Arkansas River at Van Buren
Arkansas — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Crawford County, Arkansas on the Arkansas River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 07250500, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
31 ft
Moderate Flood
26 ft
Minor Flood
22 ft
Action Stage
22 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
40 ft
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 ft
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 ft
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.
35 ft
very damaging flooding occurs along the Arkansas River floodplain. 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. Old US 64 in Moffett becomes impassible. This is comparable to the December 30, 2015 flood when the river crested at 34.63 feet and May 5, 1990 when the river crested at 36.1 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
33 ft
damaging flooding occurs along the Arkansas River floodplain from Moffett, Oklahoma downstream to Lock and Dam 13. The port of Fort Smith and nearby businesses are flooded. Backwater flooding occurs in the trailer parks next to Lee Creek. Some residential subdivisions around Fort Smith are flooded. Moffet City Hall is threatened by high water. This will approach the December 30, 2015 flood when the river crested at 34.63 feet. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
31 ft
extensive flooding occurs to industrial businesses in the floodplain around Fort Smith. Flooding occurs in Moffett, Oklahoma. Backwater flooding occurs in the trailer parks near Lee Creek. Some residential subdivisions in the floodplain around Fort Smith begin to flood. This is an extremely dangerous and life threatening situation.
29 ft
flooding of sand and gravel companies and other businesses occurs along the river. Some backwater flooding occurs in the roads and trailer parks near Lee Creek. The staff at the Kelley Park amphitheater may be covered by high water. Minor flooding begins in Moffett, Oklahoma.
28 ft
flooding affects sand and gravel companies, marine terminals, and similar businesses along the river. Backwater flooding of roads and trailer parks occurs next to Lee Creek. Much of the seating areas of the Kelley Park amphitheater are covered by high water.
27 ft
extensive lowland flooding occurs east of the I-540 bridge to Vache Grasse Creek. Sand and gravel companies, marine terminals, and similar businesses in the floodplain begin to flood. The lowest seating rows in the Kelley Park amphitheater are covered by high water.
26 ft
extensive lowland flooding occurs from the I-540 bridge downstream to Vache Grasse Creek. Sand and gravel companies and marine terminals in the floodplain along the river should take precautions. The lowest seating rows of the amphitheater at Kelley Park may be covered by high water.
25 ft
extensive agricultural lowland flooding occurs along the shoreline from Van Buren downstream to Lavaca. Hickman Bluff Road and Highway 255 west of Lavaca will flood. Some rural roads near Lavaca are impassable. Much of Kelley Park northwest of downtown Fort Smith is flooded.
24 ft
minor lowland flooding occurs along the shoreline from the I-540 bridge east towards Lavaca. Some rural roads near Lavaca may be impassable. Parts of Kelley Park northwest of downtown Fort Smith experience minor flooding.
23 ft
minor lowland flooding occurs along the shoreline from the I-540 bridge east towards Lavaca.
22 ft
minor lowland flooding occurs along the shoreline from the I-540 bridge east towards Lavaca.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2019 | 40.79 ft | 570,000 cfs |
| May 31, 2019 | 40.79 ft | 570,000 cfs |
| May 28, 2019 | 40.26 ft | 509,810 cfs |
| May 28, 2019 | 40.26 ft | 509,810 cfs |
| Apr 15, 1945 | 38.1 ft | 650,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
VBUA4
River
Arkansas River
County
Crawford, AR
Coordinates
35.4314°N, 94.3561°W
Get Flood Alerts for Arkansas River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Arkansas River at Van Buren?
The Arkansas River at Van Buren gauge is maintained by USGS (site 07250500) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Arkansas River at Van Buren?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Arkansas River at Van Buren is 22 feet. Action stage begins at 22 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 26 feet, and major flooding at 31 feet.
How do I get alerts when Arkansas River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Arkansas River at Van Buren to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Arkansas River at Van Buren gauge located?
The gauge is located in Crawford County, Arkansas at coordinates 35.4314°N, 94.3561°W. USGS site number: 07250500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- 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.