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Neosho River at Neosho Rapids

Highest listed crest 34.30 ftFlood stage 22.0 ft127 crests since 1904

The Neosho River at Neosho Rapids crested above flood stage 108 times among the 127 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1904 to 2025. The highest, 34.30 ft on July 11, 1951, was moderate flooding, 12.30 feet above flood stage. 6 other gauges on the Neosho River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 5 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
34.30 ft
July 11, 1951
Flood stage
22.0 ft
Major flooding from 44.0 ft
Crests at major
0
108 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
June 5, 2025
26.11 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Lyon County
Near Emporia (10.6 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Neosho River at Neosho Rapids
Action stage17.015Jun 10, 2014The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)22.018May 19, 2022Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage23.090Jun 5, 2025Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage44.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

127 crests from 1904 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Neosho River at Neosho Rapids, 1904 to 2025 01020304050ft Flood stage 22.0 ftMajor 44.0 ft Jul 7, 1904: 27.40 ft, moderate floodingJul 11, 1909: 27.40 ft, moderate floodingJun 11, 1923: 26.80 ft, moderate floodingNov 18, 1928: 27.30 ft, moderate floodingJul 6, 1932: 28.00 ft, moderate floodingOct 15, 1941: 26.33 ft, moderate floodingOct 21, 1941: 28.11 ft, moderate floodingNov 23, 1944: 28.20 ft, moderate floodingDec 6, 1944: 27.60 ft, moderate floodingApr 16, 1945: 28.00 ft, moderate floodingJun 20, 1946: 26.46 ft, moderate floodingJun 21, 1948: 29.92 ft, moderate floodingAug 3, 1950: 23.73 ft, moderate floodingMay 2, 1951: 26.18 ft, moderate floodingJul 1, 1951: 27.57 ft, moderate floodingJul 11, 1951: 34.30 ft, moderate floodingAug 9, 1951: 24.66 ft, moderate floodingSep 5, 1951: 26.40 ft, moderate floodingMay 19, 1957: 23.90 ft, moderate floodingMay 21, 1959: 22.27 ft, minor floodingMar 26, 1960: 22.38 ft, minor floodingMar 28, 1961: 23.43 ft, moderate floodingApr 11, 1961: 22.52 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 1961: 24.73 ft, moderate floodingMay 23, 1961: 27.90 ft, moderate floodingFeb 1, 1962: 21.92 ft, action stageSep 27, 1962: 25.39 ft, moderate floodingJun 6, 1965: 26.52 ft, moderate floodingJun 10, 1965: 26.54 ft, moderate floodingJun 14, 1965: 24.32 ft, moderate floodingSep 23, 1965: 24.16 ft, moderate floodingJun 23, 1967: 25.74 ft, moderate floodingOct 9, 1967: 25.50 ft, moderate floodingApr 27, 1969: 25.75 ft, moderate floodingJun 28, 1969: 26.76 ft, moderate floodingApr 20, 1970: 22.67 ft, minor floodingMay 4, 1971: 25.03 ft, moderate floodingMay 2, 1972: 21.83 ft, action stageFeb 3, 1973: 23.58 ft, moderate floodingMar 8, 1973: 23.15 ft, moderate floodingMar 12, 1973: 24.81 ft, moderate floodingMar 26, 1973: 22.01 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 1973: 21.00 ft, action stageMay 24, 1973: 21.22 ft, action stageSep 28, 1973: 27.54 ft, moderate floodingOct 3, 1973: 28.07 ft, moderate floodingMay 23, 1977: 19.96 ft, action stageJun 23, 1977: 23.08 ft, moderate floodingFeb 26, 1978: 18.56 ft, action stageMar 25, 1978: 19.21 ft, action stageJun 11, 1979: 18.06 ft, action stageJul 6, 1979: 23.06 ft, moderate floodingMar 31, 1980: 24.56 ft, moderate floodingJul 1, 1981: 22.71 ft, minor floodingNov 2, 1981: 21.16 ft, action stageMay 13, 1982: 21.62 ft, action stageApr 7, 1983: 24.16 ft, moderate floodingMay 23, 1983: 18.81 ft, action stageJul 4, 1983: 18.01 ft, action stageAug 3, 1983: 22.96 ft, minor floodingAug 7, 1983: 23.76 ft, moderate floodingMar 19, 1984: 22.56 ft, minor floodingApr 9, 1984: 22.66 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 1985: 24.66 ft, moderate floodingAug 25, 1985: 23.51 ft, moderate floodingOct 11, 1985: 29.01 ft, moderate floodingSep 29, 1986: 22.96 ft, minor floodingOct 4, 1986: 25.26 ft, moderate floodingMar 2, 1987: 23.91 ft, moderate floodingMar 20, 1987: 20.20 ft, action stageJul 7, 1987: 17.92 ft, action stageApr 3, 1988: 22.86 ft, minor floodingMay 17, 1990: 22.16 ft, minor floodingJun 9, 1990: 23.81 ft, moderate floodingJun 7, 1994: 5.44 ft, below flood stageMar 15, 1995: 23.26 ft, moderate floodingMay 18, 1995: 26.16 ft, moderate floodingMay 28, 1995: 26.26 ft, moderate floodingJun 10, 1995: 24.36 ft, moderate floodingJun 2, 1996: 24.36 ft, moderate floodingAug 25, 1996: 23.26 ft, moderate floodingNov 18, 1996: 22.46 ft, minor floodingApr 13, 1997: 25.28 ft, moderate floodingOct 6, 1998: 25.85 ft, moderate floodingNov 