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Mississippi River at Caruthersville

Highest listed crest 47.61 ftFlood stage 32.0 ft91 crests since 1931

The Mississippi River at Caruthersville crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 91 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1931 to 2025. The highest, 47.61 ft on May 7, 2011, was major flooding, 15.61 feet above flood stage. 14 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 3 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
47.61 ft
May 7, 2011
Flood stage
32.0 ft
Major flooding from 43.0 ft
Crests at major
2
81st of 173 gauges in Missouri
Most recent flood crest
April 14, 2025
39.80 ft, minor flooding
Location
Pemiscot County
Missouri
Identifiers
NWS CRTM7
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 Caruthersville
Action stage29.014Apr 11, 2014The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)32.059Apr 14, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage41.011Mar 3, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage43.02May 7, 2011Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

91 crests from 1931 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Caruthersville, 1931 to 2025 20304050ft Flood stage 32.0 ftMajor 43.0 ft Dec 23, 1931: 30.10 ft, action stageFeb 16, 1932: 37.80 ft, minor floodingApr 6, 1933: 38.70 ft, minor floodingMar 17, 1934: 31.00 ft, action stageMar 24, 1935: 37.80 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 1936: 39.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 5, 1937: 46.00 ft, major floodingApr 17, 1938: 34.20 ft, minor floodingMar 20, 1939: 38.15 ft, minor floodingMay 5, 1940: 33.40 ft, minor floodingNov 12, 1941: 22.72 ft, below flood stageMar 26, 1942: 32.80 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 1943: 39.90 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 1944: 39.25 ft, minor floodingMar 12, 1945: 40.75 ft, minor floodingJan 19, 1946: 39.40 ft, minor floodingApr 21, 1947: 35.80 ft, minor floodingApr 4, 1948: 39.30 ft, minor floodingFeb 1, 1949: 38.35 ft, minor floodingJan 18, 1950: 40.70 ft, minor floodingFeb 28, 1951: 36.70 ft, minor floodingMar 29, 1952: 38.80 ft, minor floodingMay 23, 1953: 27.85 ft, below flood stageJan 28, 1954: 21.70 ft, below flood stageMar 29, 1955: 37.90 ft, minor floodingFeb 28, 1956: 32.03 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1957: 33.97 ft, minor floodingJul 29, 1958: 32.60 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 1959: 29.76 ft, action stageApr 14, 1960: 35.85 ft, minor floodingMay 18, 1961: 41.40 ft, moderate floodingMar 17, 1962: 37.95 ft, minor floodingMar 26, 1963: 39.10 ft, minor floodingMar 25, 1964: 35.90 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 1965: 35.50 ft, minor floodingFeb 21, 1966: 30.90 ft, action stageMay 21, 1967: 32.00 ft, minor floodingJun 8, 1968: 32.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 14, 1969: 35.90 ft, minor floodingMay 8, 1970: 37.20 ft, minor floodingMar 6, 1971: 36.50 ft, minor floodingApr 29, 1972: 36.50 ft, minor floodingApr 3, 1973: 42.40 ft, moderate floodingFeb 2, 1974: 39.30 ft, minor floodingApr 4, 1975: 42.40 ft, moderate floodingFeb 27, 1976: 31.00 ft, action stageMar 30, 1978: 38.80 ft, minor floodingApr 19, 1979: 41.56 ft, moderate floodingApr 5, 1980: 36.38 ft, minor floodingMay 25, 1981: 31.40 ft, action stageDec 10, 1982: 36.63 ft, minor floodingMay 9, 1983: 41.33 ft, moderate floodingMay 17, 1984: 41.00 ft, moderate floodingOct 12, 1986: 30.13 ft, action stageApr 20, 1987: 30.46 ft, action stageJan 1, 1988: 29.75 ft, action stageFeb 27, 1989: 34.87 ft, minor floodingDec 31, 1990: 37.70 ft, minor floodingJan 4, 1991: 39.46 ft, minor floodingDec 25, 1992: 29.23 ft, action stageApr 11, 1993: 36.37 ft, minor floodingApr 18, 1994: 40.47 ft, minor floodingMay 28, 1995: 41.99 ft, moderate floodingMay 19, 1996: 40.20 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1997: 42.21 ft, moderate floodingApr 24, 1998: 38.29 ft, minor floodingFeb 5, 1999: 37.29 ft, minor floodingFeb 29, 2000: 27.33 ft, below flood stageMar 1, 2001: 31.44 ft, action stageMay 21, 2002: 41.60 ft, moderate floodingMay 17, 2003: 37.32 ft, minor floodingDec 13, 2004: 34.05 ft, minor flooding; 1,036,612 cubic feet per secondJan 19, 2005: 39.65 ft, minor flooding; 1,380,133 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 2006: 26.69 ft, below flood stageMar 27, 2007: 30.76 ft, action stageMar 27, 2008: 40.84 ft, minor floodingMay 16, 2009: 38.32 ft, minor floodingMay 9, 2010: 36.39 ft, minor floodingMar 19, 2011: 40.20 ft, minor flooding; 1,420,483 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2011: 47.61 ft, major floodingFeb 7, 2012: 29.93 ft, action stageMay 10, 2013: 37.70 ft, minor floodingApr 11, 2014: 30.93 ft, action stageJul 10, 2015: 36.29 ft, minor floodingJan 5, 2016: 42.66 ft, moderate floodingMay 10, 2017: 39.41 ft, minor floodingMar 5, 2018: 40.90 ft, minor floodingMar 3, 2019: 42.44 ft, moderate floodingApr 5, 2021: 34.93 ft, minor floodingFeb 25, 2025: 32.44 ft, minor floodingApr 14, 2025: 39.80 ft, minor flooding Highest, 47.61 ft, May 7, 2011 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Caruthersville 1930s: 7 1940s: 9 9 1950s: 7 1960s: 9 1970s: 8 1980s: 5 1990s: 9 2000s: 6 2010s: 9 2020s: 3 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 91 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at Caruthersville
1May 7, 201147.61+15.61Major—
2Feb 5, 193746.00+14.00Major—
3Jan 5, 201642.66+10.66Moderate—
4Mar 3, 201942.44+10.44Moderate—
5Apr 3, 197342.40+10.40Moderate—
6Apr 4, 197542.40+10.40Moderate—
7Mar 11, 199742.21+10.21Moderate—
8May 28, 199541.99+9.99Moderate—
9May 21, 200241.60+9.60Moderate—
10Apr 19, 197941.56+9.56Moderate—
11May 18, 196141.40+9.40Moderate—
12May 9, 198341.33+9.33Moderate—
13May 17, 198441.00+9.00Moderate—
14Mar 5, 201840.90+8.90Minor—
15Mar 27, 200840.84+8.84Minor—
16Mar 12, 194540.75+8.75Minor—
17Jan 18, 195040.70+8.70Minor—
18Apr 18, 199440.47+8.47Minor—
19May 19, 199640.20+8.20Minor—
20Mar 19, 201140.20+8.20Minor1,420,483
21Jun 1, 194339.90+7.90Minor—
22Apr 14, 202539.80+7.80Minor—
23Jan 19, 200539.65+7.65Minor1,380,133
24Jan 4, 199139.46+7.46Minor—
25May 10, 201739.41+7.41Minor—
26Jan 19, 194639.40+7.40Minor—
27Apr 4, 194839.30+7.30Minor—
28Feb 2, 197439.30+7.30Minor—
29Apr 30, 194439.25+7.25Minor—
30Mar 26, 196339.10+7.10Minor—
31Apr 15, 193639.00+7.00Minor—
32Mar 29, 195238.80+6.80Minor—
33Mar 30, 197838.80+6.80Minor—
34Apr 6, 193338.70+6.70Minor—
35Feb 1, 194938.35+6.35Minor—
36May 16, 200938.32+6.32Minor—
37Apr 24, 199838.29+6.29Minor—
38Mar 20, 193938.15+6.15Minor—
39Mar 17, 196237.95+5.95Minor—
40Mar 29, 195537.90+5.90Minor—
41Feb 16, 193237.80+5.80Minor—
42Mar 24, 193537.80+5.80Minor—
43Dec 31, 199037.70+5.70Minor—
44May 10, 201337.70+5.70Minor—
45May 17, 200337.32+5.32Minor—
46Feb 5, 199937.29+5.29Minor—
47May 8, 197037.20+5.20Minor—
48Feb 28, 195136.70+4.70Minor—
49Dec 10, 198236.63+4.63Minor—
50Mar 6, 197136.50+4.50Minor—

