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Mississippi River at Baton Rouge

Highest listed crest 47.28 ftFlood stage 35.0 ft84 crests since 1874

The Mississippi River at Baton Rouge crested at major flood stage 31 times among the 84 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1874 to 2025. The highest, 47.28 ft on May 15, 1927, was major flooding, 12.28 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
47.28 ft
May 15, 1927
Flood stage
35.0 ft
Major flooding from 40.0 ft
Crests at major
31
3rd of 107 gauges in Louisiana
Most recent flood crest
April 30, 2025
42.18 ft, major flooding
Location
West Baton Rouge Parish
Near Baton Rouge (4.6 mi), Baker (11.0 mi), St. George (11.7 mi)
Identifiers
NWS BTRL1
No USGS station

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Mississippi River at Baton Rouge
Action stage30.07Jan 28, 2007The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)35.031Mar 23, 2022Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage38.013Apr 17, 2021Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage40.031Apr 30, 2025Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

84 crests from 1874 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge, 1874 to 2025 253035404550ft Flood stage 35.0 ftMajor 40.0 ft Apr 16, 1874: 35.63 ft, minor floodingMar 26, 1882: 35.43 ft, minor floodingMar 24, 1884: 35.68 ft, minor floodingApr 21, 1890: 36.08 ft, minor floodingMay 3, 1891: 35.03 ft, minor floodingJun 28, 1892: 37.93 ft, minor floodingJun 23, 1893: 37.88 ft, minor floodingMay 13, 1897: 40.13 ft, major floodingApr 7, 1903: 39.53 ft, moderate floodingFeb 17, 1907: 36.88 ft, minor floodingJun 16, 1908: 39.08 ft, moderate floodingApr 7, 1909: 35.65 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 1912: 43.30 ft, major floodingMay 9, 1913: 40.78 ft, major floodingMar 1, 1916: 42.05 ft, major floodingApr 29, 1917: 37.35 ft, minor floodingMay 22, 1920: 40.98 ft, major floodingMay 16, 1922: 45.18 ft, major floodingApr 14, 1923: 38.18 ft, moderate floodingMay 15, 1927: 47.28 ft, major floodingJul 16, 1928: 35.88 ft, minor floodingJun 10, 1929: 42.98 ft, major floodingMar 4, 1932: 42.26 ft, major floodingJun 15, 1933: 37.99 ft, minor floodingMay 6, 1935: 38.01 ft, moderate floodingFeb 28, 1937: 44.48 ft, major floodingApr 30, 1938: 36.43 ft, minor floodingApr 2, 1939: 37.98 ft, minor floodingJun 13, 1943: 38.38 ft, moderate floodingMay 18, 1944: 40.88 ft, major floodingApr 16, 1945: 44.58 ft, major flooding; 1,473,000 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1945: 45.18 ft, major floodingJan 31, 1946: 36.28 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 1948: 35.28 ft, minor floodingFeb 22, 1949: 37.88 ft, minor floodingMar 4, 1950: 42.98 ft, major floodingJun 1, 1961: 36.58 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 1973: 41.58 ft, major floodingFeb 15, 1974: 38.48 ft, moderate floodingApr 14, 1975: 40.44 ft, major floodingApr 22, 1979: 42.48 ft, major floodingApr 15, 1980: 36.60 ft, minor floodingJun 17, 1981: 28.92 ft, below flood stageDec 31, 1982: 35.53 ft, minor floodingMay 31, 1983: 43.90 ft, major floodingMay 30, 1984: 40.35 ft, major floodingMar 21, 1985: 37.70 ft, minor floodingDec 19, 1986: 30.88 ft, action stageMar 15, 1987: 32.26 ft, action stageJan 8, 1988: 32.20 ft, action stageMar 12, 1989: 35.62 ft, minor floodingJun 11, 