2, 1998: 31.15 ft, moderate floodingApr 16, 1999: 24.71 ft, moderate floodingApr 23, 1999: 23.13 ft, moderate floodingApr 28, 1999: 25.19 ft, moderate floodingMay 25, 1999: 22.73 ft, minor floodingApr 26, 2003: 22.54 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 2004: 25.18 ft, moderate floodingJul 26, 2004: 23.55 ft, moderate floodingMay 14, 2005: 26.66 ft, moderate floodingJun 6, 2005: 24.37 ft, moderate floodingJun 14, 2005: 26.75 ft, moderate floodingMay 8, 2007: 25.70 ft, moderate floodingJul 1, 2007: 24.18 ft, moderate flooding; 24,521 cubic feet per secondSep 14, 2008: 24.33 ft, moderate floodingApr 28, 2009: 24.65 ft, moderate flooding; 25,649 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 2009: 23.79 ft, moderate flooding; 23,694 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 2010: 26.06 ft, moderate flooding; 34,779 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 2011: 12.80 ft, below flood stage; 6,510 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2012: 16.89 ft, below flood stage; 10,300 cubic feet per secondAug 5, 2013: 24.78 ft, moderate flooding; 21,200 cubic feet per secondAug 13, 2013: 23.43 ft, moderate floodingJun 10, 2014: 20.29 ft, action stage; 14,000 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2015: 23.42 ft, moderate floodingMay 25, 2015: 25.47 ft, moderate flooding; 22,300 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 2015: 24.06 ft, moderate floodingApr 28, 2016: 24.52 ft, moderate floodingMay 28, 2016: 26.26 ft, moderate floodingMar 31, 2017: 25.66 ft, moderate floodingApr 6, 2017: 23.61 ft, moderate floodingMay 2, 2019: 24.57 ft, moderate floodingMay 9, 2019: 27.11 ft, moderate floodingMay 22, 2019: 26.34 ft, moderate floodingJun 24, 2019: 24.93 ft, moderate floodingJul 9, 2019: 22.51 ft, minor floodingMay 16, 2020: 23.20 ft, moderate flooding; 18,600 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2021: 23.46 ft, moderate flooding; 19,000 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2022: 22.27 ft, minor flooding; 17,300 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 2022: 22.15 ft, minor flooding; 17,000 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2022: 23.26 ft, moderate flooding; 18,700 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2022: 23.23 ft, moderate flooding; 15,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 2023: 10.55 ft, below flood stage; 3,850 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2025: 23.13 ft, moderate flooding; 18,566 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 2025: 26.11 ft, moderate flooding; 31,540 cubic feet per second Highest, 34.30 ft, Jul 11, 1951 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Neosho River at Neosho Rapids 1900s: 2 1910s: 0 1920s: 2 1930s: 1 1940s: 7 1950s: 8 1960s: 14 1970s: 10 1980s: 14 1990s: 16 16 2000s: 11 2010s: 15 2020s: 8 1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 127 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Neosho River at Neosho Rapids
1Jul 11, 195134.30+12.30Moderate—
2Nov 2, 199831.15+9.15Moderate—
3Jun 21, 194829.92+7.92Moderate—
4Oct 11, 198529.01+7.01Moderate—
5Nov 23, 194428.20+6.20Moderate—
6Oct 21, 194128.11+6.11Moderate—
7Oct 3, 197328.07+6.07Moderate—
8Jul 6, 193228.00+6.00Moderate—
9Apr 16, 194528.00+6.00Moderate—
10May 23, 196127.90+5.90Moderate—
11Dec 6, 194427.60+5.60Moderate—
12Jul 1, 195127.57+5.57Moderate—
13Sep 28, 197327.54+5.54Moderate—
14Jul 7, 190427.40+5.40Moderate—
15Jul 11, 190927.40+5.40Moderate—
16Nov 18, 192827.30+5.30Moderate—
17May 9, 201927.11+5.11Moderate—
18Jun 11, 192326.80+4.80Moderate—
19Jun 28, 196926.76+4.76Moderate—
20Jun 14, 200526.75+4.75Moderate—
21May 14, 200526.66+4.66Moderate—
22Jun 10, 196526.54+4.54Moderate—
23Jun 6, 196526.52+4.52Moderate—
24Jun 20, 194626.46+4.46Moderate—
25Sep 5, 195126.40+4.40Moderate—
26May 22, 201926.34+4.34Moderate—
27Oct 15, 194126.33+4.33Moderate—
28May 28, 199526.26+4.26Moderate—
29May 28, 201626.26+4.26Moderate—
30May 2, 195126.18+4.18Moderate—
31May 18, 199526.16+4.16Moderate—
32Jun 5, 202526.11+4.11Moderate31,540
33Jun 16, 201026.06+4.06Moderate34,779
34Oct 6, 199825.85+3.85Moderate—
35Apr 27, 196925.75+3.75Moderate—
36Jun 23, 196725.74+3.74Moderate—
37May 8, 200725.70+3.70Moderate—
38Mar 31, 201725.66+3.66Moderate—
39Oct 9, 196725.50+3.50Moderate—
40May 25, 201525.47+3.47Moderate22,300
41Sep 27, 196225.39+3.39Moderate—
42Apr 13, 199725.28+3.28Moderate—
43Oct 4, 198625.26+3.26Moderate—
44Apr 28, 199925.19+3.19Moderate—
45Mar 6, 200425.18+3.18Moderate—
46May 4, 197125.03+3.03Moderate—
47Jun 24, 201924.93+2.93Moderate—
48Mar 12, 197324.81+2.81Moderate—
49Aug 5, 201324.78+2.78Moderate21,200
50May 7, 196124.73+2.73Moderate—

