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Verdigris River at Independence

Highest listed crest 52.40 ftFlood stage 30.0 ft121 crests since 1930

The Verdigris River at Independence crested above flood stage 88 times among the 121 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1930 to 2026. The highest, 52.40 ft on July 1, 2007, was moderate flooding, 22.40 feet above flood stage. 4 other gauges on the Verdigris River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 3 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
52.40 ft
July 1, 2007; 153,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
30.0 ft
Major flooding from 53.0 ft
Crests at major
0
88 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
April 29, 2024
38.34 ft, minor flooding
Location
Montgomery County
Kansas

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Verdigris River at Independence
Action stage28.08Mar 19, 2021The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)30.086Apr 29, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage47.62Jul 1, 2007Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage53.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

121 crests from 1930 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Verdigris River at Independence, 1930 to 2026 0204060ft Flood stage 30.0 ftMajor 53.0 ft May 8, 1930: 30.29 ft, minor flooding; 21,100 cubic feet per secondNov 25, 1931: 36.18 ft, minor flooding; 26,600 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 1933: 30.25 ft, minor flooding; 18,800 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 1934: 24.10 ft, below flood stage; 13,900 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1935: 44.80 ft, minor flooding; 68,800 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1935: 39.34 ft, minor flooding; 34,600 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1935: 36.46 ft, minor flooding; 28,200 cubic feet per secondNov 28, 1935: 31.53 ft, minor flooding; 22,400 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 1936: 35.35 ft, minor flooding; 26,300 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1938: 38.44 ft, minor flooding; 32,300 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1938: 38.40 ft, minor flooding; 32,300 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1939: 18.90 ft, below flood stage; 9,920 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1940: 24.48 ft, below flood stage; 14,700 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1941: 39.55 ft, minor flooding; 35,800 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1942: 35.55 ft, minor flooding; 26,600 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1943: 36.78 ft, minor flooding; 28,600 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1943: 47.60 ft, moderate flooding; 114,000 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1943: 39.50 ft, minor flooding; 35,400 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1944: 38.15 ft, minor flooding; 31,600 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1944: 43.06 ft, minor flooding; 51,400 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1944: 43.70 ft, minor flooding; 56,300 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 1945: 36.45 ft, minor flooding; 27,900 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1945: 47.28 ft, minor flooding; 117,000 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1945: 40.15 ft, minor flooding; 37,700 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1945: 41.60 ft, minor flooding; 44,800 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1947: 41.83 ft, minor flooding; 51,600 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 1948: 42.28 ft, minor flooding; 49,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1949: 35.02 ft, minor flooding; 25,200 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 1950: 37.18 ft, minor flooding; 29,400 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1951: 46.59 ft, minor flooding; 104,000 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 1951: 44.40 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 1952: 30.63 ft, minor flooding; 21,800 cubic feet per secondSep 4, 1953: 8.60 ft, below flood stage; 2,440 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1954: 36.63 ft, minor flooding; 29,100 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1955: 27.29 ft, below flood stage; 17,500 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1956: 13.28 ft, below flood stage; 5,140 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1957: 35.35 ft, minor flooding; 27,500 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1958: 35.88 ft, minor flooding; 27,300 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 1959: 36.60 ft, minor flooding; 28,500 cubic feet per secondOct 6, 1959: 37.12 ft, minor flooding; 29,400 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1961: 47.03 ft, minor flooding; 110,000 cubic feet per secondNov 4, 1961: 39.60 ft, minor flooding; 35,000 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1962: 23.95 ft, below flood stage; 13,800 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1964: 10.90 ft, below flood stage; 3,680 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1965: 40.16 ft, minor flooding; 42,200 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1966: 11.84 ft, below flood stage; 4,620 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1967: 26.88 ft, below flood stage; 17,100 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1970: 31.96 ft, minor flooding; 24,200 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1971: 22.83 ft, below flood stage; 13,900 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 1971: 27.52 ft, below flood stage; 18,700 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1973: 32.26 ft, minor flooding; 24,600 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1973: 31.72 ft, minor flooding; 23,900 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1974: 39.53 ft, minor flooding; 35,600 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1974: 32.83 ft, minor flooding; 24,200 cubic feet per secondNov 4, 1974: 40.13 ft, minor flooding; 38,600 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1975: 31.30 ft, minor floodingJul 3, 1976: 42.37 ft, minor flooding; 46,000 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1977: 38.67 ft, minor flooding; 31,600 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1978: 26.76 ft, below flood stage; 17,900 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1979: 24.06 ft, below flood stage; 15,200 cubic feet per secondNov 21, 1979: 30.94 ft, minor flooding; 22,000 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1981: 13.71 ft, below flood stage; 6,370 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1982: 27.44 ft, below flood stage; 18,500 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1983: 