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Poteau River near Panama

Highest listed crest 49.60 ftFlood stage 29.0 ft195 crests since 1935

The Poteau River near Panama crested at major flood stage 12 times among the 195 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1935 to 2026. The highest, 49.60 ft on June 18, 1935, was major flooding, 20.60 feet above flood stage. 1 other gauge on the Poteau River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
49.60 ft
June 18, 1935
Flood stage
29.0 ft
Major flooding from 41.0 ft
Crests at major
12
18th of 92 gauges in Oklahoma
Most recent flood crest
June 15, 2026
29.71 ft, minor flooding
Location
Le Flore County
Oklahoma

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Poteau River near Panama
Action stage29.00—The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)29.091Jun 15, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage33.089May 27, 2025Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage41.012Sep 2, 2020Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

195 crests from 1935 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Poteau River near Panama, 1935 to 2026 253035404550ft Flood stage 29.0 ftMajor 41.0 ft Jun 18, 1935: 49.60 ft, major floodingApr 17, 1939: 45.10 ft, major floodingFeb 21, 1951: 31.60 ft, minor floodingNov 2, 1951: 31.70 ft, minor floodingMar 11, 1952: 34.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 13, 1952: 34.00 ft, moderate floodingMar 18, 1953: 37.05 ft, moderate floodingApr 25, 1953: 38.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 13, 1953: 36.90 ft, moderate floodingJan 21, 1954: 34.00 ft, moderate floodingMay 22, 1955: 36.31 ft, moderate floodingApr 4, 1957: 39.56 ft, moderate floodingApr 27, 1957: 35.51 ft, moderate floodingMay 27, 1957: 36.80 ft, moderate floodingMar 24, 1958: 30.05 ft, minor floodingMay 3, 1958: 36.06 ft, moderate floodingMay 12, 1959: 30.84 ft, minor floodingDec 18, 1959: 29.00 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 1960: 36.90 ft, moderate floodingMay 21, 1960: 40.84 ft, moderate floodingJul 24, 1960: 35.14 ft, moderate floodingMay 19, 1961: 36.63 ft, moderate floodingNov 23, 1961: 35.98 ft, moderate floodingFeb 24, 1962: 29.11 ft, minor floodingApr 6, 1964: 30.88 ft, minor floodingMay 28, 1965: 33.76 ft, moderate floodingApr 25, 1966: 33.58 ft, moderate floodingMay 7, 1967: 32.06 ft, minor floodingOct 31, 1967: 32.51 ft, minor floodingDec 22, 1967: 32.13 ft, minor floodingMar 21, 1968: 39.38 ft, moderate floodingMay 14, 1968: 46.40 ft, major floodingDec 23, 1968: 31.90 ft, minor floodingDec 28, 1968: 37.81 ft, moderate floodingJan 31, 1969: 31.78 ft, minor floodingFeb 22, 1969: 34.35 ft, moderate floodingMar 24, 1969: 31.43 ft, minor floodingApr 18, 1970: 34.58 ft, moderate floodingOct 25, 1970: 34.06 ft, moderate floodingDec 11, 1971: 44.16 ft, major floodingNov 7, 1972: 34.14 ft, moderate floodingMar 11, 1973: 35.63 ft, moderate floodingMar 26, 1973: 35.52 ft, moderate floodingApr 16, 1973: 32.29 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 1973: 40.90 ft, moderate floodingMay 7, 1973: 31.34 ft, minor floodingJun 4, 1973: 32.51 ft, minor floodingDec 25, 1973: 31.30 ft, minor floodingMay 1, 1974: 34.17 ft, moderate floodingJun 8, 1974: 33.54 ft, moderate floodingNov 5, 1974: 32.46 ft, minor floodingNov 11, 1974: 33.27 ft, moderate floodingFeb 1, 1975: 31.00 ft, minor floodingFeb 23, 1975: 32.83 ft, minor floodingMar 29, 1975: 33.01 ft, moderate floodingJun 18, 1975: 34.38 ft, moderate floodingMay 3, 1980: 29.50 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 1981: 31.48 ft, minor floodingJun 7, 1981: 33.74 ft, moderate floodingOct 19, 1981: 33.60 ft, moderate floodingMay 15, 1982: 36.31 ft, moderate floodingJun 5, 1982: 33.13 ft, moderate floodingMay 16, 1983: 32.20 ft, minor floodingJan 20, 1990: 32.40 ft, minor floodingFeb 2, 1990: 35.50 ft, moderate floodingFeb 16, 1990: 33.50 ft, moderate floodingMar 8, 1990: 29.50 ft, minor floodingMar 12, 1990: 29.20 ft, minor floodingMar 16, 1990: 32.30 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 1990: 30.30 ft, minor floodingMay 3, 1990: 46.59 ft, major flooding; 74,600 