Search
Menu

Explore

Hazards

Analysis

Rankings

Reference

Mississippi River at New Madrid

Highest listed crest 48.35 ftFlood stage 34.0 ft35 crests since 1879

The Mississippi River at New Madrid crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 35 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1879 to 2025. The highest, 48.35 ft on May 6, 2011, was major flooding, 14.35 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
48.35 ft
May 6, 2011
Flood stage
34.0 ft
Major flooding from 44.0 ft
Crests at major
4
52nd of 173 gauges in Missouri
Most recent flood crest
April 13, 2025
39.94 ft, minor flooding
Location
New Madrid County
Missouri

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 New Madrid
Action stage30.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)34.015Apr 13, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage40.016Apr 1, 2020Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage44.04May 6, 2011Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

35 crests from 1879 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at New Madrid, 1879 to 2025 3035404550ft Flood stage 34.0 ftMajor 44.0 ft Mar 29, 1879: 40.30 ft, moderate floodingApr 9, 1913: 44.60 ft, major floodingFeb 3, 1937: 48.00 ft, major floodingFeb 12, 1947: 35.10 ft, minor floodingFeb 16, 1950: 43.50 ft, moderate floodingMar 29, 1955: 39.90 ft, minor floodingApr 4, 1975: 43.60 ft, moderate floodingApr 19, 1979: 42.80 ft, moderate floodingMay 9, 1983: 42.10 ft, moderate floodingApr 18, 1994: 41.20 ft, moderate floodingMay 28, 1995: 42.80 ft, moderate floodingMay 19, 1996: 41.00 ft, moderate floodingMar 17, 1997: 42.94 ft, moderate floodingApr 23, 1998: 38.58 ft, minor floodingFeb 5, 1999: 37.09 ft, minor floodingMay 20, 2002: 42.60 ft, moderate floodingMay 17, 2003: 37.79 ft, minor flooding; 1,261,014 cubic feet per secondDec 12, 2004: 34.35 ft, minor flooding; 1,064,112 cubic feet per secondJan 18, 2005: 40.45 ft, moderate flooding; 1,449,857 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 2008: 41.44 ft, moderate flooding; 1,425,191 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 2009: 39.11 ft, minor flooding; 1,309,928 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 2010: 34.44 ft, minor flooding; 1,108,359 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 2010: 36.77 ft, minor flooding; 1,206,190 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2011: 45.27 ft, major floodingMay 6, 2011: 48.35 ft, major floodingMay 10, 2013: 37.50 ft, minor floodingJul 8, 2015: 36.48 ft, minor floodingJan 4, 2016: 43.05 ft, moderate floodingMay 9, 2017: 39.72 ft, minor floodingMar 5, 2018: 41.41 ft, moderate floodingMar 2, 2019: 42.99 ft, moderate floodingApr 1, 2020: 40.17 ft, moderate floodingApr 4, 2021: 35.09 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 2022: 35.20 ft, minor floodingApr 13, 2025: 39.94 ft, minor flooding; 1,470,000 cubic feet per second Highest, 48.35 ft, May 6, 2011 18801900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at New Madrid 1870s: 1 1880s: 0 1890s: 0 1900s: 0 1910s: 1 1920s: 0 1930s: 1 1940s: 1 1950s: 2 1960s: 0 1970s: 2 1980s: 1 1990s: 6 2000s: 6 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

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at New Madrid
1May 6, 201148.35+14.35Major—
2Feb 3, 193748.00+14.00Major—
3Apr 29, 201145.27+11.27Major—
4Apr 9, 191344.60+10.60Major—
5Apr 4, 197543.60+9.60Moderate—
6Feb 16, 195043.50+9.50Moderate—
7Jan 4, 201643.05+9.05Moderate—
8Mar 2, 201942.99+8.99Moderate—
9Mar 17, 199742.94+8.94Moderate—
10Apr 19, 197942.80+8.80Moderate—
11May 28, 199542.80+8.80Moderate—
12May 20, 200242.60+8.60Moderate—
13May 9, 198342.10+8.10Moderate—
14Mar 27, 200841.44+7.44Moderate1,425,191
15Mar 5, 201841.41+7.41Moderate—
16Apr 18, 199441.20+7.20Moderate—
17May 19, 199641.00+7.00Moderate—
18Jan 18, 200540.45+6.45Moderate1,449,857
19Mar 29, 187940.30+6.30Moderate—
20Apr 1, 202040.17+6.17Moderate—
21Apr 13, 202539.94+5.94Minor1,470,000
22Mar 29, 195539.90+5.90Minor—
23May 9, 201739.72+5.72Minor—
24May 15, 200939.11+5.11Minor1,309,928
25Apr 23, 199838.58+4.58Minor—
26May 17, 200337.79+3.79Minor1,261,014
27May 10, 201337.50+3.50Minor—
28Feb 5, 199937.09+3.09Minor—
29May 7, 201036.77+2.77Minor1,206,190
30Jul 8, 201536.48+2.48Minor—
31Mar 9, 202235.20+1.20Minor—
32Feb 12, 194735.10+1.10Minor—
33Apr 4, 202135.09+1.09Minor—
34Jan 31, 201034.44+0.44Minor1,108,359
35Dec 12, 200434.35+0.35Minor1,064,112

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 6, 2011: 48.35 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
  • MemphisTN · May 10, 2011 · 48.03 ft · Major
  • CaruthersvilleMO · May 7, 2011 · 47.61 ft · Major · its highest
  • 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 3, 1937: 48.00 ft here, major flooding

  • 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
  • TiptonvilleMO · Feb 6, 1937 · 47.75 ft · Major
  • CaruthersvilleMO · Feb 5, 1937 · 46.00 ft · Major

April 29, 2011: 45.27 ft here, major flooding

  • HickmanKY · May 2, 2011 · 54.29 ft · Major · its highest
  • TiptonvilleMO · May 5, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • Cape GirardeauMO · May 3, 2011 · 46.28 ft · Major
  • ThebesIL · May 3, 2011 · 45.52 ft · Major
  • MuscatineIA · Apr 23, 2011 · 21.87 ft · Major
  • New BostonIL · Apr 24, 2011 · 20.96 ft · Major
  • Illinois CityIA · Apr 23, 2011 · 20.74 ft · Major
  • Rock IslandIL · Apr 22, 2011 · 20.71 ft · Major
  • BurlingtonIL · Apr 24, 2011 · 20.24 ft · Major
  • KeithsburgIA · Apr 24, 2011 · 19.19 ft · Major

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
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 Madrid this gaugeMO34.048.35 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

Other gauges in New Madrid County

Flood gauges in New Madrid County
Tiptonville37.048.35 ft, May 5, 20112

New Madrid County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Missouri

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge NMDM7, 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.