The worst floods along the Neosho River

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

July 11, 1951: 34.30 ft here, moderate flooding

  • ParsonsKS · Jul 14, 1951 · 40.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • CommerceOK · Jul 16, 1951 · 34.03 ft · Major · its highest
  • IolaKS · Jul 13, 1951 · 33.26 ft · Major · its highest
  • OswegoKS · Jul 15, 1951 · 32.50 ft · Major
  • BurlingtonKS · Jul 12, 1951 · 41.53 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Le RoyKS · Jul 12, 1951 · 34.48 ft · Moderate · its highest

November 2, 1998: 31.15 ft here, moderate flooding

  • ErieKS · Nov 5, 1998 · 36.96 ft · Major
  • ChanuteKS · Nov 3, 1998 · 32.13 ft · Moderate
  • Le RoyKS · Nov 4, 1998 · 28.00 ft · Moderate
  • AmericusKS · Nov 2, 1998 · 27.38 ft · Moderate
  • EmporiaKS · Nov 2, 1998 · 24.88 ft · Moderate
  • OswegoKS · Nov 7, 1998 · 23.30 ft · Moderate
  • CommerceOK · Nov 9, 1998 · 19.80 ft · Moderate
  • BurlingtonKS · Nov 6, 1998 · 29.84 ft · Minor

June 21, 1948: 29.92 ft here, moderate flooding

  • OswegoKS · Jun 23, 1948 · 25.60 ft · Major
  • CommerceOK · Jun 24, 1948 · 23.38 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Neosho River

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

Flood gauges on the Neosho River
BurlingtonKS27.041.53 ft, Jul 12, 19510
EmporiaKS19.026.00 ft, Oct 11, 19850
IolaKS15.033.26 ft, Jul 13, 19511
John Redmond LakeKS1,068.01,081.90 ft, May 14, 20091
Le RoyKS23.034.48 ft, Jul 12, 19510
Neosho Rapids this gaugeKS22.034.30 ft, Jul 11, 19510
OswegoKS17.034.10 ft, Jul 20, 194822
AmericusKS26.028.30 ft, Jun 27, 19690
ChanuteKS23.036.82 ft, Jul 1, 20072
CommerceOK15.034.03 ft, Jul 16, 19519
ErieKS29.040.60 ft, Jul 2, 20075
OswegoKS28.034.70 ft, May 29, 20191
ParsonsKS21.040.20 ft, Jul 14, 19512

Other gauges in Lyon County

Flood gauges in Lyon County
Emporia20.033.40 ft, Jul 11, 19511
Reading19.027.47 ft, May 29, 19820
Emporia19.026.00 ft, Oct 11, 19850
Americus26.028.30 ft, Jun 27, 19690

Lyon County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Kansas

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge NEOK1, 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.