Black River at Elyria
Ohio — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Lorain County, Ohio on the Black River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 04200500, 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
20 ft
Moderate Flood
17 ft
Minor Flood
9.5 ft
Action Stage
7 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
26.5 ft
Historic flooding exceeding 1969 levels.
24 ft
River gage flooded in Cascade Park.
23.5 ft
Flood levels near the 0.2 percent, or 500 year, recurrence interval.
21 ft
Flood levels around the 1 percent, or 100 year, flood recurrence interval.
20 ft
Flood waters up to East Bridge Street and Fourth Street bridges in Elyria.
19 ft
Flood waters surround low lying properties on Quincy Street and Tannery Street in Elyria. Water overtops Grafton Road bridge.
18 ft
The East and West Branches of the Black River are out of banks in several locations between Carlisle, Penfield, and Elyria. Many creeks backed up as a result with widespread flooding. Several homes in Carlisle Township along Woodside Avenue and Greenview Drive flooded.
17 ft
Nickle Plate Diagonal Road inundated between Parsons and Whitehead Roads north of Carlisle Township.
16 ft
State Route 303 east of Vermont Street becomes flooded. Vermont Street is also flooded south of State Route 303.
14 ft
Flooding begins throughout Cascade Park in Elyria.
11 ft
Flooding along the East Branch of the Black River on Foster Road in Penfield Township. Ford Road hear I-90 may be closed for high water.
9.5 ft
Flooding begins south of Elyria in Carlisle Township along Woodside Drive.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 5, 1969 | 26.4 ft | 51,700 cfs |
| Jul 5, 1969 | 26.4 ft | 51,700 cfs |
| Jan 21, 1959 | 22.9 ft | 24,000 cfs |
| Jan 21, 1959 | 22.9 ft | 24,000 cfs |
| May 12, 1956 | 18.02 ft | 14,900 cfs |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Black 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 Black River at Elyria?
The Black River at Elyria gauge is maintained by USGS (site 04200500) 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 Black River at Elyria?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Black River at Elyria is 9.5 feet. Action stage begins at 7 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 17 feet, and major flooding at 20 feet.
How do I get alerts when Black River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Black River at Elyria 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 Black River at Elyria gauge located?
The gauge is located in Lorain County, Ohio at coordinates 41.3803°N, 82.1046°W. USGS site number: 04200500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Resources
Source & Notes
Data provided by: U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey