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Ohio River at Newburgh Lock and Dam

Highest listed crest 56.60 ftFlood stage 38.0 ft71 crests since 1884

The Ohio River at Newburgh Lock and Dam crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 71 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1884 to 2025. The highest, 56.60 ft on January 31, 1937, was major flooding, 18.60 feet above flood stage. 24 other gauges on the Ohio River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 17 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
56.60 ft
January 31, 1937
Flood stage
38.0 ft
Major flooding from 56.0 ft
Crests at major
1
51st of 72 gauges in Kentucky
Most recent flood crest
February 22, 2025
47.90 ft, minor flooding
Location
Henderson County
Near Evansville (9.6 mi), Henderson (12.8 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Ohio River at Newburgh Lock and Dam
Action stage35.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)38.060Feb 22, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage48.010Feb 28, 2018Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage56.01Jan 31, 1937Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

71 crests from 1884 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Ohio River at Newburgh Lock and Dam, 1884 to 2025 354045505560ft Flood stage 38.0 ftMajor 56.0 ft Jan 1, 1884: 50.20 ft, moderate floodingApr 1, 1913: 50.70 ft, moderate floodingMar 26, 1933: 47.60 ft, minor floodingMar 31, 1936: 46.70 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 1937: 56.60 ft, major floodingFeb 12, 1939: 47.20 ft, minor floodingMar 25, 1943: 47.70 ft, minor floodingMar 12, 1945: 50.90 ft, moderate floodingApr 21, 1948: 48.10 ft, moderate floodingJan 17, 1950: 47.80 ft, minor floodingOct 14, 1952: 48.10 ft, moderate floodingJan 28, 1959: 45.10 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 1961: 46.70 ft, minor floodingMar 7, 1962: 47.50 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 1963: 47.00 ft, minor floodingMar 16, 1964: 50.40 ft, moderate floodingMar 15, 1967: 46.52 ft, minor floodingMay 2, 1968: 45.47 ft, minor floodingFeb 26, 1971: 42.60 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 1975: 46.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 1976: 45.70 ft, minor floodingDec 15, 1978: 47.90 ft, minor floodingMar 5, 1979: 47.20 ft, minor floodingJun 13, 1981: 41.80 ft, minor floodingJan 27, 1982: 41.30 ft, minor floodingMar 23, 1982: 43.20 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 1983: 46.60 ft, minor floodingDec 5, 1985: 44.08 ft, minor floodingFeb 12, 1986: 43.10 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 1987: 41.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 8, 1988: 40.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 19, 1989: 46.89 ft, minor floodingFeb 18, 1990: 47.30 ft, minor floodingJan 6, 1991: 47.50 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1993: 43.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 3, 1994: 45.70 ft, minor floodingMar 16, 1994: 45.40 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 1994: 44.60 ft, minor floodingMay 14, 1996: 45.10 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 1997: 50.53 ft, moderate floodingApr 26, 1998: 42.40 ft, minor floodingJan 26, 1999: 42.62 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 2000: 45.