South Fork Licking River (OH) near Heath

Highest listed crest 21.06 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft7 crests since 2012

The South Fork Licking River (OH) near Heath crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 7 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2012 to 2026. The highest, 21.06 ft on March 20, 2020, was major flooding, 5.06 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the South Fork Licking River (OH) crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest: 21.06 ft; March 20, 2020; 17,126 cubic feet per second
Flood stage: 16.0 ft; Major flooding from 20.0 ft
Crests at major: 1; 46th of 129 gauges in Ohio
Most recent flood crest: August 20, 2026; 19.01 ft, moderate flooding
Location: Licking County; Near Heath (1.9 mi), Newark (2.4 mi)
Identifiers: NWS SFHO1; USGS 03145173

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, South Fork Licking River (OH) near Heath

Action stage	14.0	0	—	The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)	16.0	3	Feb 18, 2022	Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage	18.0	2	Aug 20, 2026	Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage	20.0	1	Mar 20, 2020	Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

7 crests from 2012 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

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.
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, South Fork Licking River (OH) near Heath

1	Mar 20, 2020	21.06	+5.06	Major	17,126
2	Aug 20, 2026	19.01	+3.01	Moderate	12,555
3	Apr 3, 2024	18.70	+2.70	Moderate	11,952
4	Jul 13, 2017	17.79	+1.79	Minor	9,373
5	Mar 15, 2012	17.59	+1.59	Minor	9,108
6	Feb 18, 2022	16.52	+0.52	Minor	8,782
7	Jul 2, 2014	13.56	−2.44	Below flood stage	4,580

The worst floods along the South Fork Licking River (OH)

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the South Fork Licking River (OH) that crested above flood stage within a week.

March 20, 2020: 21.06 ft here, major flooding

Interstate 70 near Buckeye LakeOH · Mar 21, 2020 · 882.89 ft · Major · its highest
HebronOH · Mar 21, 2020 · 12.64 ft · Moderate · its highest

August 20, 2026: 19.01 ft here, moderate flooding

Interstate 70 near Buckeye LakeOH · Aug 21, 2026 · 882.82 ft · Major
HebronOH · Aug 21, 2026 · 12.17 ft · Moderate

April 3, 2024: 18.70 ft here, moderate flooding

Interstate 70 near Buckeye LakeOH · Apr 3, 2024 · 881.37 ft · Moderate
HebronOH · Apr 3, 2024 · 11.84 ft · Minor

Gauges on the South Fork Licking River (OH)

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

Flood gauges on the South Fork Licking River (OH)

Interstate 70 near Buckeye Lake	OH	880.0	882.89 ft, Mar 21, 2020	3
Hebron	OH	11.0	12.64 ft, Mar 21, 2020	0
Heath this gauge	OH	16.0	21.06 ft, Mar 20, 2020	1

Other gauges in Licking County

Flood gauges in Licking County

Newark (Stadden Bridge)	14.0	20.30 ft, Jan 21, 1959	1
Newark Main Street	15.0	18.76 ft, Mar 20, 2020	0
Newark below Wilson St.	16.0	20.22 ft, Mar 20, 2020	0
Granville	13.0	18.50 ft, Jan 23, 1959	1
Interstate 70 near Buckeye Lake	880.0	882.89 ft, Mar 21, 2020	3
Hebron	11.0	12.64 ft, Mar 21, 2020	0

Licking County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Ohio

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge SFHO1, 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.