Major Flood
73 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
65 ft
Minor Flood
55 ft
Action Stage
53 ft
What Floods at Each Level
88.5 ft
The flood will reach the top of the floodwall. A large part of downtown Louisville floods. Parts of I-64 and I-65 flood. Homes along 31W (Dixie Highway) are destroyed. New Albany and Clarksville will suffer major damage.
76 ft
US 31W (Dixie Highway) closed at floodgate.
74 ft
Houk Lane is closed at floodgate.
71 ft
KY 44 is closed.
67 ft
Blackiston Mill Road floods at Silver Creek in Clarksville.
66 ft
Lock is closed. Floodgates at Riverport are closed.
65 ft
Parts of US 31W (Dixie Highway) flood from I-265 (Gene Synder Freeway) interchange to West Point KY. Riverfront parks in Clarksville and New Albany flood.
59 ft
Overbrook Rd. floods south of Lake Dreamland Rd.
58 ft
IN 111 floods upstream of Bridgeport.
55 ft
Parks and riverfront areas in Clarksville and New Albany flood. Some yards along US 31W (Dixie Highway) from Pleasure Ridge Park to West Point KY flood.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 26, 1937 | 85.44 ft | 1,110,000 cfs |
| Feb 15, 1884 | 74.40000000000002 ft | 825,000 cfs |
| Mar 7, 1945 | 74.40000000000002 ft | 843,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Ohio 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 Ohio River at McAlpine Lower?
The Ohio River at McAlpine Lower gauge is maintained by USGS (site 03294500) 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 Ohio River at McAlpine Lower?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Ohio River at McAlpine Lower is 55 feet. Action stage begins at 53 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 65 feet, and major flooding at 73 feet.
How do I get alerts when Ohio River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Ohio River at McAlpine Lower 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 Ohio River at McAlpine Lower gauge located?
The gauge is located in Jefferson County, Kentucky at coordinates 38.2803°N, 85.7991°W. USGS site number: 03294500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Army Corps of Engineers, 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.