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 21, 2001: 38.16 ft, minor floodingMar 26, 2002: 44.94 ft, minor floodingMar 1, 2003: 44.23 ft, minor floodingJan 10, 2004: 45.00 ft, minor floodingJan 14, 2005: 46.81 ft, minor floodingJan 27, 2006: 39.08 ft, minor floodingDec 19, 2007: 43.28 ft, minor flooding; 438,070 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 2008: 46.49 ft, minor flooding; 597,498 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2009: 41.90 ft, minor flooding; 394,661 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2010: 44.19 ft, minor flooding; 480,693 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2011: 49.08 ft, moderate flooding; 727,190 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 2013: 41.80 ft, minor flooding; 392,332 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 2014: 43.14 ft, minor flooding; 431,785 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2015: 48.07 ft, moderate flooding; 674,417 cubic feet per secondJan 1, 2016: 45.34 ft, minor flooding; 539,087 cubic feet per secondJan 21, 2017: 41.20 ft, minor flooding; 378,533 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 2018: 50.12 ft, moderate flooding; 787,547 cubic feet per secondFeb 16, 2019: 47.39 ft, minor flooding; 640,485 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 2020: 46.27 ft, minor flooding; 587,319 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 2021: 47.22 ft, minor flooding; 632,200 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 2022: 43.61 ft, minor flooding; 453,172 cubic feet per secondFeb 10, 2022: 41.96 ft, minor flooding; 396,063 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 2022: 44.94 ft, minor flooding; 518,186 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 2023: 40.68 ft, minor flooding; 369,203 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 2023: 40.02 ft, minor flooding; 359,389 cubic feet per secondFeb 3, 2024: 40.74 ft, minor flooding; 370,101 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 2024: 43.49 ft, minor flooding; 447,634 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 2025: 47.90 ft, minor flooding; 665,812 cubic feet per second Highest, 56.60 ft, Jan 31, 1937 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Ohio River at Newburgh Lock and Dam 1880s: 1 1890s: 0 1900s: 0 1910s: 1 1920s: 0 1930s: 4 1940s: 3 1950s: 3 1960s: 6 1970s: 5 1980s: 9 1990s: 10 10 2000s: 10 2010s: 9 2020s: 10 1880s1900s1920s1940s1960s1980s2000s2020s
  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 71 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Ohio River at Newburgh Lock and Dam
1Jan 31, 193756.60+18.60Major—
2Mar 12, 194550.90+12.90Moderate—
3Apr 1, 191350.70+12.70Moderate—
4Mar 9, 199750.53+12.53Moderate—
5Mar 16, 196450.40+12.40Moderate—
6Jan 1, 188450.20+12.20Moderate—
7Feb 28, 201850.12+12.12Moderate787,547
8Apr 29, 201149.08+11.08Moderate727,190
9Apr 21, 194848.10+10.10Moderate—
10Oct 14, 195248.10+10.10Moderate—
11Mar 18, 201548.07+10.07Moderate674,417
12Dec 15, 197847.90+9.90Minor—
13Feb 22, 202547.90+9.90Minor665,812
14Jan 17, 195047.80+9.80Minor—
15Mar 25, 194347.70+9.70Minor—
16Mar 26, 193347.60+9.60Minor—
17Mar 7, 196247.50+9.50Minor—
18Jan 6, 199147.50+9.50Minor—
19Feb 16, 201947.39+9.39Minor640,485
20Feb 18, 199047.30+9.30Minor—
21Mar 8, 202147.22+9.22Minor632,200
22Feb 12, 193947.20+9.20Minor—
23Mar 5, 197947.20+9.20Minor—
24Mar 21, 196347.00+9.00Minor—
25Feb 19, 198946.89+8.89Minor—
26Jan 14, 200546.81+8.81Minor—
27Mar 31, 193646.70+8.70Minor—
28May 12, 196146.70+8.70Minor—
29May 7, 198346.60+8.60Minor—
30Mar 15, 196746.52+8.52Minor—
31Mar 23, 200846.49+8.49Minor597,498
32Apr 2, 197546.40+8.40Minor—
33Feb 18, 202046.27+8.27Minor587,319
34Feb 23, 197645.70+7.70Minor—
35Feb 3, 199445.70+7.70Minor—
36May 2, 196845.47+7.47Minor—
37Mar 16, 199445.40+7.40Minor—
38Feb 23, 200045.40+7.40Minor—
39Jan 1, 201645.34+7.34Minor539,087
40Jan 28, 195945.10+7.10Minor—
41May 14, 199645.10+7.10Minor—
42Jan 10, 200445.00+7.00Minor—
43Mar 26, 200244.94+6.94Minor—
44Mar 2, 202244.94+6.94Minor518,186
45Apr 20, 199444.60+6.60Minor—
46Mar 1, 200344.23+6.23Minor—
47May 8, 201044.19+6.19Minor480,693
48Dec 5, 198544.08+6.08Minor—
49Jan 8, 202243.61+5.61Minor453,172
50Apr 19, 202443.49+5.49Minor447,634

