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Arkansas River at Ralston

Highest listed crest 23.00 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft185 crests since 1923

The Arkansas River at Ralston crested at major flood stage 10 times among the 185 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1923 to 2026. The highest, 23.00 ft on June 11, 1923, was major flooding, 7.00 feet above flood stage. 2 other gauges on the Arkansas River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
23.00 ft
June 11, 1923; 200,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 21.0 ft
Crests at major
10
27th of 92 gauges in Oklahoma
Most recent flood crest
June 25, 2026
16.47 ft, minor flooding
Location
Pawnee County
Oklahoma

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Arkansas River at Ralston
Action stage16.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.021Jun 25, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage18.016Jul 3, 2007Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage21.010May 23, 2019Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

185 crests from 1923 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Arkansas River at Ralston, 1923 to 2026 510152025ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 21.0 ft May 27, 1923: 10.40 ft, below flood stage; 32,400 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1923: 12.50 ft, below flood stage; 48,000 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1923: 23.00 ft, major flooding; 200,000 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1923: 12.00 ft, below flood stage; 43,400 cubic feet per secondOct 16, 1923: 11.80 ft, below flood stage; 42,000 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1924: 11.70 ft, below flood stage; 41,300 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 1925: 6.40 ft, below flood stage; 11,300 cubic feet per secondSep 5, 1926: 10.40 ft, below flood stage; 32,400 cubic feet per secondOct 6, 1926: 18.70 ft, moderate flooding; 108,000 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 1927: 15.40 ft, below flood stage; 73,000 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1927: 15.70 ft, below flood stage; 77,400 cubic feet per secondAug 5, 1927: 14.50 ft, below flood stage; 68,500 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 1927: 10.90 ft, below flood stage; 39,300 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1927: 13.20 ft, below flood stage; 56,800 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1928: 13.90 ft, below flood stage; 63,100 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1928: 15.00 ft, below flood stage; 73,000 cubic feet per secondNov 20, 1928: 15.30 ft, below flood stage; 76,300 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 1929: 12.30 ft, below flood stage; 49,400 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1929: 12.00 ft, below flood stage; 47,000 cubic feet per secondMay 19, 1929: 12.20 ft, below flood stage; 48,600 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1929: 9.90 ft, below flood stage; 32,400 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1929: 11.70 ft, below flood stage; 44,900 cubic feet per secondJul 12, 1929: 11.40 ft, below flood stage; 42,800 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1930: 9.80 ft, below flood stage; 31,800 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1930: 10.20 ft, below flood stage; 34,400 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 1930: 12.10 ft, below flood stage; 47,800 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1931: 9.50 ft, below flood stage; 28,200 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1932: 10.60 ft, below flood stage; 33,700 cubic feet per secondAug 30, 1933: 9.30 ft, below flood stage; 25,700 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1934: 6.40 ft, below flood stage; 11,700 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 1935: 14.70 ft, below flood stage; 65,600 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1935: 16.00 ft, minor flooding; 77,800 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1935: 14.10 ft, below flood stage; 60,300 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 1936: 9.90 ft, below flood stage; 26,600 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1937: 13.00 ft, below flood stage; 47,500 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 1938: 16.44 ft, minor flooding; 75,600 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 1939: 8.48 ft, below flood stage; 19,200 cubic feet per secondSep 5, 1940: 10.26 ft, below flood stage; 27,800 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1941: 12.34 ft, below flood stage; 41,200 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1941: 13.59 ft, below flood stage; 51,000 cubic feet per secondOct 26, 1941: 12.89 ft, below flood stage; 45,400 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1942: 11.21 ft, below flood stage; 34,000 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1942: 12.94 ft, below flood stage; 45,400 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1942: 13.04 ft, below flood stage; 46,200 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 1942: 18.54 ft, moderate flooding; 94,000 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 1942: 10.60 ft, below flood stage; 32,200 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1943: 18.12 ft, moderate flooding; 97,200 cubic feet per secondMar 23, 1944: 11.43 ft, below flood stage; 37,900 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 1944: 15.34 ft, below flood stage; 68,400 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1944: 22.82 ft, major flooding; 179,000 cubic feet per secondSep 29, 1944: 10.23 ft, below flood stage; 31,300 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1944: 10.74 ft, below flood stage; 34,600 cubic feet per secondDec 7, 1944: 15.55 ft, below flood stage; 76,000 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1945: 10.82 ft, below flood stage; 34,000 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 1945: 11.78 ft, below flood stage; 42,700 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1945: 19.55 ft, moderate flooding; 124,000 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1945: 13.59 ft, below flood stage; 57,800 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1945: 19.48 ft, moderate flooding; 110,000 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1947: 18.50 ft, moderate flooding; 114,000 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 1947: 11.87 ft, below flood stage; 44,500 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1947: 