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Mississippi River at Helena

Highest listed crest 60.21 ftFlood stage 44.0 ft120 crests since 1872

The Mississippi River at Helena crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 120 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1872 to 2025. The highest, 60.21 ft on February 12, 1937, was major flooding, 16.21 feet above flood stage. 7 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 3 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
60.21 ft
February 12, 1937
Flood stage
44.0 ft
Major flooding from 55.0 ft
Crests at major
4
39th of 54 gauges in Arkansas
Most recent flood crest
April 20, 2025
46.66 ft, minor flooding
Location
Phillips County
Arkansas
Identifiers
NWS HEEA4
No USGS station

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Mississippi River at Helena
Action stage40.027Jul 17, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)44.044Apr 20, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage50.010Feb 22, 1950Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage55.04May 12, 2011Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

120 crests from 1872 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Helena, 1872 to 2025 203040506070ft Flood stage 44.0 ftMajor 55.0 ft Apr 26, 1872: 39.03 ft, below flood stageMar 6, 1873: 40.00 ft, action stageMay 11, 1874: 45.82 ft, minor floodingApr 12, 1875: 42.40 ft, action stageApr 18, 1876: 44.85 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 1877: 41.80 ft, action stageMay 3, 1878: 38.75 ft, below flood stageJan 31, 1879: 37.25 ft, below flood stageMar 31, 1880: 43.70 ft, action stageMay 14, 1881: 43.74 ft, action stageMar 9, 1882: 47.20 ft, minor floodingMar 8, 1883: 46.90 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 1884: 47.00 ft, minor floodingJan 30, 1885: 40.70 ft, action stageApr 30, 1886: 48.10 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 1887: 46.40 ft, minor floodingApr 14, 1888: 42.80 ft, action stageJun 28, 1889: 34.10 ft, below flood stageMar 29, 1890: 47.72 ft, minor floodingMar 27, 1891: 44.70 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 1892: 45.73 ft, minor floodingMay 25, 1893: 47.92 ft, minor floodingFeb 21, 1894: 38.07 ft, below flood stageMar 30, 1895: 31.30 ft, below flood stageApr 17, 1896: 38.42 ft, below flood stageApr 4, 1897: 51.75 ft, moderate floodingApr 17, 1898: 49.11 ft, minor floodingApr 12, 1899: 46.75 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 1900: 38.25 ft, below flood stageMay 8, 1901: 41.45 ft, action stageMar 23, 1902: 39.58 ft, below flood stageMar 26, 1903: 51.00 ft, moderate floodingApr 15, 1904: 47.62 ft, minor floodingMay 29, 1905: 37.77 ft, below flood stageApr 19, 1906: 47.05 ft, minor floodingFeb 6, 1907: 50.39 ft, moderate floodingMar 26, 1908: 45.20 ft, minor floodingMar 24, 1909: 47.65 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 1910: 40.70 ft, action stageApr 28, 1911: 44.58 ft, minor floodingApr 22, 1912: 54.30 ft, moderate floodingApr 22, 1913: 55.20 ft, major floodingApr 17, 1914: 39.43 ft, below flood stageFeb 20, 1915: 43.55 ft, action stageFeb 11, 1916: 53.40 ft, moderate floodingApr 12, 1917: 49.90 ft, minor floodingMar 2, 1918: 37.49 ft, below flood stageApr 1, 1919: 46.20 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 1920: 50.10 ft, moderate floodingApr 9, 1921: 38.65 ft, below flood stageMay 3, 1922: 53.10 ft, moderate floodingMar 30, 1923: 45.40 ft, minor floodingJan 21, 1924: 42.20 ft, action stageMar 4, 1925: 35.10 ft, below flood stageOct 20, 1926: 38.50 ft, below flood stageApr 27, 1927: 56.75 ft, major floodingJul 12, 1928: 45.70 ft, minor floodingJan 25, 1930: 43.86 ft, action stageDec 26, 1931: 36.24 ft, below flood stageFeb 22, 1932: 49.20 ft, minor floodingJun 3, 1933: 50.62 ft, moderate floodingMar 20, 1934: 36.77 ft, below flood stageApr 1, 1935: 48.94 ft, minor floodingApr 23, 1936: 50.64 ft, moderate floodingFeb 12, 1937: 60.21 ft, major floodingApr 23, 1938: 43.55 ft, action stageMay 9, 1940: 40.51 ft, action stageNov 14, 1941: 27.35 ft, below flood stageMar 30, 1942: 38.22 ft, below flood stageJun 7, 1943: 46.89 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 1944: 45.95 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 1945: 49.27 ft, minor floodingApr 25, 1947: 40.38 ft, action stageFeb 8, 1949: 43.90 ft, action stageFeb 22, 1950: 50.28 ft, moderate floodingMar 6, 1951: 42.35 ft, action stageApr 3, 1952: 45.46 ft, minor floodingMay 25, 1953: 34.97 ft, below flood stageJan 31, 1954: 26.25 ft, below flood stageMar 2, 1956: 38.10 ft, below flood stageFeb 19, 1957: 39.05 ft, below flood stageMay 19, 1958: 39.02 ft, below flood stageFeb 27, 1959: 35.70 ft, below flood stageApr 19, 1960: 40.60 ft, action stageMay 24, 1967: 37.00 ft, below flood stageApr 9, 1975: 47.94 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 1979: 48.20 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 1980: 39.57 ft, below flood stageMay 22, 1983: 47.59 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 1984: 46.94 ft, minor floodingJan 16, 1991: 43.58 ft, action stageMay 15, 1993: 40.84 ft, action stageApr 25, 1994: 45.84 ft, minor floodingJun 4, 1995: 47.20 ft, minor floodingMay 25, 1996: 44.30 ft, minor floodingMar 19, 1997: 48.41 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 1998: 42.70 ft, action stageFeb 8, 1999: 39.82 ft, below flood stageMar 2, 2000: 28.40 ft, below flood stageMar 4, 2001: 34.34 ft, below flood stageMay 27, 2002: 46.18 ft, minor floodingMay 22, 2003: 42.22 ft, action stageDec 17, 2004: 37.10 ft, below flood stageJan 23, 2005: 43.56 ft, action stageMar 23, 2006: 28.73 ft, below flood stage; 730,000 cubic feet per secondJan 22, 2007: 34.31 ft, below flood stageApr 19, 2008: 47.06 ft, minor floodingMay 20, 2009: 43.72 ft, action stageMay 13, 2010: 41.63 ft, action stageMar 25, 2011: 44.22 ft, minor flooding; 1,470,296 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2011: 56.59 ft, major floodingFeb 10, 2012: 32.93 ft, below flood stageMay 13, 2013: 42.94 ft, action stageApr 16, 2014: 34.19 ft, below flood stageJul 17, 2015: 41.12 ft, action stageJan 10, 2016: 48.04 ft, minor floodingMay 16, 2017: 44.79 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 2018: 47.44 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 2019: 49.65 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 2025: 46.66 ft, minor flooding Highest, 60.21 ft, Feb 12, 1937 18801900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Helena 1870s: 2 1880s: 5 1890s: 7 7 1900s: 6 1910s: 6 1920s: 5 1930s: 5 1940s: 3 1950s: 2 1960s: 0 1970s: 2 1980s: 2 1990s: 4 2000s: 2 2010s: 6 2020s: 1 1870s1890s1910s1930s1950s1970s1990s2010s
  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