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1990: 36.00 ft, moderate floodingFeb 16, 1993: 31.13 ft, minor floodingApr 15, 1993: 32.06 ft, minor floodingApr 30, 1993: 32.29 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 1993: 34.23 ft, moderate floodingDec 4, 1993: 31.12 ft, minor floodingMar 2, 1994: 29.50 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 1994: 32.61 ft, minor floodingMay 4, 1994: 32.18 ft, minor floodingNov 6, 1994: 33.60 ft, moderate floodingNov 10, 1994: 31.86 ft, minor floodingNov 15, 1994: 35.40 ft, moderate flooding; 18,500 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 1995: 38.42 ft, moderate flooding; 24,500 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 1995: 35.14 ft, moderate flooding; 18,700 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1996: 38.47 ft, moderate flooding; 24,600 cubic feet per secondNov 8, 1996: 37.90 ft, moderate flooding; 23,400 cubic feet per secondNov 26, 1996: 39.60 ft, moderate flooding; 29,600 cubic feet per secondNov 30, 1996: 31.10 ft, minor flooding; 13,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 1997: 37.90 ft, moderate flooding; 25,700 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1997: 31.10 ft, minor flooding; 13,100 cubic feet per secondDec 24, 1997: 32.50 ft, minor flooding; 14,100 cubic feet per secondJan 6, 1998: 41.40 ft, major flooding; 35,000 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1998: 30.90 ft, minor flooding; 12,900 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1998: 29.30 ft, minor floodingOct 7, 1998: 31.40 ft, minor flooding; 12,700 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1999: 31.92 ft, minor flooding; 13,200 cubic feet per secondMay 18, 1999: 33.30 ft, moderate flooding; 14,000 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1999: 36.00 ft, moderate flooding; 19,300 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2000: 30.70 ft, minor flooding; 11,900 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 2001: 37.90 ft, moderate flooding; 25,600 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2001: 30.90 ft, minor flooding; 12,500 cubic feet per secondDec 18, 2001: 36.60 ft, moderate flooding; 21,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 1, 2002: 34.30 ft, moderate flooding; 17,000 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2002: 42.42 ft, major flooding; 38,000 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 2002: 40.63 ft, moderate flooding; 28,300 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2002: 29.92 ft, minor flooding; 10,900 cubic feet per secondJun 6, 2002: 29.68 ft, minor flooding; 11,200 cubic feet per secondApr 25, 2004: 33.30 ft, moderate flooding; 15,200 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 2004: 34.96 ft, moderate flooding; 18,100 cubic feet per secondJul 8, 2004: 31.50 ft, minor floodingDec 1, 2004: 32.20 ft, minor flooding; 13,100 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 2005: 32.53 ft, minor flooding; 14,100 cubic feet per secondJan 14, 2005: 30.27 ft, minor floodingDec 1, 2006: 39.45 ft, moderate flooding; 29,200 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 2006: 31.20 ft, minor flooding; 12,700 cubic feet per secondJan 15, 2007: 35.36 ft, moderate flooding; 18,800 cubic feet per secondFeb 18, 2008: 32.25 ft, minor flooding; 13,500 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2008: 37.93 ft, moderate flooding; 23,000 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 2008: 42.84 ft, major flooding; 38,800 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 2008: 32.69 ft, minor flooding; 13,800 cubic feet per secondApr 11, 2008: 40.16 ft, moderate flooding; 30,700 cubic feet per secondSep 4, 2008: 34.65 ft, moderate flooding; 16,200 cubic feet per secondSep 15, 2008: 32.19 ft, minor flooding; 13,300 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 2009: 29.28 ft, minor flooding; 10,400 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2009: 35.32 ft, moderate flooding; 13,500 cubic feet per secondOct 10, 2009: 35.29 ft, moderate floodingOct 27, 2009: 30.02 ft, minor floodingApr 26, 2011: 39.36 ft, moderate flooding; 23,300 