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Chikaskia River near Blackwell

Highest listed crest 35.36 ftFlood stage 29.0 ft92 crests since 1957

The Chikaskia River near Blackwell crested at major flood stage 28 times among the 92 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1957 to 2025. The highest, 35.36 ft on September 14, 2008, was major flooding, 6.36 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Chikaskia River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
35.36 ft
September 14, 2008; 66,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
29.0 ft
Major flooding from 32.0 ft
Crests at major
28
4th of 92 gauges in Oklahoma
Most recent flood crest
June 19, 2025
34.19 ft, major flooding
Location
Kay County
Near Ponca City (13.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Chikaskia River near Blackwell
Action stage26.010Mar 24, 2021The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)29.016Jun 7, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage30.038May 26, 2010Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage32.028Jun 19, 2025Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

92 crests from 1957 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Chikaskia River near Blackwell, 1957 to 2025 262830323436ft Flood stage 29.0 ftMajor 32.0 ft May 18, 1957: 32.56 ft, major flooding; 55,000 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 1957: 30.20 ft, moderate flooding; 20,500 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 1959: 29.58 ft, minor flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1959: 32.15 ft, major flooding; 48,000 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1961: 31.87 ft, moderate flooding; 36,500 cubic feet per secondNov 2, 1961: 30.59 ft, moderate flooding; 27,000 cubic feet per secondOct 26, 1964: 29.28 ft, minor flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondNov 17, 1964: 33.08 ft, major flooding; 64,000 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 1968: 31.00 ft, moderate flooding; 31,000 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1969: 30.50 ft, moderate flooding; 26,000 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1970: 32.26 ft, major flooding; 45,200 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1973: 30.95 ft, moderate flooding; 36,000 cubic feet per secondOct 11, 1973: 33.85 ft, major flooding; 63,500 cubic feet per secondNov 3, 1974: 31.83 ft, moderate flooding; 30,300 cubic feet per secondSep 3, 1977: 29.89 ft, minor flooding; 14,600 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 1982: 30.26 ft, moderate flooding; 22,700 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1983: 30.15 ft, moderate flooding; 22,400 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1984: 31.70 ft, moderate flooding; 27,100 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 1985: 33.42 ft, major flooding; 56,600 cubic feet per secondNov 15, 1985: 31.11 ft, moderate flooding; 25,000 cubic feet per secondOct 3, 1986: 34.28 ft, major flooding; 59,400 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1987: 30.20 ft, moderate flooding; 19,100 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 1987: 30.12 ft, moderate flooding; 18,900 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1987: 30.24 ft, moderate flooding; 19,200 cubic feet per secondMay 7, 1987: 31.65 ft, moderate flooding; 26,600 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1987: 32.90 ft, major flooding; 37,000 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 1987: 32.89 ft, major flooding; 36,800 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1988: 30.53 ft, moderate flooding; 20,000 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1992: 30.15 ft, moderate flooding; 15,100 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1992: 29.36 ft, minor flooding; 17,900 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 1993: 32.47 ft, major flooding; 31,700 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 1993: 34.31 ft, major flooding; 53,300 cubic feet per secondJul 15, 1993: 29.37 ft, minor flooding; 18,000 cubic feet per secondNov 21, 1994: 30.21 ft, moderate flooding; 20,400 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1995: 31.95 ft, moderate flooding; 28,700 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1995: 30.04 ft, moderate flooding; 19,700 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1995: 29.80 ft, minor flooding; 19,000 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 1995: 33.00 ft, major flooding; 35,000 cubic feet per secondAug 4, 1995: 31.67 ft, moderate flooding; 27,000 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 1996: 31.88 ft, moderate flooding; 28,400 cubic feet per secondNov 18, 1996: 32.88 ft, major flooding; 34,200 cubic feet per secondApr 12, 1997: 31.40 ft, moderate flooding; 25,900 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1997: 31.03 ft, moderate flooding; 23,300 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1997: 29.29 ft, minor flooding; 17,400 cubic feet per secondSep 24, 1997: 30.31 ft, moderate flooding; 20,100 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1998: 30.90 ft, moderate flooding; 24,500 cubic feet per secondNov 1, 1998: 34.40 ft, major flooding; 60,700 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 1999: 29.61 ft, minor flooding; 19,300 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 1999: 30.27 ft, moderate flooding; 22,400 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1999: 29.90 ft, minor flooding; 20,800 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1999: 30.83 ft, moderate flooding; 25,100 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 1999: 32.56 ft, major flooding; 34,700 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 2000: 30.52 ft, moderate flooding; 25,400 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2000: 32.23 ft, major flooding; 38,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2001: 30.72 ft, moderate flooding; 27,200 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 2002: 32.83 ft, major flooding; 34,900 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2003: 