28.32 ft, action stage; 19,400 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1984: 38.87 ft, minor flooding; 31,700 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1984: 30.54 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 1985: 35.72 ft, minor flooding; 26,100 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1985: 32.10 ft, minor floodingSep 4, 1986: 47.00 ft, minor floodingSep 30, 1986: 38.14 ft, minor flooding; 29,000 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1986: 46.79 ft, minor flooding; 109,000 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1987: 30.40 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 1988: 38.70 ft, minor flooding; 31,000 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1989: 30.16 ft, minor flooding; 20,600 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1990: 31.35 ft, minor flooding; 21,700 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 1991: 11.27 ft, below flood stage; 4,510 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1992: 28.85 ft, action stage; 19,300 cubic feet per secondDec 14, 1992: 34.22 ft, minor flooding; 24,600 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1993: 34.11 ft, minor flooding; 24,949 cubic feet per secondSep 25, 1993: 32.80 ft, minor floodingApr 12, 1994: 38.61 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 1994: 41.68 ft, minor flooding; 48,200 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1995: 40.26 ft, minor floodingSep 26, 1996: 17.08 ft, below flood stage; 8,940 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2002: 32.99 ft, minor flooding; 25,100 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2004: 31.24 ft, minor flooding; 23,500 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2005: 29.41 ft, action stage; 21,300 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2007: 34.27 ft, minor flooding; 26,722 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2007: 52.40 ft, moderate flooding; 153,000 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 2008: 35.15 ft, minor flooding; 27,703 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2008: 31.30 ft, minor flooding; 23,690 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2008: 36.89 ft, minor flooding; 30,500 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2009: 35.63 ft, minor flooding; 28,238 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 2009: 35.41 ft, minor flooding; 27,500 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 2010: 35.83 ft, minor flooding; 28,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2011: 11.73 ft, below flood stage; 4,950 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2012: 29.32 ft, action stage; 20,700 cubic feet per secondAug 6, 2013: 35.94 ft, minor flooding; 28,300 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2014: 24.24 ft, below flood stage; 15,900 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2015: 29.68 ft, action stage; 22,100 cubic feet per secondSep 10, 2016: 26.77 ft, below flood stage; 19,300 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2017: 33.96 ft, minor flooding; 26,737 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2017: 34.42 ft, minor flooding; 169,000 cubic feet per secondAug 15, 2018: 31.46 ft, minor flooding; 24,000 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2018: 26.47 ft, below flood stage; 19,300 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2019: 28.48 ft, action stage; 21,200 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2019: 28.72 ft, action stage; 21,400 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2019: 41.92 ft, minor flooding; 54,880 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2019: 45.35 ft, minor flooding; 75,900 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 2019: 32.69 ft, minor flooding; 27,400 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2019: 30.85 ft, minor flooding; 25,400 cubic feet per secondAug 9, 2019: 34.09 ft, minor flooding; 29,100 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 2020: 36.22 ft, minor flooding; 28,400 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 2021: 28.43 ft, action stageJul 18, 2021: 35.95 ft, minor flooding; 28,200 cubic feet per secondMay 5, 2022: 33.16 ft, minor flooding; 25,600 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 2022: 34.44 ft, minor flooding; 26,800 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2023: 14.34 ft, below flood stage; 7,410 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2024: 38.34 ft, minor flooding; 41,100 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 2025: 23.38 ft, below flood stage; 16,500 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2026: 27.51 ft, below flood stage; 20,971 cubic feet per second Highest, 52.40 ft, Jul 1, 2007 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Verdigris River at Independence 1930s: 10 1940s: 15 15 1950s: 9 1960s: 3 1970s: 10 1980s: 10 1990s: 7 2000s: 9 2010s: 10 2020s: 5 1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 121 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Verdigris River at Independence
1Jul 1, 200752.40+22.40Moderate153,000
2May 19, 194347.60+17.60Moderate114,000
3Apr 17, 194547.28+17.28Minor117,000
4May 6, 196147.03+17.03Minor110,000
5Sep 4, 198647.00+17.00Minor—
6Oct 4, 198646.79+16.79Minor109,000
7Jul 1, 195146.59+16.59Minor104,000
8May 27, 201945.35+15.35Minor75,900
9May 30, 193544.80+14.80Minor68,800
10Jul 13, 195144.40+14.40Minor—
11Apr 24, 194443.70+13.70Minor56,300
12Apr 11, 194443.06+13.06Minor51,400
13Jul 3, 197642.37+12.37Minor46,000
14Jul 23, 194842.28+12.28Minor49,300
15May 22, 201941.92+11.92Minor54,880
16Apr 14, 194741.83+11.83Minor51,600
17Apr 30, 199441.68+11.68Minor48,200
18Oct 1, 194541.60+11.60Minor44,800
19Jun 10, 199540.26+10.26Minor—
20Apr 4, 196540.16+10.16Minor42,200
21Sep 26, 194540.15+10.15Minor37,700
22Nov 4, 197440.13+10.13Minor38,600
23Nov 4, 196139.60+9.60Minor35,000
24Apr 17, 194139.55+9.55Minor35,800
25Mar 11, 197439.53+9.53Minor35,600
26Jun 25, 194339.50+9.50Minor35,400
27Jun 17, 193539.34+9.34Minor34,600
28May 27, 198438.87+8.87Minor31,700
29Apr 3, 198838.70+8.70Minor31,000
30Jun 24, 197738.67+8.67Minor31,600
31Apr 12, 199438.61+8.61Minor—
32May 21, 193838.44+8.44Minor32,300
33May 26, 193838.40+8.40Minor32,300
34Apr 29, 202438.34+8.34Minor41,100
35Mar 20, 194438.15+8.15Minor31,600
36Sep 30, 198638.14+8.14Minor29,000
37Jul 19, 195037.18+7.18Minor29,400
38Oct 6, 195937.12+7.12Minor29,400
39Jun 15, 200836.89+6.89Minor30,500
40May 11, 194336.78+6.78Minor28,600
41May 3, 195436.63+6.63Minor29,100
42Jul 19, 195936.60+6.60Minor28,500
43Jun 27, 193536.46+6.46Minor28,200
44Mar 26, 194536.45+6.45Minor27,900
45May 16, 202036.22+6.22Minor28,400
46Nov 25, 193136.18+6.18Minor26,600
47Jul 18, 202135.95+5.95Minor28,200
48Aug 6, 201335.94+5.94Minor28,300
49Mar 25, 195835.88+5.88Minor27,300
50Jul 10, 201035.83+5.83Minor28,100