1990: 37.80 ft, minor floodingJan 24, 1991: 39.95 ft, moderate floodingDec 31, 1992: 30.10 ft, action stageMay 21, 1993: 36.69 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 1994: 39.90 ft, moderate floodingJun 17, 1995: 40.10 ft, major floodingJun 6, 1996: 35.88 ft, minor floodingMar 26, 1997: 43.79 ft, major floodingMay 17, 1998: 35.92 ft, minor floodingFeb 17, 1999: 37.01 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 2001: 35.30 ft, minor floodingJun 5, 2002: 38.16 ft, moderate floodingJun 1, 2003: 34.78 ft, action stageDec 25, 2004: 34.05 ft, action stageFeb 2, 2005: 38.53 ft, moderate floodingMar 28, 2006: 27.31 ft, below flood stageJan 28, 2007: 32.39 ft, action stageApr 24, 2008: 43.10 ft, major floodingJun 1, 2009: 40.75 ft, major floodingFeb 14, 2010: 35.44 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 2011: 43.13 ft, major floodingMay 18, 2011: 45.01 ft, major floodingMay 24, 2013: 35.91 ft, minor floodingJul 27, 2015: 38.93 ft, moderate floodingJan 17, 2016: 43.28 ft, major floodingMar 21, 2016: 38.47 ft, moderate floodingMay 30, 2017: 40.60 ft, major floodingMar 19, 2018: 43.78 ft, major floodingMar 18, 2019: 44.18 ft, major floodingApr 16, 2020: 44.35 ft, major floodingApr 17, 2021: 39.09 ft, moderate floodingMar 23, 2022: 35.68 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 2025: 42.18 ft, major flooding Highest, 47.28 ft, May 15, 1927 18801900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Baton Rouge 1870s: 1 1880s: 2 1890s: 5 1900s: 4 1910s: 4 1920s: 6 1930s: 6 1940s: 7 1950s: 1 1960s: 1 1970s: 4 1980s: 6 1990s: 9 2000s: 5 2010s: 10 10 2020s: 4 1870s1890s1910s1930s1950s1970s1990s2010s
  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 84 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at Baton Rouge
1May 15, 192747.28+12.28Major—
2May 16, 192245.18+10.18Major—
3Apr 29, 194545.18+10.18Major—
4May 18, 201145.01+10.01Major—
5Apr 16, 194544.58+9.58Major1,473,000
6Feb 28, 193744.48+9.48Major—
7Apr 16, 202044.35+9.35Major—
8Mar 18, 201944.18+9.18Major—
9May 31, 198343.90+8.90Major—
10Mar 26, 199743.79+8.79Major—
11Mar 19, 201843.78+8.78Major—
12May 11, 191243.30+8.30Major—
13Jan 17, 201643.28+8.28Major—
14May 12, 201143.13+8.13Major—
15Apr 24, 200843.10+8.10Major—
16Jun 10, 192942.98+7.98Major—
17Mar 4, 195042.98+7.98Major—
18Apr 22, 197942.48+7.48Major—
19Mar 4, 193242.26+7.26Major—
20Apr 30, 202542.18+7.18Major—
21Mar 1, 191642.05+7.05Major—
22May 10, 197341.58+6.58Major—
23May 22, 192040.98+5.98Major—
24May 18, 194440.88+5.88Major—
25May 9, 191340.78+5.78Major—
26Jun 1, 200940.75+5.75Major—
27May 30, 201740.60+5.60Major—
28Apr 14, 197540.44+5.44Major—
29May 30, 198440.35+5.35Major—
30May 13, 189740.13+5.13Major—
31Jun 17, 199540.10+5.10Major—
32Jan 24, 199139.95+4.95Moderate—
33May 10, 199439.90+4.90Moderate—
34Apr 7, 190339.53+4.53Moderate—
35Apr 17, 202139.09+4.09Moderate—
36Jun 16, 190839.08+4.08Moderate—
37Jul 27, 201538.93+3.93Moderate—
38Feb 2, 200538.53+3.53Moderate—
39Feb 15, 197438.48+3.48Moderate—
40Mar 21, 201638.47+3.47Moderate—
41Jun 13, 194338.38+3.38Moderate—
42Apr 14, 192338.18+3.18Moderate—
43Jun 5, 200238.16+3.16Moderate—
44May 6, 193538.01+3.01Moderate—
45Jun 15, 193337.99+2.99Minor—
46Apr 2, 193937.98+2.98Minor—
47Jun 28, 189237.93+2.93Minor—
48Jun 23, 189337.88+2.88Minor—
49Feb 22, 194937.88+2.88Minor—
50Jun 11, 199037.80+2.80Minor—

