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Little Wabash River near Effingham

Highest listed crest 24.27 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft165 crests since 1966

The Little Wabash River near Effingham crested above flood stage 95 times among the 165 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1966 to 2026. The highest, 24.27 ft on May 13, 2002, was moderate flooding, 8.27 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Little Wabash River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
24.27 ft
May 13, 2002; 31,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
16.0 ft
No major stage set
Crests at major
0
95 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
June 22, 2026
17.38 ft, minor flooding
Location
Effingham County
Near Effingham (2.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Little Wabash River near Effingham
Action stage14.067Jul 27, 2026The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.044Jun 22, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage18.051Apr 28, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream

Every listed crest

165 crests from 1966 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Little Wabash River near Effingham, 1966 to 2026 1015202530ft Flood stage 16.0 ft Dec 9, 1966: 18.45 ft, moderate flooding; 6,280 cubic feet per secondDec 21, 1967: 19.42 ft, moderate flooding; 8,460 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 1969: 18.40 ft, moderate flooding; 6,200 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1970: 19.95 ft, moderate flooding; 10,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1971: 16.05 ft, minor flooding; 3,960 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 1971: 13.92 ft, below flood stage; 2,850 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1973: 17.11 ft, minor flooding; 4,710 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1974: 18.07 ft, moderate flooding; 5,700 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1975: 18.68 ft, moderate flooding; 6,660 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1976: 14.67 ft, action stage; 3,420 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1977: 15.98 ft, action stage; 3,910 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1978: 16.39 ft, minor flooding; 4,190 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 1979: 19.60 ft, moderate flooding; 8,980 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1980: 15.87 ft, action stage; 3,840 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1981: 14.81 ft, action stage; 3,170 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1982: 18.40 ft, moderate flooding; 6,190 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 1982: 17.38 ft, minor flooding; 4,940 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1984: 18.89 ft, moderate flooding; 7,070 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1985: 19.09 ft, moderate flooding; 7,480 cubic feet per secondDec 11, 1985: 19.33 ft, moderate flooding; 8,160 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1986: 14.66 ft, action stage; 3,060 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 1988: 17.50 ft, minor flooding; 5,050 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1989: 15.95 ft, action stage; 3,890 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1990: 18.56 ft, moderate flooding; 6,440 cubic feet per secondDec 30, 1990: 20.14 ft, moderate flooding; 11,100 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1992: 14.25 ft, action stage; 2,740 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 1993: 20.21 ft, moderate flooding; 11,300 cubic feet per secondNov 14, 1993: 19.31 ft, moderate flooding; 10,000 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1995: 19.60 ft, moderate flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1996: 19.60 ft, moderate flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 1996: 21.19 ft, moderate flooding; 17,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1997: 19.28 ft, moderate flooding; 11,000 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 1998: 17.28 ft, minor flooding; 6,590 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1999: 20.47 ft, moderate flooding; 14,600 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2000: 21.13 ft, moderate flooding; 14,200 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 2000: 20.38 ft, moderate flooding; 12,400 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2002: 24.27 ft, moderate flooding; 31,500 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 2003: 15.35 ft, action stage; 3,810 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2004: 18.87 ft, moderate flooding; 8,840 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2005: 19.06 ft, moderate flooding; 9,230 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 2006: 18.21 ft, moderate flooding; 6,310 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 2007: 16.49 ft, minor flooding; 4,330 cubic feet per secondJan 9, 2008: 14.01 ft, action stage; 2,680 cubic feet per secondFeb 6, 2008: 18.35 ft, moderate flooding; 7,844 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 2008: 18.72 ft, moderate flooding; 8,551 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2008: 14.12 ft, action stage; 2,780 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 2008: 18.55 ft, moderate flooding; 8,720 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 2008: 14.46 ft, action stage; 3,070 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 2008: 17.24 ft, minor flooding; 6,390 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2008: 16.98 ft, minor flooding; 5,970 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2008: 20.65 ft, moderate flooding; 15,000 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 2008: 16.54 ft, minor flooding; 5,290 cubic feet per secondDec 24, 2008: 15.43 ft, action stage; 3,960 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 2008: 18.37 ft, moderate flooding; 8,380 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 2009: 19.88 ft, moderate flooding; 12,200 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2009: 