 03-25-1973
120.	26.22 ft	on 12-10-1971
121.	23.13 ft	on 03-21-1968
122.	21.57 ft	on 04-09-1965
123.	28.17 ft	on 05-11-1961
124.	26.70 ft	on 05-21-1960
125.	32.55 ft	on 10-07-1959
126.	35.97 ft	on 05-28-1957
127.	26.94 ft	on 07-19-1951
128.	24.50 ft	on 08-04-1950
129.	30.90 ft	on 05-13-1950
130.	29.03 ft	on 05-22-1949
131.	30.60 ft	on 06-26-1948
132.	29.42 ft	on 10-02-1945
133.	38.10 ft	on 04-16-1945
134.	38.00 ft	on 05-12-1943
135.	31.00 ft	on 04-30-1942
136.	37.30 ft	on 11-03-1941
137.	35.70 ft	on 11-02-1941
138.	32.71 ft	on 02-19-1938
139.	34.30 ft	on 06-19-1935
140.	29.00 ft	on 05-16-1929
141.	36.70 ft	on 04-16-1927

1.	40.79 ft	on 06-01-2019
2.	40.26 ft	on 05-28-2019	(P)
3.	38.10 ft	on 04-16-1945
4.	38.00 ft	on 05-12-1943
5.	37.30 ft	on 11-03-1941
6.	36.70 ft	on 04-16-1927
7.	36.10 ft	on 05-05-1990	(P)
8.	35.97 ft	on 05-28-1957
9.	35.70 ft	on 11-02-1941
10.	34.75 ft	on 10-09-1986	(P)
11.	34.63 ft	on 12-30-2015	(P)
12.	34.30 ft	on 06-19-1935
13.	33.53 ft	on 05-31-2015
14.	33.39 ft	on 05-26-2015
15.	32.71 ft	on 02-19-1938
16.	32.55 ft	on 10-07-1959
17.	31.38 ft	on 06-14-1995
18.	31.12 ft	on 05-11-1993
19.	31.00 ft	on 04-30-1942
20.	30.90 ft	on 05-13-1950
21.	30.60 ft	on 06-26-1948
22.	29.42 ft	on 10-02-1945
23.	29.03 ft	on 05-22-1949
24.	29.00 ft	on 05-16-1929
25.	29.00 ft	on 11-19-1985	(P)
26.	28.72 ft	on 04-26-2011
27.	28.39 ft	on 12-16-1992
28.	28.24 ft	on 03-31-1985	(P)
29.	28.17 ft	on 05-11-1961
30.	27.97 ft	on 03-20-2008
31.	27.90 ft	on 01-05-1998
32.	27.90 ft	on 07-14-2007
33.	27.85 ft	on 03-25-1973
34.	27.41 ft	on 05-11-2015
35.	27.33 ft	on 05-06-2022
36.	27.06 ft	on 06-24-2019
37.	26.94 ft	on 07-19-1951
38.	26.88 ft	on 04-29-2021	(P)
39.	26.70 ft	on 05-21-1960
40.	26.64 ft	on 05-09-1995
41.	26.55 ft	on 04-21-1976
42.	26.39 ft	on 06-08-2019
43.	26.32 ft	on 05-21-2017	(P)
44.	26.22 ft	on 12-10-1971
45.	26.16 ft	on 07-03-2004
46.	26.10 ft	on 11-25-1996
47.	26.00 ft	on 06-21-2000
48.	25.92 ft	on 06-06-1995
49.	25.50 ft	on 06-05-1982	(P)
50.	25.25 ft	on 03-29-1975
51.	25.00 ft	on 11-07-1996
52.	24.99 ft	on 06-16-2025
53.	24.98 ft	on 06-11-2022
54.	24.80 ft	on 03-21-1998
55.	24.78 ft	on 04-08-2002
56.	24.60 ft	on 07-01-1999
57.	24.60 ft	on 02-21-1997
58.	24.60 ft	on 01-02-1985	(P)
59.	24.56 ft	on 01-05-1993