The worst floods along the Mississippi River

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

May 15, 1927: 47.28 ft here, major flooding

May 16, 1922: 45.18 ft here, major flooding

April 29, 1945: 45.18 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Mississippi River

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

Flood gauges on the Mississippi River
TiptonvilleMO37.048.35 ft, May 5, 20112
Alma - Pool 5MN672.0672.13 ft, Apr 16, 20010
AltonIL21.039.55 ft, Aug 1, 19937
Baton Rouge this gaugeLA35.047.28 ft, May 15, 192731
BellevueIL17.023.51 ft, Apr 26, 196511
BrainerdMN16.017.61 ft, Jun 28, 20120
BrownsvilleMN635.0640.20 ft, Apr 22, 19650
BurlingtonIL15.025.73 ft, Jun 17, 200836
CamancheIA17.024.65 ft, Apr 28, 196520
Canton Lock and Dam 20MO15.027.88 ft, Jul 9, 19933
Cape GirardeauMO32.048.86 ft, Jan 2, 201615
CaruthersvilleMO32.047.61 ft, May 7, 20112
ChesterIL27.049.74 ft, Aug 7, 19939
Clarksville Lock and Dam 24MO25.037.73 ft, Jul 29, 199310
ClaytonIA620.0627.28 ft, Apr 24, 19650
DakotaMN644.0649.08 ft, Apr 21, 19650
DonaldsonvilleLA27.036.01 ft, May 15, 19273
Dubuque (LD11)IA16.025.69 ft, Apr 26, 196513
Dubuque (Railroad Bridge)IA17.026.81 ft, Apr 26, 196518
Fort RipleyMN10.514.15 ft, Apr 8, 19970
Fridley abv 37th Ave NEMN16.020.00 ft, Apr 17, 19656
FultonIL16.024.75 ft, Apr 28, 196513
GladstoneIL10.022.46 ft, Jun 17, 200824
GraftonIL20.038.17 ft, Aug 1, 199315
Gregory LandingMO15.028.49 ft, Jul 9, 19934
HannibalMO17.031.80 ft, Jul 15, 199310
HelenaAR44.060.21 ft, Feb 12, 19374
HerculaneumMO26.029.79 ft, Jul 10, 20240
HickmanKY34.054.29 ft, May 2, 20113
Hwy 169 at ChamplinMN12.017.96 ft, Apr 12, 19653
Hwy 610 in Brooklyn ParkMN12.019.53 ft, Apr 17, 19654
Illinois CityIA15.024.10 ft, Jul 9, 199321
KeithsburgIA14.024.49 ft, Jun 17, 200822
KeokukIA16.027.58 ft, Jul 10, 199324
La Crosse - Pool 8WI12.017.89 ft, Apr 22, 19654
LaGrangeMO17.030.00 ft, Jul 13, 19934
Lake CityWI16.022.18 ft, Apr 19, 19653
Lansing - Pool 9IA17.022.50 ft, Apr 24, 19651
LeClaireIA11.017.75 ft, Apr 28, 196516
LouisianaMO15.028.40 ft, Jul 28, 19934
McGregorIA16.025.38 ft, Apr 24, 19653
Mel Price (Alton) Lock and DamIL21.042.72 ft, Aug 1, 19938
MemphisTN34.048.70 ft, Feb 10, 19372
MuscatineIA16.025.61 ft, Jul 9, 199321
NatchezMS48.061.95 ft, May 19, 20116
New BostonIL15.025.90 ft, Jul 9, 199322
New MadridMO34.048.35 ft, May 6, 20114
New OrleansLA17.021.27 ft, Apr 25, 19225
OsceolaAR28.050.90 ft, Feb 7, 193742
QuincyIL19.032.13 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Quincy Lock and Dam 21IL18.031.30 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Red River LandingLA48.063.39 ft, May 18, 20110
Red WingMN14.020.70 ft, Apr 18, 19659
ReserveLA22.026.00 ft, Jun 11, 19291
Rock IslandIL15.022.70 ft, May 2, 201920
Saverton Lock and Dam 22MO16.029.58 ft, Jul 25, 19939
St. CloudMN9.011.44 ft, Apr 8, 19971
St. LouisMO30.049.58 ft, Aug 1, 19939
St. PaulMN14.026.01 ft, Apr 16, 196516
ThebesIL33.047.74 ft, Jan 2, 201612
Tunica Mhoon LandingMS30.053.20 ft, Feb 10, 19375
VicksburgLA43.057.10 ft, May 19, 201112
Wabasha - Pool 4MN12.020.05 ft, Apr 19, 19657
Winfield Lock and Dam 25MO26.039.62 ft, Aug 1, 19939
Winona - Pool 6MN13.020.77 ft, Apr 19, 19655
Lock and Dam 10 - GuttenbergIA15.023.65 ft, Apr 24, 19652
Lock and Dam 2 - HastingsMN15.025.90 ft, Apr 17, 196512
Lock and Dam 3 - Red WingMN680.5687.77 ft, Apr 19, 19658
Lock and Dam 4 - AlmaWI16.019.78 ft, Apr 19, 19652
Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota CityMN660.0667.85 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 5a - WinonaMN655.0663.35 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 6 - TrempealeauMN647.0653.02 ft, Apr 21, 19654
Lock and Dam 7 - La CrescentMN641.0647.38 ft, Apr 21, 19652
Lock and Dam 8 - GenoaWI631.0638.40 ft, Apr 22, 19653
Lock and Dam 9 - LynxvilleWI625.0633.16 ft, Apr 24, 19653
AitkinMN13.022.49 ft, May 20, 195011
Arkansas CityAR37.059.20 ft, Apr 21, 192715
GreenvilleAR48.065.40 ft, Apr 21, 192718

West Baton Rouge Parish: every hazard · River floods across the country · Louisiana

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BTRL1, 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.