Major Flood
40 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
35 ft
Minor Flood
31 ft
Action Stage
29 ft
What Floods at Each Level
51.5 ft
Water reaches the top of protection in South Frankfort.
51 ft
Water reaches the top of protection in North Frankfort.
48 ft
Areas outside of floodwall are covered. Many county roads are closed. Most of Buffalo Trace Distillery is flooded.
47 ft
Buffalo Trace Distillery offices flood along Fair Oaks Lane.
44 ft
Homes along Big Eddy Road flood. Parts of Port Collins Road and Polsgrove Road flood and cutoff homes. Water crosses Wilkinson Boulevard at Leestown Lane which cuts off Frankfort Housing Authority and Walter Todd Drive. Buffalo Trace Distillery Ash Building (across Wilkinson Boulevard) floods.
43 ft
Bellepoint is cut off. Indian Gap Road, Bates Road and River Valley Road flood. Water Plant is affected. Todd Park floods.
40 ft
Paul Sawyier Drive, East Second Street, East Fourth Street and Admirals Landing flood. The entrance at McDonald Ferry Road floods. Buffalo Trace Distillery Visitor Parking Lot floods.
39 ft
Portions of Logan Street, Norton Street and Murray Street flood. Riverboat Landing is flooded. Steele Branch Road is flooded resulting in some homes being cut off and Kentucky River Campground closure.
38 ft
KY 420 (Old Lawrenceburg Road) closes. Wilkinson Street (dead end), Watson Court, Wilson Street and Kentucky Avenue flood. Many basements of homes flood in south Frankfort along Paul Sawyier Drive and Hermitage Drive.
37 ft
Taylor Avenue floods near quarry. Swallowfield Road floods at Bates Road.
36 ft
Travis Circle, Onans Bend Road, and Polsgrove Road flood.
33 ft
Steele Branch Road floods at dead end. Stoney Creek Road and Shadrick Ferry Road close. Buffalo Trace Distillery buildings along the river flood.
31 ft
Benson Valley Road floods. Water approaches Stoney Creek Road.
28 ft
Portions of Still Waters Campground flood.
27 ft
Lewis Ferry Road floods.
26 ft
Stoney Creek Road floods. Portions of Kentucky River Campground flood.
24 ft
North Stoney Creek Road floods.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 10, 1978 | 48.47 ft | 118,000 cfs |
| Apr 7, 2025 | 48.35 ft | 110,000 cfs |
| Jan 24, 1937 | 47.46 ft | 115,000 cfs |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
FFTK2
River
Kentucky River
County
Franklin, KY
Coordinates
38.2113°N, 84.8741°W
Get Flood Alerts for Kentucky 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 Kentucky River at Frankfort Lock?
The Kentucky River at Frankfort Lock gauge is maintained by USGS (site 03287500) 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 Kentucky River at Frankfort Lock?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Kentucky River at Frankfort Lock is 31 feet. Action stage begins at 29 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 35 feet, and major flooding at 40 feet.
How do I get alerts when Kentucky River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Kentucky River at Frankfort Lock to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Kentucky River at Frankfort Lock gauge located?
The gauge is located in Franklin County, Kentucky at coordinates 38.2113°N, 84.8741°W. USGS site number: 03287500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- 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.