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Walnut River at Winfield

Highest listed crest 41.00 ftFlood stage 18.0 ft106 crests since 1898

The Walnut River at Winfield crested at major flood stage 42 times among the 106 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1898 to 2026. The highest, 41.00 ft on November 18, 1928, was major flooding, 23.00 feet above flood stage.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
41.00 ft
November 18, 1928; 94,400 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
18.0 ft
Major flooding from 29.0 ft
Crests at major
42
1st of 171 gauges in Kansas
Most recent flood crest
June 27, 2026
24.61 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Cowley County
Near Winfield (1.6 mi), Arkansas City (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, Walnut River at Winfield
Action stage16.03Jun 18, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)18.021Jun 21, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage22.026Jun 27, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage29.042May 26, 2019Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

106 crests from 1898 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Walnut River at Winfield, 1898 to 2026 01020304050ft Flood stage 18.0 ftMajor 29.0 ft May 4, 1898: 33.10 ft, major flooding; 40,000 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 1904: 35.20 ft, major flooding; 48,000 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1915: 31.70 ft, major flooding; 35,000 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1922: 32.20 ft, major flooding; 28,900 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1923: 38.70 ft, major flooding; 76,000 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1926: 34.20 ft, major flooding; 38,700 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1928: 33.10 ft, major flooding; 32,900 cubic feet per secondNov 18, 1928: 41.00 ft, major flooding; 94,400 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1930: 21.40 ft, minor flooding; 11,400 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1931: 21.84 ft, minor flooding; 11,800 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1932: 26.08 ft, moderate flooding; 16,400 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 1933: 29.98 ft, major flooding; 22,800 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1935: 29.51 ft, major flooding; 21,800 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 1937: 25.20 ft, moderate flooding; 16,200 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1938: 29.70 ft, major flooding; 22,200 cubic feet per secondJan 27, 1939: 22.18 ft, moderate flooding; 13,400 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1940: 17.87 ft, action stage; 11,600 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1941: 23.14 ft, moderate flooding; 17,400 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1942: 25.23 ft, moderate flooding; 18,700 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1943: 33.53 ft, major flooding; 37,600 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1944: 38.30 ft, major flooding; 105,000 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 1944: 31.60 ft, major flooding; 30,600 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1945: 35.92 ft, major flooding; 60,600 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 1945: 35.00 ft, major flooding; 47,400 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1947: 30.88 ft, major floodingJul 16, 1948: 22.96 ft, moderate flooding; 16,500 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1949: 21.79 ft, minor flooding; 14,700 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 1950: 33.57 ft, major floodingAug 2, 1950: 33.48 ft, major flooding; 31,600 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1951: 37.80 ft, major flooding; 83,000 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1952: 16.44 ft, action stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1953: 25.20 ft, moderate flooding; 21,700 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1957: 30.50 ft, major flooding; 30,100 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1958: 28.88 ft, moderate flooding; 27,700 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1959: 31.59 ft, major flooding; 30,500 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1961: 35.36 ft, major flooding; 57,600 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 1964: 33.90 ft, major flooding; 46,700 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1965: 35.97 ft, major flooding; 61,800 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 1967: 15.68 ft, below flood stage; 11,500 cubic feet per secondSep 4, 1968: 20.23 ft, minor flooding; 17,000 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1969: 25.69 ft, moderate flooding; 23,800 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1970: 31.84 ft, major flooding; 34,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 1971: 12.38 ft, below flood stage; 7,880 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1972: 12.60 ft, below flood stage; 7,900 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1973: 30.78 ft, major flooding; 31,800 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 1973: 33.80 ft, major flooding; 46,600 cubic feet per secondNov 3, 1974: 22.73 ft, moderate flooding; 20,300 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1975: 22.86 ft, moderate flooding; 20,300 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1976: 34.51 ft, major flooding; 45,100 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1977: 32.01 ft, major flooding; 35,600 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1978: 15.12 ft, below flood stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1979: 35.24 ft, major flooding; 56,500 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1980: 14.33 ft, below flood stage; 9,690 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1981: 7.83 ft, below flood stage; 3,540 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1982: 18.00 ft, minor flooding; 15,600 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1983: 20.98 ft, minor flooding; 19,400 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1984: 19.19 ft, minor flooding; 17,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 1985: 18.22 ft, minor flooding; 15,100 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 1985: 27.40 ft, moderate flooding; 26,000 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1986: 32.83 ft, major flooding; 39,100 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1988: 21.94 ft, minor flooding; 19,100 cubic feet per secondSep 5, 1989: 25.18 ft, moderate flooding; 23,700 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1990: 15.21 ft, below flood stage; 11,800 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1991: 6.54 ft, below flood stage; 2,980 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1992: 