60.	24.50 ft	on 08-04-1950
61.	24.48 ft	on 03-21-2012
62.	24.37 ft	on 04-15-1993
63.	24.31 ft	on 04-30-2017
64.	24.19 ft	on 06-08-2025
65.	24.10 ft	on 10-07-1998
66.	24.09 ft	on 05-26-2020
67.	24.06 ft	on 06-20-2015
68.	24.06 ft	on 03-21-2020	(P)
69.	24.02 ft	on 05-20-2015
70.	24.00 ft	on 04-28-1999
71.	24.00 ft	on 05-18-1999
72.	24.00 ft	on 12-14-2015	(P)
73.	23.92 ft	on 05-27-2025
74.	23.87 ft	on 06-10-1993
75.	23.80 ft	on 01-16-1998
76.	23.80 ft	on 05-24-1999
77.	23.80 ft	on 02-28-1997
78.	23.78 ft	on 05-06-2009
79.	23.63 ft	on 06-09-2022
80.	23.60 ft	on 02-25-2001
81.	23.55 ft	on 02-25-2018
82.	23.30 ft	on 03-18-1998
83.	23.27 ft	on 03-14-1999
84.	23.20 ft	on 06-03-1999
85.	23.13 ft	on 06-17-2015
86.	23.13 ft	on 03-21-1968
87.	23.10 ft	on 05-31-2001
88.	23.06 ft	on 06-24-2007
89.	23.04 ft	on 09-09-2010
90.	22.99 ft	on 05-16-2020	(P)
91.	22.98 ft	on 03-20-2002
92.	22.92 ft	on 03-03-2008
93.	22.90 ft	on 12-21-1991
94.	22.89 ft	on 05-01-2025
95.	22.85 ft	on 10-10-2009
96.	22.80 ft	on 11-30-1996
97.	22.77 ft	on 01-31-1982
98.	22.76 ft	on 06-28-2007
99.	22.76 ft	on 04-24-2004
100.	22.75 ft	on 02-26-1993
101.	22.75 ft	on 05-03-2009
102.	22.72 ft	on 01-11-2020	(P)
103.	22.60 ft	on 01-13-2005
104.	22.59 ft	on 03-19-1999
105.	22.58 ft	on 04-26-2017
106.	22.51 ft	on 07-03-2019
107.	22.50 ft	on 11-22-1992
108.	22.50 ft	on 02-24-1997
109.	22.50 ft	on 06-26-1999
110.	22.49 ft	on 04-19-1993
111.	22.47 ft	on 07-08-2015
112.	22.44 ft	on 04-04-2020	(P)
113.	22.40 ft	on 03-31-1998
114.	22.38 ft	on 07-09-2015
115.	22.32 ft	on 12-10-1992
116.	22.30 ft	on 11-15-1998
117.	22.29 ft	on 04-05-1993
118.	22.25 ft	on 07-28-2007
119.	22.22 ft	on 01-06-2005
120.	22.21 ft	on 05-12-2007
121.	22.17 ft	on 05-15-2008
122.	22.17 ft	on 05-14-2009
123.	22.16 ft	on 05-24-2011
124.	22.15 ft	on 04-17-1994
125.	22.15 ft	on 01-21-1993
126.	22.14 ft	on 06-19-2025
127.	22.12 ft	on 05-12-2019
128.	22.10 ft	on 11-12-1998
129.	22.10 ft	on 05-17-2015
130.	22.08 ft	on 12-04-1992
131.	22.01 ft	on 11-27-1992
132.	22.00 ft	on 05-08-1993
133.	22.00 ft	on 05-07-1993
134.	22.00 ft	on 04-03-1998
135.	21.99 ft	on 05-08-2024
136.	21.75 ft	on 05-09-2019
137.	21.68 ft	on 04-30-2016
138.	21.57 ft	on 04-09-1965
139.	21.55 ft	on 05-04-2024
140.	21.28 ft	on 05-02-2019
141.	21.09 ft	on 04-05-2025