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2011: 35.94 ft, moderate flooding; 16,700 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2011: 30.40 ft, minor flooding; 11,500 cubic feet per secondJan 26, 2012: 34.81 ft, moderate floodingMar 21, 2012: 36.43 ft, moderate floodingJun 2, 2013: 34.55 ft, moderate floodingOct 14, 2014: 31.97 ft, minor floodingMay 12, 2015: 43.54 ft, major flooding; 39,000 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2015: 34.76 ft, moderate floodingMay 27, 2015: 43.03 ft, major floodingNov 29, 2015: 32.78 ft, minor flooding; 15,374 cubic feet per secondDec 14, 2015: 35.67 ft, moderate flooding; 19,844 cubic feet per secondDec 29, 2015: 47.35 ft, major flooding; 82,100 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 2016: 30.30 ft, minor flooding; 11,848 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 2016: 32.65 ft, minor flooding; 14,526 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2016: 29.16 ft, minor flooding; 10,800 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2017: 33.19 ft, moderate flooding; 15,258 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 2018: 35.50 ft, moderate flooding; 19,132 cubic feet per secondAug 16, 2018: 36.33 ft, moderate flooding; 20,834 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 2018: 28.86 ft, below flood stage; 10,447 cubic feet per secondNov 1, 2018: 30.15 ft, minor flooding; 11,701 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 2018: 30.52 ft, minor flooding; 12,060 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 2018: 34.80 ft, moderate flooding; 17,880 cubic feet per secondJan 4, 2019: 30.42 ft, minor flooding; 11,963 cubic feet per secondFeb 12, 2019: 29.24 ft, minor flooding; 10,818 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2019: 29.00 ft, minor flooding; 10,546 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2019: 29.25 ft, minor flooding; 10,772 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2019: 35.42 ft, moderate flooding; 18,874 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2019: 36.03 ft, moderate flooding; 20,002 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2019: 29.43 ft, minor flooding; 10,942 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2019: 36.74 ft, moderate flooding; 21,512 cubic feet per secondNov 8, 2019: 29.21 ft, minor flooding; 10,739 cubic feet per secondJan 12, 2020: 33.98 ft, moderate flooding; 16,471 cubic feet per secondFeb 13, 2020: 30.57 ft, minor flooding; 12,077 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 2020: 31.01 ft, minor flooding; 12,561 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 2020: 30.88 ft, minor flooding; 12,418 cubic feet per secondApr 13, 2020: 30.95 ft, minor flooding; 12,495 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 2020: 29.18 ft, minor flooding; 10,723 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 2020: 33.83 ft, moderate flooding; 16,251 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2020: 34.56 ft, moderate flooding; 17,452 cubic feet per secondSep 2, 2020: 41.13 ft, major flooding; 35,650 cubic feet per secondSep 11, 2020: 31.37 ft, minor flooding; 12,957 cubic feet per secondOct 29, 2020: 32.70 ft, minor flooding; 14,593 cubic feet per secondJan 2, 2021: 31.55 ft, minor flooding; 13,160 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 2021: 36.25 ft, moderate flooding; 20,450 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2021: 29.00 ft, minor flooding; 10,550 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2021: 32.13 ft, minor flooding; 13,856 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2022: 33.12 ft, moderate flooding; 15,209 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2022: 36.20 ft, moderate flooding; 20,340 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2022: 32.34 ft, minor flooding; 14,108 cubic feet per secondFeb 9, 2023: 35.41 ft, moderate flooding; 18,897 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 2023: 34.52 ft, moderate flooding; 17,384 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2023: 37.93 ft, moderate flooding; 24,332 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 2024: 29.77 ft, minor