14.34 ft, below flood stage; 11,200 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 1993: 33.45 ft, major flooding; 42,800 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1994: 18.24 ft, minor flooding; 15,600 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1995: 37.75 ft, major flooding; 89,260 cubic feet per secondSep 20, 1996: 8.43 ft, below flood stage; 5,000 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1998: 37.81 ft, major flooding; 96,100 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2003: 18.52 ft, minor floodingOct 11, 2003: 22.60 ft, moderate flooding; 23,959 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 2004: 22.08 ft, moderate flooding; 25,250 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 2004: 22.99 ft, moderate flooding; 26,585 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2005: 20.12 ft, minor flooding; 21,751 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 2005: 27.88 ft, moderate flooding; 32,413 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2007: 18.67 ft, minor flooding; 19,737 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2007: 23.80 ft, moderate flooding; 26,493 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2007: 35.50 ft, major flooding; 56,000 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 2008: 21.65 ft, minor flooding; 23,689 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2008: 24.76 ft, moderate flooding; 27,804 cubic feet per secondSep 14, 2008: 32.01 ft, major flooding; 39,800 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2009: 31.94 ft, major flooding; 39,700 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2010: 19.34 ft, minor flooding; 19,300 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 2013: 18.40 ft, minor flooding; 18,400 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2016: 23.74 ft, moderate flooding; 27,187 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2016: 22.95 ft, moderate flooding; 25,284 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 2016: 29.37 ft, major flooding; 35,835 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2017: 18.96 ft, minor flooding; 19,255 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2017: 18.92 ft, minor flooding; 19,195 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 2018: 15.18 ft, below flood stage; 13,900 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 2018: 24.95 ft, moderate flooding; 28,600 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2019: 36.72 ft, major flooding; 75,800 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2019: 35.28 ft, major flooding; 55,400 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2019: 34.21 ft, major flooding; 48,200 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 2019: 18.37 ft, minor flooding; 18,400 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2019: 19.65 ft, minor flooding; 20,300 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2020: 25.72 ft, moderate flooding; 29,800 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2021: 15.82 ft, below flood stage; 14,600 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2022: 23.73 ft, moderate flooding; 27,300 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 2023: 5.75 ft, below flood stage; 3,080 cubic feet per secondNov 4, 2024: 10.28 ft, below flood stage; 8,250 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2025: 25.06 ft, moderate flooding; 29,500 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2025: 17.01 ft, action stage; 17,200 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2026: 18.87 ft, minor flooding; 19,871 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 2026: 24.61 ft, moderate flooding; 28,734 cubic feet per second Highest, 41.00 ft, Nov 18, 1928 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Walnut River at Winfield 1890s: 1 1900s: 1 1910s: 1 1920s: 5 1930s: 8 1940s: 10 1950s: 7 1960s: 5 1970s: 8 1980s: 8 1990s: 4 2000s: 13 13 2010s: 13 2020s: 5 1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 106 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Walnut River at Winfield
1Nov 18, 192841.00+23.00Major94,400
2Jun 10, 192338.70+20.70Major76,000
3Apr 23, 194438.30+20.30Major105,000
4Nov 2, 199837.81+19.81Major96,100
5Jul 1, 195137.80+19.80Major83,000
6Jun 10, 199537.75+19.75Major89,260
7May 9, 201936.72+18.72Major75,800
8Jun 6, 196535.97+17.97Major61,800
9Apr 17, 194535.92+17.92Major60,600
10Jul 1, 200735.50+17.50Major56,000
11May 6, 196135.36+17.36Major57,600
12May 22, 201935.28+17.28Major55,400
13Jun 10, 197935.24+17.24Major56,500
14Jul 8, 190435.20+17.20Major48,000
15Sep 30, 194535.00+17.00Major47,400
16Jul 5, 197634.51+16.51Major45,100
17May 26, 201934.21+16.21Major48,200
18Oct 4, 192634.20+16.20Major38,700
19Nov 17, 196433.90+15.90Major46,700
20Oct 12, 197333.80+15.80Major46,600
21Jan 1, 195033.57+15.57Major—
22May 20, 194333.53+15.53Major37,600
23Aug 2, 195033.48+15.48Major31,600
24May 11, 199333.45+15.45Major42,800
25May 4, 189833.10+15.10Major40,000
26Jun 19, 192833.10+15.10Major32,900
27Oct 4, 198632.83+14.83Major39,100
28Apr 11, 192232.20+14.20Major28,900
29Jun 24, 197732.01+14.01Major35,600
30Sep 14, 200832.01+14.01Major39,800
31Apr 29, 200931.94+13.94Major39,700
32Apr 19, 197031.84+13.84Major34,800
33May 22, 191531.70+13.70Major35,000
34Dec 7, 194431.60+13.60Major30,600
35Oct 4, 195931.59+13.59Major30,500
36Apr 14, 194730.88+12.88Major—
37Mar 11, 197330.78+12.78Major31,800
38May 19, 195730.50+12.50Major30,100
39Aug 21, 193329.98+11.98Major22,800
40May 20, 193829.70+11.70Major22,200
41May 30, 193529.51+11.51Major21,800
42Sep 11, 201629.37+11.37Major35,835
43Jul 4, 195828.88+10.88Moderate27,700
44Jun 14, 200527.88+9.88Moderate32,413
45Oct 13, 198527.40+9.40Moderate26,000
46Jun 21, 193226.08+8.08Moderate16,400
47May 17, 202025.72+7.72Moderate29,800
48Jun 24, 196925.69+7.69Moderate23,800
49Apr 29, 194225.23+7.23Moderate18,700
50Jul 19, 193725.20+7.20Moderate16,200

The worst floods along the Walnut River

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

June 10, 1923: 38.70 ft here, major flooding

April 23, 1944: 38.30 ft here, major flooding

November 2, 1998: 37.81 ft here, major flooding

  • Arkansas CityKS · Nov 3, 1998 · 32.45 ft · Major · its highest
  • AugustaKS · Nov 1, 1998 · 34.65 ft · Moderate
  • El DoradoKS · Nov 1, 1998 · 19.77 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Walnut River

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

Flood gauges on the Walnut River
Arkansas CityKS18.032.45 ft, Nov 3, 19985
AugustaKS23.036.35 ft, Jun 5, 19651
Winfield this gaugeKS18.041.00 ft, Nov 18, 192842
El DoradoKS19.026.65 ft, Jun 8, 19791

Other gauges in Cowley County

Flood gauges in Cowley County
Arkansas City11.020.91 ft, May 9, 20190
Arkansas City18.032.45 ft, Nov 3, 19985

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge WFDK1, 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.