14.33 ft, action stage; 2,960 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2009: 17.40 ft, minor flooding; 6,660 cubic feet per secondMay 14, 2009: 14.92 ft, action stage; 3,490 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 2009: 14.48 ft, action stage; 3,090 cubic feet per secondOct 8, 2009: 14.12 ft, action stage; 2,780 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 2009: 14.16 ft, action stage; 2,810 cubic feet per secondDec 13, 2009: 15.02 ft, action stage; 3,580 cubic feet per secondDec 25, 2009: 17.87 ft, minor flooding; 7,470 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 2010: 15.62 ft, action stage; 4,010 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2010: 16.20 ft, minor flooding; 4,780 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2010: 16.11 ft, minor flooding; 4,660 cubic feet per secondJul 20, 2010: 14.72 ft, action stage; 2,950 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 2011: 15.52 ft, action stage; 3,890 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2011: 14.01 ft, action stage; 2,210 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 2011: 17.08 ft, minor flooding; 6,130 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 2011: 17.81 ft, minor flooding; 7,360 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2011: 18.78 ft, moderate flooding; 9,160 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 2011: 16.63 ft, minor flooding; 5,420 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2011: 14.86 ft, action stage; 3,100 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 2011: 14.20 ft, action stage; 2,400 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 2011: 15.47 ft, action stage; 3,820 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2012: 15.69 ft, action stage; 4,100 cubic feet per secondJan 13, 2013: 14.26 ft, action stage; 2,460 cubic feet per secondJan 30, 2013: 16.19 ft, minor flooding; 4,770 cubic feet per secondFeb 26, 2013: 15.93 ft, action stage; 4,410 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 2013: 20.58 ft, moderate flooding; 14,800 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2013: 15.88 ft, action stage; 4,340 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 2013: 15.05 ft, action stage; 3,320 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2013: 15.48 ft, action stage; 3,840 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2013: 14.47 ft, action stage; 2,680 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2013: 14.59 ft, action stage; 2,810 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 2014: 18.21 ft, moderate flooding; 6,520 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2014: 16.71 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2014: 15.43 ft, action stageMar 26, 2015: 14.27 ft, action stage; 2,470 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2015: 16.98 ft, minor flooding; 5,310 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2015: 15.95 ft, action stage; 4,100 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2015: 18.62 ft, moderate flooding; 7,460 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 2015: 17.50 ft, minor flooding; 5,960 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2015: 14.42 ft, action stage; 2,510 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 2015: 16.10 ft, minor flooding; 4,270 cubic feet per secondDec 27, 2015: 21.06 ft, moderate flooding; 15,200 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2016: 14.94 ft, action stage; 3,040 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2016: 14.94 ft, action stage; 3,040 cubic feet per secondAug 16, 2016: 14.81 ft, action stage; 2,900 cubic feet per secondOct 20, 2016: 14.10 ft, action stage; 2,210 cubic feet per secondJan 20, 2017: 14.48 ft, action stage; 2,570 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2017: 19.95 ft, moderate flooding; 10,900 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 2017: 20.72 ft, moderate flooding; 13,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 2018: 16.91 ft, minor flooding; 5,220 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 2018: 17.37 ft, minor flooding; 5,800 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2018: 20.12 ft, moderate flooding; 11,500 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2018: 19.73 ft, moderate flooding; 10,200 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 2019: 16.05 ft, minor flooding; 4,210 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 2019: 14.74 ft, action stage; 2,830 cubic feet per secondJan 23, 2019: 16.91 ft, minor flooding; 5,220 cubic feet per secondFeb 7, 2019: 17.47 ft, minor flooding; 6,460 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2019: 15.21 ft, action stage; 3,570 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2019: 16.16 ft, minor flooding; 4,710 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2019: 16.95 ft, minor flooding; 5,740 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2019: 14.16 ft, action stage; 2,420 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 2019: 16.76 ft, minor flooding; 5,480 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2019: 16.72 ft, minor flooding; 5,000 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2019: 16.36 ft, minor flooding; 4,570 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2019: 16.80 ft, minor flooding; 5,090 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2019: 18.04 ft, moderate flooding; 6,670 cubic feet per secondAug 22, 2019: 15.42 ft, action stage; 3,530 cubic feet per secondOct 27, 2019: 14.67 ft, action stage; 2,760 cubic feet per secondNov 30, 2019: 16.08 ft, minor flooding; 4,250 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2019: 14.52 ft, action stage; 2,610 cubic feet per secondJan 11, 2020: 21.46 ft, moderate flooding; 16,900 cubic feet per secondJan 18, 2020: 17.34 ft, minor flooding; 5,760 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 2020: 13.86 ft, below flood stage; 1,990 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2020: 16.82 ft, minor flooding; 5,110 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2020: 