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 7, 2011: 47.61 ft here, major flooding

  • HelenaAR · May 12, 2011 · 56.59 ft · Major
  • HickmanKY · May 2, 2011 · 54.29 ft · Major · its highest
  • TiptonvilleMO · May 5, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • New MadridMO · May 6, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • MemphisTN · May 10, 2011 · 48.03 ft · Major
  • OsceolaAR · May 8, 2011 · 47.48 ft · Major
  • Cape GirardeauMO · May 3, 2011 · 46.28 ft · Major
  • ThebesIL · May 3, 2011 · 45.52 ft · Major
  • Baton RougeLA · May 12, 2011 · 43.13 ft · Major
  • ChesterIL · May 2, 2011 · 39.74 ft · Moderate

February 5, 1937: 46.00 ft here, major flooding

  • HelenaAR · Feb 12, 1937 · 60.21 ft · Major · its highest
  • Tunica Mhoon LandingMS · Feb 10, 1937 · 53.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • OsceolaAR · Feb 7, 1937 · 50.90 ft · Major · its highest
  • MemphisTN · Feb 10, 1937 · 48.70 ft · Major · its highest
  • New MadridMO · Feb 3, 1937 · 48.00 ft · Major
  • TiptonvilleMO · Feb 6, 1937 · 47.75 ft · Major

January 5, 2016: 42.66 ft here, moderate 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 RougeLA35.047.28 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
Caruthersville this gaugeMO32.047.61 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

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CRTM7, 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.