Big Muddy River at Murphysboro, IL
River level and flood forecast · Jackson County
Normal5.0 ftas of Mon 3:30 PM
The river is 17.0 ft below flood stage (22 ft).
Flow: 153 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 36 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 28 ft |
| Flood stage | 22 ft |
| Action stage | 20 ft |
| Record crest (May 3, 2011) | 40.47 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 36 ftDamage begins to property near Shoemaker Drive in Murphysboro. Evacuations may be needed to parts of a mobile home park.
- 34 ftAreas around S 3rd & 4th Streets begin to flood.
- 24 ftSome minor flooding in S 3rd & Division / Plum Street area.
- 22 ftMinor flooding occurs affecting mainly low lying areas.
- 20 ftSome farmers may have to move livestock and equipment to higher ground.
Highest crests on record
- 40.47 ft — May 3, 2011
- 39.03 ft — May 12, 1961
- 38.56 ft — May 6, 2017
- 37.65 ft — May 2, 1996
- 37.24 ft — March 23, 2008
Recent crests: 36.39 ft (April 9, 2025) · 23.8 ft (May 13, 2024) · 28.91 ft (March 29, 2023) · 25.22 ft (February 23, 2022) · 29.78 ft (March 22, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (MURI2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.