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Blackwater River near Valley City

Highest listed crest 34.31 ftFlood stage 22.0 ft257 crests since 1960

The Blackwater River near Valley City crested at major flood stage 15 times among the 257 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1960 to 2026. The highest, 34.31 ft on August 1, 2020, was major flooding, 12.31 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Blackwater River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
34.31 ft
August 1, 2020
Flood stage
22.0 ft
Major flooding from 31.0 ft
Crests at major
15
6th of 173 gauges in Missouri
Most recent flood crest
May 20, 2026
27.49 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Johnson County
Near Warrensburg (9.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Blackwater River near Valley City
Action stage17.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)22.067Apr 18, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage25.0175May 20, 2026Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage31.015Apr 21, 2025Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

257 crests from 1960 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Blackwater River near Valley City, 1960 to 2026 2025303540ft Flood stage 22.0 ftMajor 31.0 ft Apr 16, 1960: 30.40 ft, moderate floodingMar 13, 1961: 26.20 ft, moderate floodingMar 27, 1961: 26.30 ft, moderate floodingApr 9, 1961: 26.60 ft, moderate floodingMay 6, 1961: 28.50 ft, moderate floodingJul 26, 1961: 27.20 ft, moderate floodingSep 4, 1961: 26.25 ft, moderate floodingSep 14, 1961: 31.75 ft, major floodingSep 25, 1961: 26.70 ft, moderate floodingOct 30, 1961: 26.22 ft, moderate floodingNov 3, 1961: 26.80 ft, moderate floodingNov 16, 1961: 26.65 ft, moderate floodingMar 21, 1962: 27.60 ft, moderate floodingOct 13, 1962: 24.50 ft, minor floodingJun 14, 1964: 25.80 ft, moderate floodingApr 6, 1965: 26.00 ft, moderate floodingJun 5, 1965: 26.85 ft, moderate floodingJun 13, 1965: 25.90 ft, moderate floodingJul 20, 1965: 31.15 ft, major floodingSep 5, 1965: 26.70 ft, moderate floodingSep 16, 1965: 26.30 ft, moderate floodingSep 20, 1965: 26.50 ft, moderate floodingOct 15, 1965: 26.42 ft, moderate floodingJun 8, 1966: 26.55 ft, moderate floodingJun 13, 1966: 26.75 ft, moderate floodingMay 30, 1967: 26.55 ft, moderate floodingJun 22, 1967: 28.70 ft, moderate floodingOct 31, 1967: 26.75 ft, moderate floodingMay 26, 1968: 28.34 ft, moderate floodingJun 1, 1968: 26.90 ft, moderate floodingJul 26, 1968: 26.84 ft, moderate floodingDec 27, 1968: 26.75 ft, moderate floodingMar 24, 1969: 26.50 ft, moderate floodingApr 5, 1969: 27.00 ft, moderate floodingApr 18, 1969: 26.60 ft, moderate floodingJun 2, 1969: 28.05 ft, moderate floodingJun 23, 1969: 28.95 ft, moderate floodingJun 27, 1969: 27.70 ft, moderate floodingJul 3, 1969: 30.00 ft, moderate floodingSep 17, 1969: 27.55 ft, moderate floodingOct 13, 1969: 29.22 ft, moderate floodingApr 2, 1970: 28.15 ft, moderate floodingApr 19, 1970: 29.60 ft, moderate floodingSep 23, 1970: 29.72 ft, moderate floodingJan 4, 1971: 28.60 ft, moderate floodingDec 15, 1971: 27.60 ft, moderate floodingApr 21, 1973: 31.08 ft, major floodingJul 2, 1993: 26.00 ft, moderate floodingJul 7, 1993: 29.00 ft, moderate floodingJul 15, 1993: 26.00 ft, moderate floodingJul 23, 1993: 22.00 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 1994: 27.90 ft, moderate floodingApr 28, 1994: 27.00 ft, moderate floodingNov 21, 1994: 26.70 ft, moderate floodingDec 7, 1994: 24.00 ft, minor floodingJan 28, 1995: 23.00 ft, minor floodingApr 18, 1995: 26.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 1, 1995: 22.50 ft, minor floodingMay 8, 1995: 26.60 ft, moderate floodingMay 17, 1995: 28.80 ft, moderate floodingMay 28, 1995: 27.50 ft, moderate floodingJun 10, 1995: 23.70 ft, minor floodingJun 26, 1995: 28.00 ft, moderate floodingJul 5, 1995: 25.