The worst floods along the Verdigris River

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

July 1, 2007: 52.40 ft here, moderate flooding

  • LenapahOK · Jul 2, 2007 · 43.19 ft · Major · its highest
  • CoffeyvilleKS · Jul 1, 2007 · 30.70 ft · Major · its highest
  • AltoonaKS · Jul 1, 2007 · 24.58 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • ClaremoreOK · Jul 6, 2007 · 37.62 ft · Minor

May 19, 1943: 47.60 ft here, moderate flooding

  • ClaremoreOK · May 21, 1943 · 55.05 ft · Major · its highest
  • InolaOK · May 21, 1943 · 54.93 ft · Major · its highest
  • LenapahOK · May 20, 1943 · 40.44 ft · Major
  • CoffeyvilleKS · May 21, 1943 · 25.80 ft · Moderate

April 17, 1945: 47.28 ft here, minor flooding

  • InolaOK · Apr 22, 1945 · 51.70 ft · Major
  • ClaremoreOK · Apr 21, 1945 · 47.14 ft · Major
  • LenapahOK · Apr 18, 1945 · 38.50 ft · Major
  • CoffeyvilleKS · Apr 17, 1945 · 25.00 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Verdigris River

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

Flood gauges on the Verdigris River
AltoonaKS19.024.58 ft, Jul 1, 20070
CoffeyvilleKS18.030.70 ft, Jul 1, 20073
Independence this gaugeKS30.052.40 ft, Jul 1, 20070
ClaremoreOK36.055.05 ft, May 21, 194319
InolaOK42.054.93 ft, May 21, 194319
LenapahOK30.043.19 ft, Jul 2, 200715

Other gauges in Montgomery County

Flood gauges in Montgomery County
Coffeyville18.030.70 ft, Jul 1, 20073

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge IDPK1, 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.