White River at Calico Rock, AR

River level and flood forecast · Izard County

Normal2.1 ftas of Mon 2:15 PM

The river is 16.9 ft below flood stage (19 ft).

Flow: 1,720 cubic feet per second (USGS).

The last 7 days and the forecast

-100102030TueWedThuFriSatSunMonAction 16 ftFlood 19 ftModerate 25 ftMajor 30 ftNowObserved (ft)NWS forecast

NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

Major flood stage30 ft
Moderate flood stage25 ft
Flood stage19 ft
Action stage16 ft
Record crest (August 21, 1915)50.5 ft

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

  • 50 ftRiver exceeded 50 feet three times between 1915 and 1927. Flood of record is 52.9 feet on January 31 1916. The river reached 51.5 feet on April 15 1927. All points along the White River will have major flood problems. Reservoirs provide some level of protection.
  • 40 ftMuch of the flood plain near Calico Rock will be flooded. Serious problems in Norfork, Boswell, Mount Olive, Sylamore, Allison, and Guion. Backwater up Calico Creek effects homes and business in Calico Rock. Houses on River Breeze Lane will be threatened. On April 11th 2008 the river crested at 40.2 feet and caused widespread serious damage. The December 1982 flood crested at 41.2 feet, which is the highest stage since the reservoirs were completed.
  • 36 ftMany of the homes along the river bank in Baxter, Stone, and Izard counties will be impacted by either inundation or isolation. This includes homes in areas near Norfork, Calico Rock , Allison, Boswell, Mount Olive, and Guion. Numerous roads closed.
  • 32 ftHomes along the river in Stone and Izard counties affected. Flooding in April 2004 reached 31.6 feet at Calico Rock and several homes were seriously damaged or destroyed. Boswell and Mount Olive communities were cut off. Private and commercial fishing docks need to be well anchored. Campground near Allison will be impacted.
  • 30 ftMajor flooding begins, most of lower lying portions of White River Valley from Norfork to Batesville flooding. Campgrounds and communities along the river will be flooded or isolated by flooded roads. Homes along the river in Stone and Izard counties may be flooded. River is swift and may contain a large amount of debris. Private and commercial boat docks should be monitored and well anchored to the bank.
  • 25 ftModerate flood level begins at this stage, campground at Allison floods, primary access to campground flooded. Izard County Road 157 flooded downstream of Guion. Homes along the river near Guion will be affected. Backwater up Calico Creek in Calico Rock floods City Park. Homes in the floodplain of the White River in Baxter, Izard, and Stone counties may be affected.
  • 22 ftIn Stone County, campground at Allison may be affected. Homeowners along the river should monitor water levels in Baxter, Stone, and Izard counties.
  • 19 ftPastures in Izard and Stone counties begin to flood.

Highest crests on record

  1. 50.5 ft — August 21, 1915
  2. 49.84 ft — April 16, 1945
  3. 47.5 ft — May 12, 1943
  4. 44.5 ft — February 19, 1938
  5. 43.8 ft — March 12, 1935

Recent crests: 28.28 ft (April 6, 2025) · 32.65 ft (May 1, 2017) · 34.2 ft (December 29, 2015) · 19.95 ft (May 12, 2015) · 29.28 ft (April 26, 2011)

Up and down the river, and nearby

Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CLRA4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.