31.87 ft, moderate flooding; 31,300 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2003: 30.02 ft, moderate flooding; 22,100 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 2004: 31.91 ft, moderate flooding; 33,100 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2004: 31.63 ft, moderate flooding; 31,000 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2004: 29.76 ft, minor flooding; 21,400 cubic feet per secondJan 5, 2005: 29.78 ft, minor flooding; 19,500 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2005: 30.78 ft, moderate flooding; 23,100 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 2007: 30.59 ft, moderate flooding; 24,700 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2007: 29.76 ft, minor flooding; 22,500 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2007: 29.68 ft, minor flooding; 22,300 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2007: 30.70 ft, moderate flooding; 27,600 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 2007: 26.89 ft, action stage; 16,900 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2007: 26.19 ft, action stage; 15,900 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 2007: 32.74 ft, major flooding; 41,800 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2008: 33.61 ft, major flooding; 45,700 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 2008: 26.56 ft, action stage; 16,000 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2008: 27.34 ft, action stage; 17,200 cubic feet per secondSep 14, 2008: 35.36 ft, major flooding; 66,500 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2009: 33.05 ft, major flooding; 40,800 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2010: 30.13 ft, moderate flooding; 23,300 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2010: 33.35 ft, major flooding; 43,400 cubic feet per secondDec 20, 2011: 29.46 ft, minor flooding; 22,500 cubic feet per secondAug 10, 2013: 28.47 ft, action stage; 20,100 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 2015: 28.06 ft, action stage; 19,100 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2015: 33.27 ft, major flooding; 39,700 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 2016: 26.16 ft, action stage; 15,800 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2017: 28.13 ft, action stage; 19,300 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2018: 33.26 ft, major flooding; 38,700 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2019: 34.46 ft, major flooding; 51,600 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2019: 34.35 ft, major flooding; 50,300 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2019: 32.52 ft, major flooding; 32,000 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2019: 27.83 ft, action stage; 17,200 cubic feet per secondOct 4, 2019: 29.36 ft, minor flooding; 19,900 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2021: 28.00 ft, action stage; 17,400 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2025: 29.62 ft, minor flooding; 20,500 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 2025: 34.19 ft, major flooding; 48,400 cubic feet per second Highest, 35.36 ft, Sep 14, 2008 1960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Chikaskia River near Blackwell 1950s: 4 1960s: 6 1970s: 5 1980s: 13 1990s: 24 24 2000s: 19 2010s: 9 2020s: 2 1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 92 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Chikaskia River near Blackwell
1Sep 14, 200835.36+6.36Major66,500
2May 9, 201934.46+5.46Major51,600
3Nov 1, 199834.40+5.40Major60,700
4May 21, 201934.35+5.35Major50,300
5May 10, 199334.31+5.31Major53,300
6Oct 3, 198634.28+5.28Major59,400
7Jun 19, 202534.19+5.19Major48,400
8Oct 11, 197333.85+4.85Major63,500
9May 27, 200833.61+4.61Major45,700
10Oct 12, 198533.42+4.42Major56,600
11Jun 15, 201033.35+4.35Major43,400
12May 24, 201533.27+4.27Major39,700
13Oct 10, 201833.26+4.26Major38,700
14Nov 17, 196433.08+4.08Major64,000
15Apr 28, 200933.05+4.05Major40,800
16Jun 10, 199533.00+4.00Major35,000
17May 28, 198732.90+3.90Major37,000
18Sep 28, 198732.89+3.89Major36,800
19Nov 18, 199632.88+3.88Major34,200
20Oct 4, 200232.83+3.83Major34,900
21Jun 30, 200732.74+3.74Major41,800
22May 18, 195732.56+3.56Major55,000
23Jul 2, 199932.56+3.56Major34,700
24May 28, 201932.52+3.52Major32,000
25May 3, 199332.47+3.47Major31,700
26Apr 19, 197032.26+3.26Major45,200
27Mar 25, 200032.23+3.23Major38,300
28Oct 2, 195932.15+3.15Major48,000
29Apr 30, 199531.95+2.95Moderate28,700
30Mar 5, 200431.91+2.91Moderate33,100
31Sep 26, 199631.88+2.88Moderate28,400
32May 6, 196131.87+2.87Moderate36,500
33Mar 20, 200331.87+2.87Moderate31,300
34Nov 3, 197431.83+2.83Moderate30,300
35Mar 24, 198431.70+2.70Moderate27,100
36Aug 4, 199531.67+2.67Moderate27,000
37May 7, 198731.65+2.65Moderate26,600
38Apr 24, 200431.63+2.63Moderate31,000
39Apr 12, 199731.40+2.40Moderate25,900
40Nov 15, 198531.11+2.11Moderate25,000
41Jul 1, 199731.03+2.03Moderate23,300
42Aug 18, 196831.00+2.00Moderate31,000
43Mar 11, 197330.95+1.95Moderate36,000
44Mar 17, 199830.90+1.90Moderate24,500
45Jun 25, 199930.83+1.83Moderate25,100
46Jul 5, 200530.78+1.78Moderate23,100
47Feb 25, 200130.72+1.72Moderate27,200
48Jun 2, 200730.70+1.70Moderate27,600
49Nov 2, 196130.59+1.59Moderate27,000
50Mar 31, 200730.59+1.59Moderate24,700

The worst floods along the Chikaskia River

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

September 14, 2008: 35.36 ft here, major flooding

  • CorbinKS · Sep 13, 2008 · 20.07 ft · Moderate

May 9, 2019: 34.46 ft here, major flooding

  • CorbinKS · May 8, 2019 · 19.50 ft · Moderate

November 1, 1998: 34.40 ft here, major flooding

  • CorbinKS · Nov 1, 1998 · 22.90 ft · Moderate

Gauges on the Chikaskia River

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

Flood gauges on the Chikaskia River
CorbinKS10.028.00 ft, Jun 9, 19231
Blackwell this gaugeOK29.035.36 ft, Sep 14, 200828

Other gauges in Kay County

Flood gauges in Kay County
Ponca City17.022.26 ft, May 24, 20191
Tonkawa17.028.98 ft, Oct 11, 19739

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge BLKO2, 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.