The 50 highest of 120 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at Helena
1Feb 12, 193760.21+16.21Major—
2Apr 27, 192756.75+12.75Major—
3May 12, 201156.59+12.59Major—
4Apr 22, 191355.20+11.20Major—
5Apr 22, 191254.30+10.30Moderate—
6Feb 11, 191653.40+9.40Moderate—
7May 3, 192253.10+9.10Moderate—
8Apr 4, 189751.75+7.75Moderate—
9Mar 26, 190351.00+7.00Moderate—
10Apr 23, 193650.64+6.64Moderate—
11Jun 3, 193350.62+6.62Moderate—
12Feb 6, 190750.39+6.39Moderate—
13Feb 22, 195050.28+6.28Moderate—
14Apr 8, 192050.10+6.10Moderate—
15Apr 12, 191749.90+5.90Minor—
16Mar 6, 201949.65+5.65Minor—
17Apr 8, 194549.27+5.27Minor—
18Feb 22, 193249.20+5.20Minor—
19Apr 17, 189849.11+5.11Minor—
20Apr 1, 193548.94+4.94Minor—
21Mar 19, 199748.41+4.41Minor—
22Apr 24, 197948.20+4.20Minor—
23Apr 30, 188648.10+4.10Minor—
24Jan 10, 201648.04+4.04Minor—
25Apr 9, 197547.94+3.94Minor—
26May 25, 189347.92+3.92Minor—
27Mar 29, 189047.72+3.72Minor—
28Mar 24, 190947.65+3.65Minor—
29Apr 15, 190447.62+3.62Minor—
30May 22, 198347.59+3.59Minor—
31Mar 11, 201847.44+3.44Minor—
32Mar 9, 188247.20+3.20Minor—
33Jun 4, 199547.20+3.20Minor—
34Apr 19, 200847.06+3.06Minor—
35Apr 19, 190647.05+3.05Minor—
36Mar 6, 188447.00+3.00Minor—
37May 21, 198446.94+2.94Minor—
38Mar 8, 188346.90+2.90Minor—
39Jun 7, 194346.89+2.89Minor—
40Apr 12, 189946.75+2.75Minor—
41Apr 20, 202546.66+2.66Minor—
42Mar 21, 188746.40+2.40Minor—
43Apr 1, 191946.20+2.20Minor—
44May 27, 200246.18+2.18Minor—
45May 7, 194445.95+1.95Minor—
46Apr 25, 199445.84+1.84Minor—
47May 11, 187445.82+1.82Minor—
48May 11, 189245.73+1.73Minor—
49Jul 12, 192845.70+1.70Minor—
50Apr 3, 195245.46+1.46Minor—