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 27, 1996: 23.80 ft, minor floodingJun 6, 1996: 25.50 ft, moderate floodingJul 21, 1996: 26.40 ft, moderate floodingSep 16, 1996: 23.50 ft, minor floodingSep 24, 1996: 23.50 ft, minor floodingNov 17, 1996: 25.60 ft, moderate floodingFeb 21, 1997: 29.00 ft, moderate floodingFeb 27, 1997: 26.30 ft, moderate floodingApr 11, 1997: 28.60 ft, moderate floodingMay 27, 1997: 23.50 ft, minor floodingJan 7, 1998: 25.50 ft, moderate floodingFeb 12, 1998: 22.50 ft, minor floodingMar 8, 1998: 27.30 ft, moderate floodingMar 18, 1998: 25.00 ft, moderate floodingMar 31, 1998: 27.00 ft, moderate floodingApr 29, 1998: 22.00 ft, minor floodingJul 30, 1998: 27.00 ft, moderate floodingSep 14, 1998: 27.00 ft, moderate floodingOct 5, 1998: 29.00 ft, moderate floodingOct 18, 1998: 29.00 ft, moderate floodingNov 3, 1998: 28.00 ft, moderate floodingNov 10, 1998: 24.00 ft, minor floodingDec 7, 1998: 26.70 ft, moderate floodingJan 31, 1999: 27.00 ft, moderate floodingFeb 8, 1999: 22.80 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 1999: 27.00 ft, moderate floodingApr 15, 1999: 26.40 ft, moderate floodingApr 27, 1999: 28.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 5, 1999: 28.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 12, 1999: 24.30 ft, minor floodingMay 17, 1999: 23.40 ft, minor floodingJun 28, 1999: 29.00 ft, moderate floodingFeb 18, 2000: 25.50 ft, moderate floodingJun 14, 2000: 25.15 ft, moderate floodingJun 21, 2000: 27.90 ft, moderate floodingJan 30, 2001: 23.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 9, 2001: 25.75 ft, moderate floodingFeb 25, 2001: 26.60 ft, moderate floodingApr 4, 2001: 28.80 ft, moderate floodingApr 11, 2001: 25.70 ft, moderate floodingApr 15, 2001: 24.10 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 2001: 22.28 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 2001: 25.55 ft, moderate floodingJun 7, 2001: 31.50 ft, major floodingJun 21, 2001: 26.70 ft, moderate floodingJul 12, 2001: 26.10 ft, moderate floodingJul 25, 2001: 23.40 ft, minor floodingMay 9, 2002: 31.00 ft, major floodingMay 25, 2002: 25.60 ft, moderate floodingMay 10, 2003: 25.25 ft, moderate floodingDec 10, 2003: 25.95 ft, moderate floodingJan 18, 2004: 23.60 ft, minor floodingMar 5, 2004: 26.50 ft, moderate floodingMar 28, 2004: 25.95 ft, moderate floodingMay 20, 2004: 26.80 ft, moderate floodingJun 10, 2004: 23.55 ft, minor floodingJul 25, 2004: 26.70 ft, moderate floodingApr 14, 2007: 24.30 ft, minor flooding; 5,659 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2007: 22.45 ft, minor flooding; 4,566 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2007: 25.45 ft, moderate flooding; 7,516 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 2007: 30.12 ft, moderate flooding; 27,986 cubic feet per secondFeb 6, 2008: 26.21 ft, moderate floodingFeb 17, 2008: 24.03 ft, minor floodingMar 3, 2008: 25.33 ft, moderate floodingMar 18, 2008: 29.16 ft, moderate floodingApr 10, 2008: 28.20 ft, moderate floodingApr 24, 2008: 25.86 ft, moderate floodingJun 4, 2008: 28.90 ft, moderate floodingJun 10, 2008: 28.67 ft, moderate floodingJun 16, 2008: 22.68 ft, minor floodingJun 20, 2008: 27.00 ft, moderate floodingJul 3, 2008: 26.51 ft, moderate floodingSep 14, 2008: 31.40 ft, major flooding; 18,200 cubic feet per secondOct 23, 2008: 25.03 ft, moderate floodingNov 6, 2008: 26.12 ft, moderate floodingDec 28, 2008: 27.90 ft, moderate floodingFeb 11, 2009: 23.93 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 2009: 28.30 ft, moderate floodingMar 29, 2009: 28.23 ft, moderate floodingApr 10, 2009: 22.07 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 2009: 23.35 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2009: 30.03 ft, moderate flooding; 14,600 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2009: 25.49 ft, moderate floodingJun 17, 2009: 29.68 ft, moderate floodingOct 9, 