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Mississippi River at Memphis

Highest listed crest 48.70 ftFlood stage 34.0 ft74 crests since 1927

The Mississippi River at Memphis crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 74 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1927 to 2025. The highest, 48.70 ft on February 10, 1937, was major flooding, 14.70 feet above flood stage. 8 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
48.70 ft
February 10, 1937
Flood stage
34.0 ft
Major flooding from 46.0 ft
Crests at major
2
32nd of 100 gauges in Tennessee
Most recent flood crest
April 17, 2025
37.55 ft, minor flooding
Location
Shelby County
Near Memphis (6.2 mi), West Memphis (7.1 mi), Marion (9.2 mi)

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 Memphis
Action stage28.027Jul 15, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)34.023Apr 17, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage40.07Mar 4, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage46.02May 10, 2011Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

74 crests from 1927 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Memphis, 1927 to 2025 1020304050ft Flood stage 34.0 ftMajor 46.0 ft Apr 23, 1927: 45.80 ft, moderate floodingMar 19, 1934: 29.20 ft, action stageFeb 10, 1937: 48.70 ft, major floodingApr 22, 1938: 33.00 ft, action stageMay 7, 1940: 31.70 ft, action stageNov 13, 1941: 21.00 ft, below flood stageMar 28, 1942: 30.20 ft, action stageApr 6, 1945: 39.20 ft, minor floodingApr 25, 1947: 32.10 ft, action stageFeb 22, 1950: 40.50 ft, moderate floodingMay 24, 1953: 25.92 ft, below flood stageJan 30, 1954: 19.15 ft, below flood stageApr 2, 1955: 35.45 ft, minor floodingMar 2, 1956: 29.35 ft, action stageFeb 16, 1957: 31.16 ft, action stageMay 16, 1958: 29.88 ft, action stageFeb 27, 1959: 27.86 ft, below flood stageApr 17, 1960: 33.28 ft, action stageMay 22, 1961: 40.18 ft, moderate floodingMar 29, 1963: 36.61 ft, minor floodingMar 26, 1964: 33.13 ft, action stageApr 12, 1965: 32.99 ft, action stageFeb 24, 1966: 27.69 ft, below flood stageMay 24, 1967: 29.79 ft, action stageJun 9, 1968: 28.30 ft, action stageFeb 16, 1969: 31.72 ft, action stageMay 11, 1970: 33.26 ft, action stageMar 8, 1971: 32.78 ft, action stageMay 3, 1972: 32.78 ft, action stageMay 8, 1973: 40.50 ft, moderate floodingFeb 7, 1974: 36.36 ft, minor floodingMar 7, 1975: 40.32 ft, moderate floodingMar 1, 1976: 25.79 ft, below flood stageApr 15, 1977: 27.70 ft, below flood stageApr 2, 1978: 34.21 ft, minor floodingApr 23, 1979: 39.24 ft, minor floodingApr 8, 1980: 31.99 ft, action stageMay 26, 1981: 24.90 ft, below flood stageDec 14, 1982: 30.90 ft, action stageMay 15, 1983: 39.20 ft, minor floodingMay 18, 1984: 38.70 ft, minor floodingMar 12, 1985: 32.90 ft, action stage; 1,296,004 cubic feet per secondDec 31, 1990: 32.43 ft, action stage; 1,242,243 cubic feet per secondJan 8, 1991: 36.09 ft, minor flooding; 1,360,000 cubic feet per secondDec 26, 1992: 23.47 ft, below flood stage; 913,182 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1993: 32.14 ft, action stage; 1,204,000 cubic feet per secondApr 23, 1994: 37.33 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 1995: 39.17 ft, minor floodingMay 22, 1996: 36.46 ft, minor floodingMar 14, 1997: 40.76 ft, moderate floodingMay 8, 1998: 34.25 ft, minor floodingFeb 7, 1999: 32.30 ft, action stageMar 1, 2000: 21.26 ft, below flood stageMar 3, 2001: 27.70 ft, below flood stageMay 24, 2002: 38.70 ft, minor floodingMay 19, 2003: 34.04 ft, minor floodingDec 16, 2004: 29.37 ft, action stageJan 22, 2005: 35.73 ft, minor floodingJan 31, 2006: 21.44 ft, below flood stageJan 21, 2007: 25.89 ft, below flood stageApr 18, 2008: 37.75 ft, minor floodingMay 18, 2009: 34.72 ft, minor floodingMay 11, 2010: 32.83 ft, action stageMar 22, 2011: 36.52 ft, minor floodingMay 10, 2011: 48.03 ft, major floodingFeb 7, 2012: 24.55 ft, below flood stageMay 11, 2013: 33.98 ft, action stageApr 15, 2014: 26.24 ft, below flood stageJul 15, 2015: 32.12 ft, action stageJan 8, 2016: 39.59 ft, minor floodingMay 14, 2017: 35.99 ft, minor floodingMar 9, 2018: 39.44 ft, minor floodingMar 4, 2019: 41.37 ft, moderate floodingApr 17, 2025: 37.55 ft, minor flooding Highest, 48.70 ft, Feb 10, 1937 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Memphis 1920s: 1 1930s: 1 1940s: 1 1950s: 2 1960s: 2 1970s: 5 1980s: 2 1990s: 6 6 2000s: 5 2010s: 6 2020s: 1 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 74 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Mississippi River at Memphis
1Feb 10, 193748.70+14.70Major—
2May 10, 201148.03+14.03Major—
3Apr 23, 192745.80+11.80Moderate—
4Mar 4, 201941.37+7.37Moderate—
5Mar 14, 199740.76+6.76Moderate—
6Feb 22, 195040.50+6.50Moderate—
7May 8, 197340.50+6.50Moderate—
8Mar 7, 197540.32+6.32Moderate—
9May 22, 196140.18+6.18Moderate—
10Jan 8, 201639.59+5.59Minor—
11Mar 9, 201839.44+5.44Minor—
12Apr 23, 197939.24+5.24Minor—
13Apr 6, 194539.20+5.20Minor—
14May 15, 198339.20+5.20Minor—
15Jun 1, 199539.17+5.17Minor—
16May 18, 198438.70+4.70Minor—
17May 24, 200238.70+4.70Minor—
18Apr 18, 200837.75+3.75Minor—
19Apr 17, 202537.55+3.55Minor—
20Apr 23, 199437.33+3.33Minor—
21Mar 29, 196336.61+2.61Minor—
22Mar 22, 201136.52+2.52Minor—
23May 22, 199636.46+2.46Minor—
24Feb 7, 197436.36+2.36Minor—
25Jan 8, 199136.09+2.09Minor1,360,000
26May 14, 201735.99+1.99Minor—
27Jan 22, 200535.73+1.73Minor—
28Apr 2, 195535.45+1.45Minor—
29May 18, 200934.72+0.72Minor—
30May 8, 199834.25+0.25Minor—
31Apr 2, 197834.21+0.21Minor—
32May 19, 200334.04+0.04Minor—
33May 11, 201333.98−0.02Action—
34Apr 17, 196033.28−0.72Action—
35May 11, 197033.26−0.74Action—
36Mar 26, 196433.13−0.87Action—
37Apr 22, 193833.00−1.00Action—
38Apr 12, 196532.99−1.01Action—
39Mar 12, 198532.90−1.10Action1,296,004
40May 11, 201032.83−1.17Action—
41Mar 8, 197132.78−1.22Action—
42May 3, 197232.78−1.22Action—
43Dec 31, 199032.43−1.57Action1,242,243
44Feb 7, 199932.30−1.70Action—
45Apr 15, 199332.14−1.86Action1,204,000
46Jul 15, 201532.12−1.88Action—
47Apr 25, 194732.10−1.90Action—
48Apr 8, 198031.99−2.01Action—
49Feb 16, 196931.72−2.28Action—
50May 7, 194031.70−2.30Action—