The worst floods along the Mississippi River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Mississippi River that crested above flood stage within a week.

February 12, 1937: 60.21 ft here, major flooding

April 27, 1927: 56.75 ft here, major flooding

  • GreenvilleAR · Apr 21, 1927 · 65.40 ft · Major · its highest
  • Arkansas CityAR · Apr 21, 1927 · 59.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • VicksburgLA · May 4, 1927 · 56.20 ft · Major
  • OsceolaAR · Apr 24, 1927 · 45.80 ft · Major
  • New OrleansLA · Apr 25, 1927 · 21.00 ft · Major
  • NatchezMS · May 4, 1927 · 56.60 ft · Moderate
  • MemphisTN · Apr 23, 1927 · 45.80 ft · Moderate
  • St. LouisMO · Apr 26, 1927 · 36.10 ft · Moderate
  • AitkinMN · Apr 25, 1927 · 14.50 ft · Minor

May 12, 2011: 56.59 ft here, major flooding

  • GreenvilleAR · May 16, 2011 · 64.22 ft · Major
  • NatchezMS · May 19, 2011 · 61.95 ft · Major · its highest
  • VicksburgLA · May 19, 2011 · 57.10 ft · Major · its highest
  • Arkansas CityAR · May 16, 2011 · 53.14 ft · Major
  • New MadridMO · May 6, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • TiptonvilleMO · May 5, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • MemphisTN · May 10, 2011 · 48.03 ft · Major
  • CaruthersvilleMO · May 7, 2011 · 47.61 ft · Major · its highest
  • OsceolaAR · May 8, 2011 · 47.48 ft · Major
  • Baton RougeLA · May 18, 2011 · 45.01 ft · Major

