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Smoky Hill River below Russell

Highest listed crest 20.43 ftFlood stage 18.0 ft20 crests since 2011

The Smoky Hill River below Russell crested above flood stage 3 times among the 20 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2011 to 2026. The highest, 20.43 ft on May 25, 2019, was moderate flooding, 2.43 feet above flood stage. 8 other gauges on the Smoky Hill River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
20.43 ft
May 25, 2019; 10,400 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
18.0 ft
Major flooding from 38.0 ft
Crests at major
0
3 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
August 26, 2019
18.61 ft, minor flooding
Location
Russell County
Kansas

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Smoky Hill River below Russell
Action stage16.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)18.02Aug 26, 2019Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage20.01May 25, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage38.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

20 crests from 2011 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Smoky Hill River below Russell, 2011 to 2026 010203040ft Flood stage 18.0 ftMajor 38.0 ft Aug 10, 2011: 5.41 ft, below flood stage; 264 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2012: 8.47 ft, below flood stage; 1,280 cubic feet per secondAug 5, 2013: 10.29 ft, below flood stage; 2,050 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2014: 10.57 ft, below flood stage; 2,040 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2015: 3.79 ft, below flood stage; 33 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2016: 11.58 ft, below flood stage; 2,710 cubic feet per secondSep 5, 2016: 13.38 ft, below flood stage; 4,000 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2017: 10.52 ft, below flood stage; 1,930 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 2018: 11.75 ft, below flood stage; 2,650 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2018: 18.96 ft, minor flooding; 8,590 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2019: 20.43 ft, moderate flooding; 10,400 cubic feet per secondAug 26, 2019: 18.61 ft, minor flooding; 9,247 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2020: 12.35 ft, below flood stage; 2,590 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2021: 15.13 ft, below flood stage; 4,910 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 2022: 5.08 ft, below flood stage; 40 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2022: 5.00 ft, below flood stage; 190 cubic feet per secondAug 14, 2023: 8.21 ft, below flood stage; 732 cubic feet per secondAug 13, 2024: 8.19 ft, below flood stage; 32 cubic feet per secondJul 22, 2025: 10.22 ft, below flood stage; 210 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2026: 15.20 ft, below flood stage; 3,830 cubic feet per second Highest, 20.43 ft, May 25, 2019 201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Smoky Hill River below Russell 2010s: 3 3 2020s: 0 2010s2020s
  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, Smoky Hill River below Russell
1May 25, 201920.43+2.43Moderate10,400
2Oct 10, 201818.96+0.96Minor8,590
3Aug 26, 201918.61+0.61Minor9,247
4Jun 22, 202615.20−2.80Below flood stage3,830
5May 27, 202115.13−2.87Below flood stage4,910
6Sep 5, 201613.38−4.62Below flood stage4,000
7Jun 22, 202012.35−5.65Below flood stage2,590
8Aug 20, 201811.75−6.25Below flood stage2,650
9Apr 20, 201611.58−6.42Below flood stage2,710
10Jun 28, 201410.57−7.43Below flood stage2,040
11May 1, 201710.52−7.48Below flood stage1,930
12Aug 5, 201310.29−7.71Below flood stage2,050
13Jul 22, 202510.22−7.78Below flood stage210
14Apr 15, 20128.47−9.53Below flood stage1,280
15Aug 14, 20238.21−9.79Below flood stage732
16Aug 13, 20248.19−9.81Below flood stage32
17Aug 10, 20115.41−12.59Below flood stage264
18Feb 4, 20225.08−12.92Below flood stage40
19Jun 8, 20225.00−13.00Below flood stage190
20May 30, 20153.79−14.21Below flood stage33

The worst floods along the Smoky Hill River

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

May 25, 2019: 20.43 ft here, moderate flooding

  • New CambriaKS · May 23, 2019 · 30.67 ft · Moderate
  • EnterpriseKS · May 25, 2019 · 30.52 ft · Moderate
  • AbileneKS · May 23, 2019 · 29.75 ft · Minor
  • LindsborgKS · May 22, 2019 · 24.00 ft · Minor
  • Junction CityKS · May 25, 2019 · 23.46 ft · Minor
  • MentorKS · May 22, 2019 · 21.47 ft · Minor
  • EllsworthKS · May 26, 2019 · 20.90 ft · Minor
  • SchoenchenKS · May 22, 2019 · 12.22 ft · Minor

October 10, 2018: 18.96 ft here, minor flooding

  • New CambriaKS · Oct 11, 2018 · 27.92 ft · Minor
  • EllsworthKS · Oct 10, 2018 · 23.04 ft · Minor
  • LindsborgKS · Oct 10, 2018 · 21.55 ft · Minor
  • SchoenchenKS · Oct 10, 2018 · 11.42 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Smoky Hill River

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

Flood gauges on the Smoky Hill River
EllsworthKS20.030.07 ft, Jul 22, 19932
EnterpriseKS26.033.95 ft, Jul 22, 19930
LindsborgKS21.033.90 ft, May 28, 19031
Russell this gaugeKS18.020.43 ft, May 25, 20190
SchoenchenKS11.017.60 ft, Jul 21, 19931
AbileneKS27.032.10 ft, Jul 22, 19930
ArnoldKS7.019.00 ft, May 30, 19381
Junction CityKS22.035.90 ft, Jul 12, 19510
MentorKS20.024.65 ft, Jun 24, 20190
New CambriaKS27.031.72 ft, Jun 25, 19930
OakleyKS9.015.20 ft, May 30, 19381

Other gauges in Russell County

Flood gauges in Russell County
Paradise14.021.39 ft, May 17, 20210
Russell18.025.73 ft, Jul 21, 19932

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge RSLK1, 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.