2009: 28.96 ft, moderate flooding; 14,400 cubic feet per secondOct 23, 2009: 24.78 ft, minor floodingOct 30, 2009: 26.24 ft, moderate floodingDec 24, 2009: 26.33 ft, moderate floodingFeb 22, 2010: 26.14 ft, moderate floodingMar 25, 2010: 24.79 ft, minor floodingApr 7, 2010: 25.83 ft, moderate floodingApr 24, 2010: 27.21 ft, moderate floodingMay 14, 2010: 26.40 ft, moderate floodingMay 21, 2010: 26.80 ft, moderate floodingMay 26, 2010: 24.85 ft, minor floodingJun 14, 2010: 24.18 ft, minor floodingJul 12, 2010: 24.79 ft, minor floodingSep 1, 2010: 23.07 ft, minor floodingSep 11, 2010: 25.20 ft, moderate floodingSep 22, 2010: 25.97 ft, moderate floodingFeb 17, 2011: 24.32 ft, minor floodingFeb 28, 2011: 27.14 ft, moderate floodingMar 5, 2011: 22.15 ft, minor floodingApr 16, 2011: 28.11 ft, moderate flooding; 17,000 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2011: 23.67 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 2011: 24.75 ft, minor floodingMay 25, 2011: 24.71 ft, minor floodingAug 15, 2011: 25.15 ft, moderate floodingDec 20, 2011: 26.39 ft, moderate flooding; 11,200 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2012: 25.86 ft, moderate floodingMay 1, 2012: 22.41 ft, minor floodingMar 10, 2013: 27.75 ft, moderate floodingApr 19, 2013: 28.90 ft, moderate floodingMay 4, 2013: 23.38 ft, minor floodingMay 21, 2013: 28.17 ft, moderate floodingMay 28, 2013: 26.82 ft, moderate floodingJun 1, 2013: 32.39 ft, major flooding; 22,800 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 2014: 33.62 ft, major flooding; 25,800 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2014: 25.60 ft, moderate floodingJul 8, 2014: 22.23 ft, minor floodingOct 2, 2014: 24.80 ft, minor floodingOct 10, 2014: 22.77 ft, minor floodingOct 14, 2014: 26.75 ft, moderate floodingApr 13, 2015: 23.56 ft, minor flooding; 6,505 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2015: 25.14 ft, moderate floodingMay 25, 2015: 27.14 ft, moderate floodingJun 4, 2015: 29.85 ft, moderate flooding; 16,000 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 2015: 23.21 ft, minor floodingJun 26, 2015: 25.62 ft, moderate floodingJul 2, 2015: 28.93 ft, moderate floodingJul 9, 2015: 29.23 ft, moderate floodingNov 28, 2015: 27.67 ft, moderate floodingDec 15, 2015: 28.30 ft, moderate floodingDec 29, 2015: 26.36 ft, moderate floodingJan 8, 2016: 22.33 ft, minor floodingApr 27, 2016: 25.46 ft, moderate floodingMay 27, 2016: 27.62 ft, moderate floodingJul 3, 2016: 26.05 ft, moderate floodingAug 2, 2016: 27.64 ft, moderate floodingSep 10, 2016: 26.22 ft, moderate floodingMar 30, 2017: 22.28 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 2017: 32.91 ft, major floodingJul 28, 2017: 28.05 ft, moderate floodingAug 7, 2017: 33.83 ft, major flooding; 26,400 cubic feet per secondAug 23, 2017: 30.70 ft, moderate floodingFeb 21, 2018: 25.30 ft, moderate floodingMar 20, 2018: 25.05 ft, moderate floodingMar 27, 2018: 25.26 ft, moderate floodingDec 31, 2018: 23.46 ft, minor floodingFeb 24, 2019: 24.64 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 2019: 25.15 ft, moderate floodingMar 13, 2019: 24.01 ft, minor floodingMay 1, 2019: 31.18 ft, major floodingMay 22, 2019: 32.15 ft, major flooding; 25,700 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2019: 25.03 ft, moderate floodingJul 6, 2019: 30.92 ft, moderate floodingAug 31, 2019: 25.95 ft, moderate floodingMar 10, 2020: 23.15 ft, minor floodingMar 18, 2020: 26.13 ft, moderate floodingMar 27, 2020: 25.27 ft, moderate floodingApr 25, 2020: 24.48 ft, minor floodingApr 29, 2020: 22.18 ft, minor floodingMay 29, 2020: 25.43 ft, moderate floodingJun 4, 2020: 25.80 ft, moderate floodingJul 27, 2020: 24.02 ft, minor floodingAug 1, 2020: 34.31 ft, major floodingAug 11, 2020: 22.68 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 2021: 26.20 ft, moderate floodingMar 18, 2021: 28.39 ft, moderate floodingApr 11, 