11.24 ft, below flood stage; 39,600 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1947: 10.56 ft, below flood stage; 35,800 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1948: 13.19 ft, below flood stage; 52,800 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1948: 14.93 ft, below flood stage; 70,200 cubic feet per secondJul 26, 1948: 11.74 ft, below flood stage; 43,100 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1948: 12.72 ft, below flood stage; 51,800 cubic feet per secondJan 18, 1949: 10.63 ft, below flood stage; 32,400 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 1949: 12.70 ft, below flood stage; 45,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 1949: 14.78 ft, below flood stage; 65,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 1949: 11.60 ft, below flood stage; 40,600 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1949: 12.57 ft, below flood stage; 50,200 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1949: 10.47 ft, below flood stage; 33,600 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1949: 15.30 ft, below flood stage; 70,700 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1949: 13.68 ft, below flood stage; 55,500 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1949: 15.90 ft, below flood stage; 75,300 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1949: 17.60 ft, minor flooding; 92,800 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1950: 15.90 ft, below flood stage; 75,300 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1950: 17.60 ft, minor flooding; 92,800 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 1950: 11.12 ft, below flood stage; 37,100 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1951: 14.15 ft, below flood stage; 54,200 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1951: 19.23 ft, moderate flooding; 106,000 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 1951: 17.70 ft, minor flooding; 95,500 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1951: 14.35 ft, below flood stage; 61,200 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1951: 17.42 ft, minor flooding; 91,100 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 1951: 21.45 ft, major flooding; 135,000 cubic feet per secondJul 16, 1951: 20.28 ft, moderate flooding; 120,000 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 1951: 11.57 ft, below flood stage; 36,200 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1952: 10.48 ft, below flood stage; 25,800 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1953: 8.80 ft, below flood stage; 17,500 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 1954: 9.07 ft, below flood stage; 18,700 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1955: 12.71 ft, below flood stage; 36,300 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 1955: 14.64 ft, below flood stage; 49,200 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 1957: 11.70 ft, below flood stage; 33,300 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1957: 21.41 ft, major flooding; 120,000 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1957: 15.13 ft, below flood stage; 57,900 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1957: 12.40 ft, below flood stage; 37,900 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1957: 17.46 ft, minor flooding; 77,900 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1957: 13.41 ft, below flood stage; 42,000 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1957: 15.97 ft, below flood stage; 67,900 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1957: 19.88 ft, moderate flooding; 112,000 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1958: 11.24 ft, below flood stage; 32,300 cubic feet per secondJul 7, 1958: 14.86 ft, below flood stage; 56,800 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1959: 14.65 ft, below flood stage; 54,800 cubic feet per secondJul 24, 1959: 10.87 ft, below flood stage; 30,500 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1959: 11.38 ft, below flood stage; 34,400 cubic feet per secondOct 5, 1959: 21.62 ft, major flooding; 158,000 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 1959: 12.39 ft, below flood stage; 41,000 cubic feet per secondAug 29, 1960: 12.19 ft, below flood stage; 41,800 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 1961: 21.22 ft, major flooding; 165,000 cubic feet per secondJul 25, 1961: 11.40 ft, below flood stage; 34,000 cubic feet per secondSep 14, 1961: 18.50 ft, moderate flooding; 114,000 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 1961: 14.56 ft, below flood stage; 75,600 cubic feet per secondNov 4, 1961: 17.83 ft, minor flooding; 103,000 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1962: 10.82 ft, below flood stage; 30,500 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 1963: 8.76 ft, below flood stage; 19,700 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1964: 9.00 ft, below flood stage; 21,100 cubic feet per secondNov 6, 1964: 11.34 ft, below flood stage; 34,100 cubic feet per secondNov 18, 1964: 22.60 ft, major flooding; 171,000 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1965: 11.23 ft, below flood stage; 32,900 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 1965: 13.97 ft, below flood stage; 51,600 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 1965: 12.70 ft, below flood stage; 46,200 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1966: 6.74 ft, below flood stage; 10,400 cubic feet per secondJul 26, 1967: 12.54 ft, below flood stage; 42,000 cubic feet per secondAug 20, 1968: 14.10 ft, below flood stage; 52,800 cubic feet per secondOct 20, 1968: 11.98 ft, below flood stage; 37,700 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1969: 10.88 ft, below flood stage; 30,600 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 1969: 13.99 ft, below flood stage; 53,000 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 1969: 12.16 ft, below flood stage; 38,900 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1969: 12.54 ft, below flood stage; 41,900 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1969: 16.42 ft, minor flooding; 77,000 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 1969: 11.14 ft, below flood stage; 32,500 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1970: 12.59 ft, below flood stage; 42,400 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1970: 18.33 ft, moderate flooding; 101,000 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1970: 11.12 ft, below flood stage; 32,400 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1971: 8.14 ft, below flood stage; 