CURRENT FLOOD UPDATES

Because information posted here is intended to be timely, all data and information are preliminary and subject to revision.

2011 FLOOD UPDATES
This page will provide up-to-date information regarding USGS Indiana Water Science Center activities relating to floods. Information includes

• USGS Internet Flood Resources
• Flood Updates
• Flood Discharge Measurements
• Flood Photographs
• Flood-Related Links

Because information posted here is intended to be timely, all data and information are preliminary and subject to revision.
USGS Internet Flood Resources

• Real-time stage and streamflow data: Stage and streamflow data are available from the Indiana streamflow-gaging station network. Visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/in/nwis/rt
• WaterWatch: The WaterWatch Flood Watch feature provides a map that allows users to determine, at a glance, regions experiencing high flows and which streamflow-gaging stations have water levels above flood stage. Visit: http://water.usgs.gov/waterwatch
• WaterAlert: The WaterAlert service sends e-mail or text (SMS) messages when certain parameters including water levels, as measured by a USGS real-time data-collection station, exceed user-definable thresholds. Visit: http://water.usgs.gov/wateralert/
• Twitter: Follow the Indiana Water Science Center @USGS_IN or go to http://twitter.com/USGS_IN
• YouTube: See the latest field video on the USGS Indiana playlist found on the USGS YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/usgs?blend=3&ob=5#p/c/AE2B34CEBCB6050B
  

APRIL and MAY 2011
Flood Updates

May 3: Rain totals from May 1st and 2nd of 2 to nearly 5 inches in Southwestern Indiana continue to keep rivers in the Southern half of Indiana at or above flood stage. Currently, 39 USGS stream gages are at or above flood stage with 5 sites at major stage and 2 sites above record stage. The Wabash River at Mt. Carmel, 03377500, and Patoka River near Princeton, 03376500, have exceeded record stages today.
Currently 2 USGS field crews are measuring flows in the Southwest part of the state. Since April 19th, Indiana USGS crews have made nearly 45 streamflow measurement across predominantly the Southern half of Indiana. Crews will remain in Southwestern Indiana throughout the week making streamflow measurements and keeping stream gage sites operational.

May 2: Heavy rains of 2-3+ inches fell overnight across much of Southern and Southwestern Indiana. These rains coupled with nearly 12 inches of rain over the past 2 weeks in the southern half of the state have kept many USGS streamgage sites at or above flood stage. Currently, 19 USGS streamgage sites are at or above flood stage (predominantly on larger drainage basins) in the Soutwest third of the state. As of today, record stage has been recorded at 1 site in far Southeastern Indiana on April 19. Near record stages are forecast on the Lower Wabash, Lower Patoka, and Lower White Rivers in Southwestern Indiana by midweek. 2 USGS field crews will be making discharge measurement today on the Lower White and Patoka Rivers in southwestern Indiana. Since April 19th Indiana WSC staff have made approximately 40 discharge measurements at sites across the southern half of the state. Additional field crews will likely be dispatched tomorrow to to make additional flow measurements or gage repairs as necessary.

April 29: Today, 63 USGS streamgage sites across the state are at or above flood stage. 19 of these sites are at moderate flood levels and 5 sites are at major flood level. Major and moderate flooding is predominantly confined to the Southwest third of the state. Currently, 3 USGS flood crews are measuring flows in the Southwest and Western portions of the state on the lower White, Wabash, and Patoka rivers in Southwestern Indiana, and Wildcat Creek in West central Indiana. Since Tuesday, April 19th, USGS crews have completed nearly 40 discharge measurements at sites mostly in the southern half of the state.

April 28: More heavy rain last night brought many streams back up – this morning water levels exceeded flood stage at 63 USGS streamgages. In comparison, yesterday 32 streamgages were above flood stage. Moderate to major flooding is occurring on the Wabash, White, East Fork White, and Patoka Rivers in central to southern Indiana. Moderate flooding is occurring on Big Walnut Creek in central Indiana. Many small to medium-sized streams in central Indiana are rising rapidly and several could reach new record peak levels.  USGS flood crews will continue to work in across Indiana in the coming days to keep streamgages functioning and to provide critical data for flood forecasting.

April 27: This morning water levels exceeded flood stage at 32USGS streamgages. Flooding has reached major levels at the following USGS streamgages:

• East Fork White River at Shoals
• White River at Petersburg
• White River at Hazleton
• Patoka River at Princeton

Extensive moderate flooding continues elsewhere in southern Indiana. USGS flood crews will continue to work in southern Indiana throughout the day today.