The worst floods along the Ohio River

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

January 31, 1937: 56.60 ft here, major flooding

  • Clifty CreekIN · Jan 27, 1937 · 475.90 ft · Major · its highest
  • McAlpine LowerKY · Jan 27, 1937 · 85.44 ft · Major · its highest
  • Markland LowerKY · Jan 26, 1937 · 76.10 ft · Major · its highest
  • Meldahl DamOH · Jan 26, 1937 · 76.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • MaysvilleKY · Jan 27, 1937 · 75.60 ft · Major · its highest
  • AshlandKY · Jan 27, 1937 · 74.21 ft · Major · its highest
  • R C Byrd LockWV · Jan 27, 1937 · 69.60 ft · Major · its highest
  • PomeroyOH · Jan 26, 1937 · 67.80 ft · Major
  • ShawneetownKY · Jan 30, 1937 · 65.64 ft · Major · its highest
  • J.T. Myers Lock and DamKY · Feb 1, 1937 · 64.40 ft · Major · its highest

March 12, 1945: 50.90 ft here, moderate flooding

April 1, 1913: 50.70 ft here, moderate flooding

  • AshlandKY · Mar 31, 1913 · 70.60 ft · Major
  • MaysvilleKY · Mar 31, 1913 · 68.80 ft · Major
  • PomeroyOH · Apr 1, 1913 · 68.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • Meldahl DamOH · Mar 31, 1913 · 67.00 ft · Major
  • Lloyd Greenup LockKY · Mar 31, 1913 · 64.50 ft · Major · its highest
  • Point PleasantWV · Mar 30, 1913 · 62.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • Belleville LockWV · Mar 29, 1913 · 61.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • Marietta PumphouseOH · Mar 29, 1913 · 58.30 ft · Major · its highest
  • GolcondaIL · Apr 6, 1913 · 56.80 ft · Major
  • CairoIL · Apr 4, 1913 · 54.70 ft · Major

Gauges on the Ohio River

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

Flood gauges on the Ohio River
AshlandKY52.074.21 ft, Jan 27, 19374
Belleville LockWV35.061.80 ft, Mar 29, 191315
CairoIL40.061.72 ft, May 2, 201119
Cannelton Lock and DamKY42.060.80 ft, Jan 27, 19378
CincinnatiOH52.066.20 ft, Mar 11, 19641
Clifty CreekIN451.0475.90 ft, Jan 27, 19371
Dashields Lock and DamPA25.042.80 ft, Mar 18, 19365
East LiverpoolWV14.029.90 ft, Mar 19, 193611
EvansvilleIN42.053.75 ft, Jan 31, 19371
GolcondaIL40.062.60 ft, Feb 2, 19373
Hannibal Lock and DamOH35.041.90 ft, Jun 25, 19722
HendersonKY36.043.08 ft, Apr 12, 20250
IrontonOH52.054.67 ft, Feb 19, 20180
J.T. Myers Lock and DamKY37.064.40 ft, Feb 1, 19371
Lloyd Greenup LockKY54.064.50 ft, Mar 31, 19133
Marietta PumphouseOH35.058.30 ft, Mar 29, 19133
Markland LowerKY51.076.10 ft, Jan 26, 19371
MaysvilleKY50.075.60 ft, Jan 27, 19372
McAlpine LowerKY55.085.44 ft, Jan 27, 19374
McAlpine UpperKY23.052.15 ft, Jan 27, 19377
Meldahl DamOH51.076.00 ft, Jan 26, 19373
Montgomery Lock and DamPA33.055.00 ft, Mar 18, 193610
MoundsvilleWV37.057.90 ft, Mar 19, 19363
Mount VernonIN35.059.21 ft, Feb 1, 19372
New Cumberland Lock and DamOH36.050.20 ft, Dec 31, 194215
Newburgh Lock and Dam this gaugeKY38.056.60 ft, Jan 31, 19371
Olmsted Lock and Dam HeadwaterKY36.048.20 ft, Feb 21, 20201
OwensboroKY40.054.80 ft, Jan 29, 19375
PaducahKY39.060.60 ft, Feb 2, 19377
ParkersburgWV36.045.20 ft, Mar 12, 19645
Pike Island Lock and DamWV37.047.70 ft, Mar 11, 19645
PittsburghPA22.046.00 ft, Mar 18, 193622
Point PleasantWV40.062.80 ft, Mar 30, 191325
PomeroyOH46.068.80 ft, Apr 1, 191334
PortsmouthOH50.053.78 ft, Apr 7, 20250
Powhatan PointOH37.053.30 ft, Mar 19, 19365
R C Byrd LockWV50.069.60 ft, Jan 27, 19379
Racine LockWV41.050.23 ft, Sep 20, 20043
ShawneetownKY33.065.64 ft, Jan 30, 19377
Smithland Lock and DamKY40.054.83 ft, May 6, 20114
SteubenvilleOH36.044.00 ft, Jan 20, 19961
Tell CityIN38.056.95 ft, Jan 29, 19376
WellsburgWV36.054.60 ft, Mar 19, 19369
WellsvilleOH11.020.90 ft, Jan 20, 19963
WheelingWV36.045.40 ft, Jan 20, 19963
Willow Island LockWV37.044.78 ft, Sep 19, 20042
HuntingtonOH50.057.52 ft, Mar 5, 19970

Other gauges in Henderson County

Flood gauges in Henderson County
Henderson36.043.08 ft, Apr 12, 20250

Henderson County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Kentucky

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge NBGI3, 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.