17,100 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 1971: 8.80 ft, below flood stage; 20,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 4, 1973: 11.88 ft, below flood stage; 33,500 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1973: 19.41 ft, moderate flooding; 121,000 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1973: 14.34 ft, below flood stage; 65,400 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1973: 16.92 ft, minor flooding; 95,000 cubic feet per secondApr 16, 1973: 10.56 ft, below flood stage; 33,900 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 1973: 10.52 ft, below flood stage; 33,600 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 1973: 15.70 ft, below flood stage; 80,400 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 1973: 22.98 ft, major flooding; 211,000 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1974: 17.72 ft, minor flooding; 106,000 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 1974: 12.19 ft, below flood stage; 46,400 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1974: 11.81 ft, below flood stage; 43,300 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 1974: 12.96 ft, below flood stage; 52,900 cubic feet per secondOct 30, 1974: 11.24 ft, below flood stage; 38,800 cubic feet per secondNov 5, 1974: 18.62 ft, moderate flooding; 111,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 1975: 10.95 ft, below flood stage; 36,600 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 1975: 11.99 ft, below flood stage; 44,700 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1975: 13.12 ft, below flood stage; 54,300 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1975: 14.73 ft, below flood stage; 69,600 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 1975: 10.35 ft, below flood stage; 32,200 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 1976: 10.04 ft, below flood stage; 30,100 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 1977: 10.04 ft, below flood stage; 30,100 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 1978: 8.14 ft, below flood stage; 16,900 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 1979: 10.87 ft, below flood stage; 35,400 cubic feet per secondNov 21, 1979: 15.35 ft, below flood stage; 73,600 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1981: 6.40 ft, below flood stage; 10,100 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1982: 10.94 ft, below flood stage; 33,200 cubic feet per secondApr 7, 1983: 12.88 ft, below flood stage; 50,700 cubic feet per secondOct 21, 1983: 7.40 ft, below flood stage; 11,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1985: 10.44 ft, below flood stage; 31,400 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 1986: 17.87 ft, minor flooding; 103,000 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 1986: 22.20 ft, major flooding; 174,000 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1987: 16.31 ft, minor floodingApr 4, 1988: 12.06 ft, below flood stage; 42,000 cubic feet per secondSep 13, 1989: 12.28 ft, below flood stage; 42,400 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1990: 13.72 ft, below flood stage; 58,300 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1991: 8.03 ft, below flood stage; 17,400 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1993: 19.69 ft, moderate flooding; 127,000 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 1995: 16.22 ft, minor flooding; 73,700 cubic feet per secondAug 6, 1995: 16.01 ft, minor flooding; 73,900 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1997: 16.50 ft, minor flooding; 87,800 cubic feet per secondNov 3, 1998: 18.50 ft, moderate flooding; 110,000 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2007: 18.11 ft, moderate flooding; 10,500 cubic feet per secondSep 16, 2008: 16.39 ft, minor flooding; 84,100 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2018: 16.18 ft, minor flooding; 81,545 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 2019: 17.93 ft, minor flooding; 104,999 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2019: 22.14 ft, major flooding; 185,000 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 2025: 15.27 ft, below flood stage; 69,785 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2025: 16.50 ft, minor flooding; 85,508 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2026: 16.47 ft, minor flooding; 84,807 cubic feet per second Highest, 23.00 ft, Jun 11, 1923 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Arkansas River at Ralston 1920s: 2 1930s: 2 1940s: 7 1950s: 10 10 1960s: 5 1970s: 6 1980s: 3 1990s: 5 2000s: 2 2010s: 3 2020s: 2 1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 185 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Arkansas River at Ralston
1Jun 11, 192323.00+7.00Major200,000
2Oct 13, 197322.98+6.98Major211,000
3Apr 25, 194422.82+6.82Major179,000
4Nov 18, 196422.60+6.60Major171,000
5Oct 4, 198622.20+6.20Major174,000
6May 23, 201922.14+6.14Major185,000
7Oct 5, 195921.62+5.62Major158,000
8Jul 3, 195121.45+5.45Major135,000
9May 20, 195721.41+5.41Major120,000
10May 8, 196121.22+5.22Major165,000
11Jul 16, 195120.28+4.28Moderate120,000
12Jul 1, 195719.88+3.88Moderate112,000
13May 12, 199319.69+3.69Moderate127,000
14Apr 19, 194519.55+3.55Moderate124,000
15Oct 2, 194519.48+3.48Moderate110,000
16Mar 12, 197319.41+3.41Moderate121,000
17May 20, 195119.23+3.23Moderate106,000
18Oct 6, 192618.70+2.70Moderate108,000
19Nov 5, 197418.62+2.62Moderate111,000
20Jun 24, 194218.54+2.54Moderate94,000
21Apr 16, 194718.50+2.50Moderate114,000
22Sep 14, 196118.50+2.50Moderate114,000
23Nov 3, 199818.50+2.50Moderate110,000
24Apr 20, 197018.33+2.33Moderate101,000
25May 20, 194318.12+2.12Moderate97,200
26Jul 3, 200718.11+2.11Moderate10,500
27May 12, 201917.93+1.93Minor104,999
28Sep 30, 198617.87+1.87Minor103,000
29Nov 4, 196117.83+1.83Minor103,000
30Mar 11, 197417.72+1.72Minor106,000
31May 24, 195117.70+1.70Minor95,500
32Aug 4, 194917.60+1.60Minor92,800
33Aug 4, 195017.60+1.60Minor92,800
34Jun 13, 195717.46+1.46Minor77,900
35Jun 27, 195117.42+1.42Minor91,100
36Apr 3, 197316.92+0.92Minor95,000
37Jul 18, 199716.50+0.50Minor87,800
38Jun 18, 202516.50+0.50Minor85,508
39Jun 25, 202616.47+0.47Minor84,807
40May 23, 193816.44+0.44Minor75,600
41Jun 27, 196916.42+0.42Minor77,000
42Sep 16, 200816.39+0.39Minor84,100
43May 29, 198716.31+0.31Minor—
44Jun 6, 199516.22+0.22Minor73,700
45Oct 12, 201816.18+0.18Minor81,545
46Aug 6, 199516.01+0.01Minor73,900
47May 21, 193516.000.00Minor77,800
48Jun 26, 195715.97−0.03Below flood stage67,900
49Jul 18, 194915.90−0.10Below flood stage75,300
50Jul 18, 195015.90−0.10Below flood stage75,300