April 26: This morning water levels exceeded flood stage at 38 USGS streamgages. Moderate flooding, as defined by the National Weather Service, is occurring on the East Fork White River at and downstream of Seymour, on the White River at and downstream of Elliston, on the Wabash River at Mount Carmel, and on the Patoka River at Princeton. Flooding has reached major levels on the East Fork White River at Shoals and White River at Petersburg. Yesterday two USGS crews made flood measurements at five new streamgages in Orange County. Crews will continue to work in southern Indiana throughout the day today.
Yesterday the USGS issued a press release on the Indiana flooding, available at: http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2774

USGS Crews Measure Flooding in Indiana

Reporters: Do you want to accompany a USGS field crew as they measure flooding? Please contact Paul Baker: 317-290-3333 x 181, 317-697-1619 (cell), or prbaker@usgs.gov.
Widespread moderate and isolated major flooding is occurring within the southern portion of Indiana. Most impacted include he Lost River basin in Orange County, along the Patoka River near Princeton, the East Fork White River from Seymour to Shoals, the Wabash River below Vincennes, and along the lowest reaches of the White River in the southern third of Indiana at this time. Daily updates of flood conditions impacting Indiana may be found online.
This morning, April 25, 2011, water levels exceeded flood stage at 22 USGS streamgage sites around Indiana. Moderate flooding is occurring on the East Fork White River, Lower White River, and the Lower Wabash River, all located in the southwestern portion of the state. Forecast heavy precipitation may push these sites to major flood levels by the end of this week.
Multiple USGS field crews are measuring discharge at USGS streamflow sites today and keeping the gage network operational. Since Tuesday, April 19th, USGS crews have made approximately 18 discharge measurements throughout the southern half of the state.
During and after storms and floods, USGS field crews measure the flow and height of rivers and verify the accuracy of streamgages. Field crews continue to work as waters recede, gathering high water marks for post flood analysis. This information is important because it is used to issue flood warnings and to characterize flood hazards.
“These are major floods and we know that people’s lives are at risk, so we work rapidly to make accurate flood measurements and keep our real-time streamgages operating,” said Scott Morlock USGS Supervisory Hydrologist. “If any of the streamgages are damaged or destroyed, we will repair them as quickly as possible to ensure that the data are available to State and local emergency managers, the National Weather Service for flood-forecasting, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for flood-control operations.”
For more than 125 years, the USGS has monitored flow in selected streams and rivers across the U.S. The information is routinely used for water supply and management, monitoring floods and droughts, bridge and road design, determination of flood risk, and for many recreational activities.
Access current flood and high flow conditions across the country by visiting the USGS WaterWatch website. Receive instant, customized updates about water conditions in your area via text message or email by signing up for USGS WaterAlert.
The USGS operates a network of about 7500 streamgages throughout the U.S. The gages provide critical information within minutes to many users including the National Weather Service, which issues flood warnings.
USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state. They can provide more detailed information on stream conditions and on the USGS response to local events.

USGS provides science for a changing world. Visit USGS.gov, and follow us on Twitter @USGS and our other social media channels.
Subscribe to our news releases via e-mail, RSS or Twitter.
Links and contacts within this release are valid at the time of publication.

April 25: Moderate to major flooding is occurring in southern Indiana. This morning water levels exceeded flood stage at 22 USGS streamgages. Moderate flooding is occurring on the East Fork White River and Lower White River and flooding may reach major levels in those basins as heavy rainfall continues through the week. USGS field crews have been working to keep streamgages operational and to make streamflow measurements so that the National Weather Service has the most up-to-date information for flood forecasts.

Discharge Measurements

Flood Photos

Flood-Related Links

USGS Indiana press releases http://in.water.usgs.gov/press_release/

USGS United States map of flood and high flow conditions: http://water.usgs.gov/cgi-bin/dailyMainW?state=us&map_type=flood&web_type=map

National Weather Service River Forecasts: http://www.weather.gov/rivers_tab.php

Indiana State Emergency Management Agency: http://www.in.gov/sema/emerg_mgt/

USGS Surface Water Information Pages: http://water.usgs.gov/osw/

StreamStats: A Web-based tool that allows users to obtain streamflow statistics, drainage-basin characteristics, and other information for user-selected sites on streams. A StreamStats application for flood-frequency in Indiana is available at: http://water.usgs.gov/osw/streamstats/ssonline.html

National Weather Service: Indianapolis
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/ind
River Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=ind

National Weather Service: Northern Indiana
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/iwx
River Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=iwx

National Weather Service: Wilmington, Ohio
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/iln
River Page: http://newweb.erh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=iln

National Weather Service: Louisville, Kentucky
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/lmk
River Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lmk

National Weather Service: Chicago, Illinois
Main Page: http://www.weather.gov/lot
River Page: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lot

• Flood information from 2009
• Flood information from 2008

Go to the USGS Indiana Water Science Center Home Page.