15.86 ft, action stage; 4,000 cubic feet per secondJul 22, 2020: 17.01 ft, minor flooding; 5,350 cubic feet per secondAug 1, 2020: 18.39 ft, moderate flooding; 7,140 cubic feet per secondNov 25, 2020: 14.41 ft, action stage; 2,500 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 2021: 15.46 ft, action stage; 3,570 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 2021: 17.32 ft, minor flooding; 5,740 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2021: 18.16 ft, moderate flooding; 6,830 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2021: 14.27 ft, action stage; 2,370 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2021: 15.31 ft, action stage; 3,410 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 2021: 14.55 ft, action stage; 2,640 cubic feet per secondJul 16, 2021: 14.52 ft, action stage; 2,610 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 2021: 13.93 ft, below flood stage; 2,060 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2021: 16.02 ft, minor flooding; 4,180 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 2022: 18.35 ft, moderate flooding; 7,090 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2022: 18.23 ft, moderate flooding; 6,930 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2022: 19.31 ft, moderate flooding; 8,880 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 2022: 15.39 ft, action stage; 3,500 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 2022: 16.98 ft, minor flooding; 5,310 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 2022: 17.96 ft, minor flooding; 6,560 cubic feet per secondAug 9, 2022: 17.89 ft, minor flooding; 6,470 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2023: 17.78 ft, minor flooding; 6,320 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2023: 18.69 ft, moderate flooding; 7,560 cubic feet per secondJan 24, 2024: 14.85 ft, action stageApr 2, 2024: 14.57 ft, action stage; 2,760 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2024: 14.12 ft, action stage; 2,320 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 2024: 14.71 ft, action stage; 2,860 cubic feet per secondJul 16, 2024: 15.17 ft, action stage; 3,330 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 2025: 20.42 ft, moderate flooding; 12,600 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2025: 14.61 ft, action stage; 2,700 cubic feet per secondJul 21, 2025: 14.51 ft, action stage; 2,600 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2026: 19.10 ft, moderate flooding; 8,280 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2026: 14.43 ft, action stage; 2,520 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2026: 14.49 ft, action stage; 2,580 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 2026: 14.71 ft, action stage; 2,800 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2026: 17.38 ft, minor flooding; 5,810 cubic feet per secondJul 27, 2026: 14.21 ft, action stage; 2,310 cubic feet per second Highest, 24.27 ft, May 13, 2002 197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Little Wabash River near Effingham 1960s: 3 1970s: 7 1980s: 6 1990s: 10 2000s: 18 2010s: 32 32 2020s: 19 1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 165 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Little Wabash River near Effingham
1May 13, 200224.27+8.27Moderate31,500
2Jan 11, 202021.46+5.46Moderate16,900
3May 8, 199621.19+5.19Moderate17,800
4Jul 5, 200021.13+5.13Moderate14,200
5Dec 27, 201521.06+5.06Moderate15,200
6May 5, 201720.72+4.72Moderate13,800
7Jun 7, 200820.65+4.65Moderate15,000
8Apr 19, 201320.58+4.58Moderate14,800
9Jun 2, 199920.47+4.47Moderate14,600
10Apr 5, 202520.42+4.42Moderate12,600
11Oct 5, 200020.38+4.38Moderate12,400
12Sep 23, 199320.21+4.21Moderate11,300
13Dec 30, 199020.14+4.14Moderate11,100
14Apr 4, 201820.12+4.12Moderate11,500
15Apr 20, 197019.95+3.95Moderate10,300
16Apr 30, 201719.95+3.95Moderate10,900
17Feb 12, 200919.88+3.88Moderate12,200
18Jun 12, 201819.73+3.73Moderate10,200
19Apr 12, 197919.60+3.60Moderate8,980
20Mar 8, 199519.60+3.60Moderate10,800
21Mar 8, 199619.60+3.60Moderate10,800
22Dec 21, 196719.42+3.42Moderate8,460
23Dec 11, 198519.33+3.33Moderate8,160
24Nov 14, 199319.31+3.31Moderate10,000
25Mar 31, 202219.31+3.31Moderate8,880
26Feb 27, 199719.28+3.28Moderate11,000
27Apr 28, 202619.10+3.10Moderate8,280
28Feb 23, 198519.09+3.09Moderate7,480
29Jan 5, 200519.06+3.06Moderate9,230
30Apr 22, 198418.89+2.89Moderate7,070
31May 31, 200418.87+2.87Moderate8,840
32Apr 26, 201118.78+2.78Moderate9,160
33Feb 19, 200818.72+2.72Moderate8,551
34Mar 24, 202318.69+2.69Moderate7,560
35Feb 23, 197518.68+2.68Moderate6,660
36Jun 8, 201518.62+2.62Moderate7,460
37May 17, 199018.56+2.56Moderate6,440
38Mar 19, 200818.55+2.55Moderate8,720
39Dec 9, 196618.45+2.45Moderate6,280
40Jan 30, 196918.40+2.40Moderate6,200
41Jan 31, 198218.40+2.40Moderate6,190
42Aug 1, 202018.39+2.39Moderate7,140
43Dec 28, 200818.37+2.37Moderate8,380
44Feb 6, 200818.35+2.35Moderate7,844
45Feb 17, 202218.35+2.35Moderate7,090
46Mar 7, 202218.23+2.23Moderate6,930
47Apr 7, 200618.21+2.21Moderate6,310
48Feb 21, 201418.21+2.21Moderate6,520
49Mar 18, 202118.16+2.16Moderate6,830
50May 31, 197418.07+2.07Moderate5,700

The worst floods along the Little Wabash River

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

May 13, 2002: 24.27 ft here, moderate flooding

  • CarmiIL · May 18, 2002 · 36.16 ft · Major
  • Clay CityIL · May 15, 2002 · 24.66 ft · Moderate

January 11, 2020: 21.46 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Clay CityIL · Jan 13, 2020 · 24.18 ft · Moderate

May 8, 1996: 21.19 ft here, moderate flooding

  • CarmiIL · May 3, 1996 · 35.30 ft · Major
  • Clay CityIL · May 1, 1996 · 23.06 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Little Wabash River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Little Wabash River
Effingham this gaugeIL16.024.27 ft, May 13, 20020
Clay CityIL18.026.67 ft, Jan 5, 19508
CarmiIL27.038.44 ft, May 12, 196112

Effingham County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Illinois

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge EFFI2, 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.