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Lee Creek near Van Buren LCR

Highest listed crest 417.50 ftFlood stage 401.0 ft50 crests since 1993

The Lee Creek near Van Buren LCR crested at major flood stage 10 times among the 50 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1993 to 2025. The highest, 417.50 ft on December 28, 2015, was major flooding, 16.50 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
417.50 ft
December 28, 2015
Flood stage
401.0 ft
Major flooding from 405.0 ft
Crests at major
10
19th of 54 gauges in Arkansas
Most recent flood crest
April 5, 2025
409.40 ft, major flooding
Location
Crawford County
Near Van Buren (3.1 mi), Fort Smith (9.4 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Lee Creek near Van Buren LCR
Action stage399.09Jun 16, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)401.09May 6, 2022Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage404.03Jun 7, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage405.010Apr 5, 2025Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

50 crests from 1993 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Lee Creek near Van Buren LCR, 1993 to 2025 0100200300400500ft Flood stage 401.0 ftMajor 405.0 ft Nov 14, 1993: 22.19 ft, below flood stage; 6,810 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1994: 22.35 ft, below flood stage; 6,730 cubic feet per secondNov 5, 1994: 22.61 ft, below flood stage; 7,240 cubic feet per secondJan 14, 1995: 22.71 ft, below flood stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1995: 22.58 ft, below flood stage; 6,630 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1996: 23.13 ft, below flood stage; 11,800 cubic feet per secondNov 7, 1996: 24.40 ft, below flood stage; 22,500 cubic feet per secondNov 24, 1996: 23.60 ft, below flood stage; 22,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1997: 25.00 ft, below flood stage; 24,800 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 1998: 24.40 ft, below flood stage; 23,900 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1999: 23.10 ft, below flood stage; 8,020 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2000: 23.70 ft, below flood stage; 16,100 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2000: 26.99 ft, below flood stage; 75,400 cubic feet per secondDec 17, 2001: 23.80 ft, below flood stage; 16,100 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2002: 23.94 ft, below flood stage; 17,000 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2002: 24.66 ft, below flood stage; 25,300 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2004: 408.20 ft, major floodingJul 3, 2004: 23.41 ft, below flood stageMar 19, 2008: 402.70 ft, minor floodingApr 26, 2011: 404.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 24, 2011: 403.50 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 2015: 405.00 ft, major floodingMay 26, 2015: 405.40 ft, major floodingMay 31, 2015: 405.40 ft, major floodingJun 19, 2015: 398.50 ft, below flood stage; 32,892 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 2015: 400.20 ft, action stageDec 13, 2015: 404.70 ft, moderate flooding; 74,619 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 2015: 417.50 ft, major floodingApr 22, 2017: 398.20 ft, below flood stage; 30,873 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2017: 401.50 ft, minor flooding; 53,082 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2017: 406.60 ft, major flooding; 87,407 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 2017: 402.30 ft, minor flooding; 58,467 cubic feet per secondAug 16, 2017: 399.90 ft, action stage; 42,314 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 2018: 401.60 ft, minor flooding; 53,756 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 2018: 403.10 ft, minor flooding; 63,851 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 2019: 399.20 ft, action stage; 37,603 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2019: 416.90 ft, major floodingJun 7, 2019: 404.60 ft, moderate flooding; 73,946 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2019: 407.20 ft, major flooding; 91,749 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 2020: 402.70 ft, minor flooding; 61,159 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 2020: 402.10 ft, minor flooding; 57,121 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2021: 409.70 ft, major flooding; 112,373 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2021: 399.10 ft, action stage; 36,930 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2022: 402.00 ft, minor floodingJun 10, 2022: 400.00 ft, action stage; 42,987 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2024: 400.00 ft, action stage; 42,987 cubic feet per secondNov 5, 2024: 400.30 ft, action stage; 45,006 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 2025: 409.40 ft, major flooding; 109,898 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2025: 399.80 ft, action stage; 41,641 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2025: 399.00 ft, action stage; 36,257 cubic feet per second Highest, 417.50 ft, Dec 28, 2015 200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Lee Creek near Van Buren LCR 1990s: 0 2000s: 2 2010s: 15 15 2020s: 5 1990s2000s2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Lee Creek near Van Buren LCR
1Dec 28, 2015417.50+16.50Major—
2Jun 1, 2019416.90+15.90Major—
3Apr 29, 2021409.70+8.70Major112,373
4Apr 5, 2025409.40+8.40Major109,898
5Apr 24, 2004408.20+7.20Major—
6Jun 23, 2019407.20+6.20Major91,749
7Apr 30, 2017406.60+5.60Major87,407
8May 26, 2015405.40+4.40Major—
9May 31, 2015405.40+4.40Major—
10May 10, 2015405.00+4.00Major—
11Dec 13, 2015404.70+3.70Moderate74,619
12Jun 7, 2019404.60+3.60Moderate73,946
13Apr 26, 2011404.00+3.00Moderate—
14May 24, 2011403.50+2.50Minor—
15Mar 27, 2018403.10+2.10Minor63,851
16Mar 19, 2008402.70+1.70Minor—
17Jan 11, 2020402.70+1.70Minor61,159
18May 20, 2017402.30+1.30Minor58,467
19Mar 19, 2020402.10+1.10Minor57,121
20May 6, 2022402.00+1.00Minor—
21Feb 24, 2018401.60+0.60Minor53,756
22Apr 26, 2017401.50+0.50Minor53,082
23Nov 5, 2024400.30−0.70Action45,006
24Nov 17, 2015400.20−0.80Action—
25Jun 10, 2022400.00−1.00Action42,987
26Apr 29, 2024400.00−1.00Action42,987
27Aug 16, 2017399.90−1.10Action42,314
28May 26, 2025399.80−1.20Action41,641
29Jan 4, 2019399.20−1.80Action37,603
30May 28, 2021399.10−1.90Action36,930
31Jun 16, 2025399.00−2.00Action36,257
32Jun 19, 2015398.50−2.50Below flood stage32,892
33Apr 22, 2017398.20−2.80Below flood stage30,873
34Jun 21, 200026.99−374.01Below flood stage75,400
35Feb 21, 199725.00−376.00Below flood stage24,800
36Apr 8, 200224.66−376.34Below flood stage25,300
37Nov 7, 199624.40−376.60Below flood stage22,500
38Jan 4, 199824.40−376.60Below flood stage23,900
39Mar 20, 200223.94−377.06Below flood stage17,000
40Dec 17, 200123.80−377.20Below flood stage16,100
41May 27, 200023.70−377.30Below flood stage16,100
42Nov 24, 199623.60−377.40Below flood stage22,500
43Jul 3, 200423.41−377.59Below flood stage—
44Apr 22, 199623.13−377.87Below flood stage11,800
45Jun 30, 199923.10−377.90Below flood stage8,020
46Jan 14, 199522.71−378.29Below flood stage10,500
47Nov 5, 199422.61−378.39Below flood stage7,240
48Apr 20, 199522.58−378.42Below flood stage6,630
49Feb 22, 199422.35−378.65Below flood stage6,730
50Nov 14, 199322.19−378.81Below flood stage6,810

Other gauges in Crawford County

Flood gauges in Crawford County
Van Buren22.040.79 ft, Jun 1, 201918

Crawford County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Arkansas

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge VBRA4, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.