The worst floods along the Arkansas River

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

June 11, 1923: 23.00 ft here, major flooding

  • TulsaOK · Jun 13, 1923 · 22.80 ft · Major
  • MuskogeeOK · Jun 14, 1923 · 31.80 ft · Minor

October 13, 1973: 22.98 ft here, major flooding

  • DerbyKS · Oct 14, 1973 · 15.43 ft · Moderate
  • HavenKS · Oct 13, 1973 · 11.81 ft · Moderate

April 25, 1944: 22.82 ft here, major flooding

  • HaskellOK · Apr 26, 1944 · 20.25 ft · Minor
  • TulsaOK · Apr 26, 1944 · 19.50 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Arkansas River

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

Flood gauges on the Arkansas River
Arkansas CityKS11.020.91 ft, May 9, 20190
DardanelleAR32.045.91 ft, May 30, 20195
DerbyKS12.016.60 ft, Nov 2, 19981
Great BendKS12.017.70 ft, Jun 15, 19810
HutchinsonKS8.013.85 ft, Apr 2, 19730
Little RockAR23.034.60 ft, Jun 17, 183329
MorriltonAR30.043.03 ft, Jun 4, 201910
OxfordKS17.026.85 ft, Nov 2, 19982
Ozark L/D TailwaterAR357.0374.99 ft, May 30, 20197
PendletonAR31.037.63 ft, Jun 6, 20194
Pine BluffAR42.052.10 ft, May 28, 19436
Ralston this gaugeOK16.023.00 ft, Jun 11, 192310
Toad Suck Lock and DamAR275.0285.40 ft, Jun 4, 20195
TulsaOK18.025.21 ft, Oct 5, 19864
Van BurenAR22.040.79 ft, Jun 1, 201918
HaskellOK19.026.02 ft, Jan 1, 19802
HavenKS10.013.08 ft, May 8, 20079
Kinsley 2EKS12.017.60 ft, Jun 21, 19651
MulvaneKS16.520.90 ft, Nov 2, 19980
MuskogeeOK28.048.20 ft, May 21, 194311
Ponca CityOK17.022.26 ft, May 24, 20191

Other gauges in Pawnee County

Flood gauges in Pawnee County
Pawnee17.031.43 ft, Oct 3, 19599

Pawnee County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Oklahoma

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge RLSO2, 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.