2021: 27.64 ft, moderate floodingApr 29, 2021: 24.04 ft, minor floodingMay 9, 2021: 23.31 ft, minor floodingMay 18, 2021: 28.34 ft, moderate floodingMay 28, 2021: 25.60 ft, moderate floodingJun 25, 2021: 25.39 ft, moderate floodingJul 1, 2021: 26.65 ft, moderate floodingMar 22, 2022: 24.61 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 2022: 25.80 ft, moderate floodingMay 5, 2022: 24.87 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 2022: 26.84 ft, moderate floodingJan 26, 2024: 23.99 ft, minor floodingApr 29, 2024: 33.16 ft, major floodingMay 8, 2024: 24.37 ft, minor floodingJul 4, 2024: 25.81 ft, moderate floodingApr 21, 2025: 32.42 ft, major floodingJul 17, 2025: 23.07 ft, minor floodingJul 25, 2025: 26.94 ft, moderate floodingMar 11, 2026: 22.57 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 2026: 30.41 ft, moderate floodingApr 10, 2026: 23.16 ft, minor floodingApr 18, 2026: 23.96 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2026: 29.17 ft, moderate floodingMay 20, 2026: 27.49 ft, moderate flooding Highest, 34.31 ft, Aug 1, 2020 1960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Blackwater River near Valley City 1960s: 41 1970s: 6 1980s: 0 1990s: 49 2000s: 56 2010s: 69 69 2020s: 36 1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 257 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Blackwater River near Valley City
1Aug 1, 202034.31+12.31Major—
2Aug 7, 201733.83+11.83Major26,400
3Apr 3, 201433.62+11.62Major25,800
4Apr 29, 202433.16+11.16Major—
5Apr 30, 201732.91+10.91Major—
6Apr 21, 202532.42+10.42Major—
7Jun 1, 201332.39+10.39Major22,800
8May 22, 201932.15+10.15Major25,700
9Sep 14, 196131.75+9.75Major—
10Jun 7, 200131.50+9.50Major—
11Sep 14, 200831.40+9.40Major18,200
12May 1, 201931.18+9.18Major—
13Jul 20, 196531.15+9.15Major—
14Apr 21, 197331.08+9.08Major—
15May 9, 200231.00+9.00Major—
16Jul 6, 201930.92+8.92Moderate—
17Aug 23, 201730.70+8.70Moderate—
18Apr 3, 202630.41+8.41Moderate—
19Apr 16, 196030.40+8.40Moderate—
20Jun 30, 200730.12+8.12Moderate27,986
21Apr 28, 200930.03+8.03Moderate14,600
22Jul 3, 196930.00+8.00Moderate—
23Jun 4, 201529.85+7.85Moderate16,000
24Sep 23, 197029.72+7.72Moderate—
25Jun 17, 200929.68+7.68Moderate—
26Apr 19, 197029.60+7.60Moderate—
27Jul 9, 201529.23+7.23Moderate—
28Oct 13, 196929.22+7.22Moderate—
29Apr 28, 202629.17+7.17Moderate—
30Mar 18, 200829.16+7.16Moderate—
31Jul 7, 199329.00+7.00Moderate—
32Feb 21, 199729.00+7.00Moderate—
33Oct 5, 199829.00+7.00Moderate—
34Oct 18, 199829.00+7.00Moderate—
35Jun 28, 199929.00+7.00Moderate—
36Oct 9, 200928.96+6.96Moderate14,400
37Jun 23, 196928.95+6.95Moderate—
38Jul 2, 201528.93+6.93Moderate—
39Jun 4, 200828.90+6.90Moderate—
40Apr 19, 201328.90+6.90Moderate—
41May 17, 199528.80+6.80Moderate—
42Apr 4, 200128.80+6.80Moderate—
43Jun 22, 196728.70+6.70Moderate—
44Jun 10, 200828.67+6.67Moderate—
45Jan 4, 197128.60+6.60Moderate—
46Apr 11, 199728.60+6.60Moderate—
47May 6, 196128.50+6.50Moderate—
48Mar 18, 202128.39+6.39Moderate—
49May 26, 196828.34+6.34Moderate—
50May 18, 202128.34+6.34Moderate—

The worst floods along the Blackwater River

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

August 1, 2020: 34.31 ft here, major flooding

  • Blue LickMO · Aug 4, 2020 · 34.14 ft · Moderate

August 7, 2017: 33.83 ft here, major flooding

  • Blue LickMO · Aug 10, 2017 · 32.24 ft · Moderate

April 3, 2014: 33.62 ft here, major flooding

  • Blue LickMO · Apr 6, 2014 · 31.45 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Blackwater River

In USGS station-number order, which runs downstream within a river basin.

Flood gauges on the Blackwater River
Valley City this gaugeMO22.034.31 ft, Aug 1, 202015
Blue LickMO24.041.53 ft, Oct 3, 19861

Johnson County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Missouri

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge VLYM7, 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.