flooding; 11,274 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2024: 28.63 ft, below flood stage; 10,220 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 2024: 29.18 ft, minor flooding; 10,716 cubic feet per secondNov 5, 2024: 29.37 ft, minor flooding; 10,887 cubic feet per secondJan 31, 2025: 31.37 ft, minor flooding; 12,961 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2025: 39.20 ft, moderate flooding; 28,369 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2025: 37.12 ft, moderate flooding; 22,395 cubic feet per secondMay 27, 2025: 34.01 ft, moderate flooding; 16,523 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2025: 29.98 ft, minor flooding; 11,484 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2025: 28.58 ft, below flood stage; 10,175 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 2026: 30.12 ft, minor flooding; 11,628 cubic feet per secondApr 26, 2026: 29.06 ft, minor flooding; 10,611 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 2026: 31.24 ft, minor flooding; 12,824 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 2026: 29.71 ft, minor flooding; 11,219 cubic feet per second Highest, 49.60 ft, Jun 18, 1935 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Poteau River near Panama 1930s: 2 1940s: 0 1950s: 16 1960s: 19 1970s: 19 1980s: 7 1990s: 36 36 2000s: 29 2010s: 31 2020s: 33 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 195 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Poteau River near Panama
1Jun 18, 193549.60+20.60Major—
2Dec 29, 201547.35+18.35Major82,100
3May 3, 199046.59+17.59Major74,600
4May 14, 196846.40+17.40Major—
5Apr 17, 193945.10+16.10Major—
6Dec 11, 197144.16+15.16Major—
7May 12, 201543.54+14.54Major39,000
8May 27, 201543.03+14.03Major—
9Mar 20, 200842.84+13.84Major38,800
10Mar 20, 200242.42+13.42Major38,000
11Jan 6, 199841.40+12.40Major35,000
12Sep 2, 202041.13+12.13Major35,650
13Apr 24, 197340.90+11.90Moderate—
14May 21, 196040.84+11.84Moderate—
15Apr 9, 200240.63+11.63Moderate28,300
16Apr 11, 200840.16+11.16Moderate30,700
17Nov 26, 199639.60+10.60Moderate29,600
18Apr 4, 195739.56+10.56Moderate—
19Dec 1, 200639.45+10.45Moderate29,200
20Mar 21, 196839.38+10.38Moderate—
21Apr 26, 201139.36+10.36Moderate23,300
22Apr 6, 202539.20+10.20Moderate28,369
23Apr 23, 199638.47+9.47Moderate24,600
24Jan 15, 199538.42+9.42Moderate24,500
25Apr 25, 195338.00+9.00Moderate—
26Mar 4, 200837.93+8.93Moderate23,000
27Mar 25, 202337.93+8.93Moderate24,332
28Nov 8, 199637.90+8.90Moderate23,400
29Feb 22, 199737.90+8.90Moderate25,700
30Feb 17, 200137.90+8.90Moderate25,600
31Dec 28, 196837.81+8.81Moderate—
32May 21, 202537.12+8.12Moderate22,395
33Mar 18, 195337.05+8.05Moderate—
34May 13, 195336.90+7.90Moderate—
35May 7, 196036.90+7.90Moderate—
36May 27, 195736.80+7.80Moderate—
37Jun 25, 201936.74+7.74Moderate21,512
38May 19, 196136.63+7.63Moderate—
39Dec 18, 200136.60+7.60Moderate21,100
40Mar 21, 201236.43+7.43Moderate—
41Aug 16, 201836.33+7.33Moderate20,834
42May 22, 195536.31+7.31Moderate—
43May 15, 198236.31+7.31Moderate—
44Apr 30, 202136.25+7.25Moderate20,450
45May 6, 202236.20+7.20Moderate20,340
46May 3, 195836.06+7.06Moderate—
47May 30, 201936.03+7.03Moderate20,002
48May 21, 199036.00+7.00Moderate—
49Jul 1, 199936.00+7.00Moderate19,300
50Nov 23, 196135.98+6.98Moderate—

The worst floods along the Poteau River

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

June 18, 1935: 49.60 ft here, major flooding

  • PoteauOK · Jun 18, 1935 · 39.00 ft · Major · its highest

December 29, 2015: 47.35 ft here, major flooding

  • PoteauOK · Dec 28, 2015 · 31.44 ft · Major

May 3, 1990: 46.59 ft here, major flooding

  • PoteauOK · May 3, 1990 · 30.60 ft · Major

Gauges on the Poteau River

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

Flood gauges on the Poteau River
PoteauOK24.039.00 ft, Jun 18, 193522
Panama this gaugeOK29.049.60 ft, Jun 18, 193512

Other gauges in Le Flore County

Flood gauges in Le Flore County
Poteau24.039.00 ft, Jun 18, 193522

Le Flore County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Oklahoma

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge PANO2, 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.