Gauges on the Mississippi River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Mississippi River
TiptonvilleMO37.048.35 ft, May 5, 20112
Alma - Pool 5MN672.0672.13 ft, Apr 16, 20010
AltonIL21.039.55 ft, Aug 1, 19937
Baton RougeLA35.047.28 ft, May 15, 192731
BellevueIL17.023.51 ft, Apr 26, 196511
BrainerdMN16.017.61 ft, Jun 28, 20120
BrownsvilleMN635.0640.20 ft, Apr 22, 19650
BurlingtonIL15.025.73 ft, Jun 17, 200836
CamancheIA17.024.65 ft, Apr 28, 196520
Canton Lock and Dam 20MO15.027.88 ft, Jul 9, 19933
Cape GirardeauMO32.048.86 ft, Jan 2, 201615
CaruthersvilleMO32.047.61 ft, May 7, 20112
ChesterIL27.049.74 ft, Aug 7, 19939
Clarksville Lock and Dam 24MO25.037.73 ft, Jul 29, 199310
ClaytonIA620.0627.28 ft, Apr 24, 19650
DakotaMN644.0649.08 ft, Apr 21, 19650
DonaldsonvilleLA27.036.01 ft, May 15, 19273
Dubuque (LD11)IA16.025.69 ft, Apr 26, 196513
Dubuque (Railroad Bridge)IA17.026.81 ft, Apr 26, 196518
Fort RipleyMN10.514.15 ft, Apr 8, 19970
Fridley abv 37th Ave NEMN16.020.00 ft, Apr 17, 19656
FultonIL16.024.75 ft, Apr 28, 196513
GladstoneIL10.022.46 ft, Jun 17, 200824
GraftonIL20.038.17 ft, Aug 1, 199315
Gregory LandingMO15.028.49 ft, Jul 9, 19934
HannibalMO17.031.80 ft, Jul 15, 199310
Helena this gaugeAR44.060.21 ft, Feb 12, 19374
HerculaneumMO26.029.79 ft, Jul 10, 20240
HickmanKY34.054.29 ft, May 2, 20113
Hwy 169 at ChamplinMN12.017.96 ft, Apr 12, 19653
Hwy 610 in Brooklyn ParkMN12.019.53 ft, Apr 17, 19654
Illinois CityIA15.024.10 ft, Jul 9, 199321
KeithsburgIA14.024.49 ft, Jun 17, 200822
KeokukIA16.027.58 ft, Jul 10, 199324
La Crosse - Pool 8WI12.017.89 ft, Apr 22, 19654
LaGrangeMO17.030.00 ft, Jul 13, 19934
Lake CityWI16.022.18 ft, Apr 19, 19653
Lansing - Pool 9IA17.022.50 ft, Apr 24, 19651
LeClaireIA11.017.75 ft, Apr 28, 196516
LouisianaMO15.028.40 ft, Jul 28, 19934
McGregorIA16.025.38 ft, Apr 24, 19653
Mel Price (Alton) Lock and DamIL21.042.72 ft, Aug 1, 19938
MemphisTN34.048.70 ft, Feb 10, 19372
MuscatineIA16.025.61 ft, Jul 9, 199321
NatchezMS48.061.95 ft, May 19, 20116
New BostonIL15.025.90 ft, Jul 9, 199322
New MadridMO34.048.35 ft, May 6, 20114
New OrleansLA17.021.27 ft, Apr 25, 19225
OsceolaAR28.050.90 ft, Feb 7, 193742
QuincyIL19.032.13 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Quincy Lock and Dam 21IL18.031.30 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Red River LandingLA48.063.39 ft, May 18, 20110
Red WingMN14.020.70 ft, Apr 18, 19659
ReserveLA22.026.00 ft, Jun 11, 19291
Rock IslandIL15.022.70 ft, May 2, 201920
Saverton Lock and Dam 22MO16.029.58 ft, Jul 25, 19939
St. CloudMN9.011.44 ft, Apr 8, 19971
St. LouisMO30.049.58 ft, Aug 1, 19939
St. PaulMN14.026.01 ft, Apr 16, 196516
ThebesIL33.047.74 ft, Jan 2, 201612
Tunica Mhoon LandingMS30.053.20 ft, Feb 10, 19375
VicksburgLA43.057.10 ft, May 19, 201112
Wabasha - Pool 4MN12.020.05 ft, Apr 19, 19657
Winfield Lock and Dam 25MO26.039.62 ft, Aug 1, 19939
Winona - Pool 6MN13.020.77 ft, Apr 19, 19655
Lock and Dam 10 - GuttenbergIA15.023.65 ft, Apr 24, 19652
Lock and Dam 2 - HastingsMN15.025.90 ft, Apr 17, 196512
Lock and Dam 3 - Red WingMN680.5687.77 ft, Apr 19, 19658
Lock and Dam 4 - AlmaWI16.019.78 ft, Apr 19, 19652
Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota CityMN660.0667.85 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 5a - WinonaMN655.0663.35 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 6 - TrempealeauMN647.0653.02 ft, Apr 21, 19654
Lock and Dam 7 - La CrescentMN641.0647.38 ft, Apr 21, 19652
Lock and Dam 8 - GenoaWI631.0638.40 ft, Apr 22, 19653
Lock and Dam 9 - LynxvilleWI625.0633.16 ft, Apr 24, 19653
AitkinMN13.022.49 ft, May 20, 195011
Arkansas CityAR37.059.20 ft, Apr 21, 192715
GreenvilleAR48.065.40 ft, Apr 21, 192718

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge HEEA4, 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.