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.

February 10, 1937: 48.70 ft here, major flooding

May 10, 2011: 48.03 ft here, major flooding

  • GreenvilleAR · May 16, 2011 · 64.22 ft · Major
  • HelenaAR · May 12, 2011 · 56.59 ft · Major
  • Arkansas CityAR · May 16, 2011 · 53.14 ft · Major
  • TiptonvilleMO · May 5, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • New MadridMO · May 6, 2011 · 48.35 ft · Major · its highest
  • 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

April 23, 1927: 45.80 ft here, moderate flooding

  • GreenvilleAR · Apr 21, 1927 · 65.40 ft · Major · its highest
  • Arkansas CityAR · Apr 21, 1927 · 59.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • HelenaAR · Apr 27, 1927 · 56.75 ft · Major
  • OsceolaAR · Apr 24, 1927 · 45.80 ft · Major
  • New OrleansLA · Apr 25, 1927 · 21.00 ft · Major
  • St. LouisMO · Apr 26, 1927 · 36.10 ft · Moderate
  • AitkinMN · Apr 25, 1927 · 14.50 ft · Minor

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
Memphis this gaugeTN34.048.70 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 MadridMO34.048.35 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 Shelby County

Flood gauges in Shelby County
Millington34.046.23 ft, May 5, 20102
Arlington20.025.44 ft, May 2, 20103
Brunswick23.028.67 ft, May 2, 20102
Frayser28.039.25 ft, May 10, 20111
Farrisview Boulevard31.034.37 ft, Jun 29, 20140
Winchester Rd23.027.96 ft, Jun 7, 20190
Collierville13.016.73 ft, Mar 11, 20160
Germantown20.527.98 ft, Mar 14, 19750
Raleigh7.023.72 ft, Jan 20, 193521

Shelby County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Tennessee

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MEMT1, 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.