Big Blue River (IN) at Carthage, IN

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 14 ftNear record to record flood along the Big Blue River. Many county and some city streets impassable. Eastern and southern parts of Carthage, extreme southern sections of Knightstown and extreme eastern Raysville flood extensively. Many evacuations occur in Knightstown, Carthage and rural northwest Rush county.
• 13 ftA serious flood in progress. Many local roads are impassable. Some evacuations occur in southern parts of Carthage, extreme southern sections of Knightstown, eastern Raysville and rural areas of northwest Rush County. Used auto parts yard in Carthage is extensively flooded.
• 11 ftExtensive flooding is in progress. Many local roads flood and are impassable to most vehicles. A few evacuations are necessary in southern parts of Carthage, extreme southern sections of Knightstown, eastern Raysville and a few rural areas of northwest Rush County. Used auto parts yard in Carthage is flooded.
• 8.5 ftA frequent high water level. This occurs about two or three times a year. Local roads near the Big Blue River flood. Water surrounds a few homes in Carthage, enters dog houses in southern Carthage and affects used auto parts yard in Carthage. Water is in yards in the southern outskirts of Knightstown and extreme eastern Raysville.
• 7 ftLowland flooding begins.
• 5 ftCR800N begins to flood at its lowest point where it crosses the Big Blue River in northwest Rush County.

Highest crests on record

1. 14.62 ft — March 4, 1963
2. 13.28 ft — January 21, 1959
3. 12.91 ft — November 15, 1993
4. 12.42 ft — June 14, 1958
5. 12.31 ft — December 30, 1990

Recent crests: 12.3 ft (August 13, 2026) · 11.21 ft (April 5, 2025) · 8.62 ft (March 25, 2023) · 5.82 ft (February 28, 2021) · 8.36 ft (January 11, 2020)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• DownstreamBig Blue River (IN) at Shelbyville, IN
• Brandywine Creek in Indiana at Greenfield, IN
• Flatrock River near Raleigh, IN
• Flatrock River at Rushville, IN
• Sugar Creek (central) at New Palestine, IN
• Little Blue River (IN) at Walkerville, IN
• Brandywine Creek near Fairland, IN
• Buck Creek (IN) at Acton, IN