Big Blue River (IN) at Shelbyville, IN
River level and flood forecast · Shelby County
Normal4.8 ftas of Mon 3:45 PM
The river is 8.2 ft below flood stage (13 ft).
Flow: 110 cubic feet per second (USGS).
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
| Major flood stage | 18 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 13 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (March 28, 1913) | 20.2 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 23.9 ftLow steel of Harrison Street Bridge over the Big Blue River at gaging site.
- 20 ftNear record or record flooding is in progress. Major flooding causes substantial residential and business damage in Shelbyville.
- 19.5 ftMaximum good reading before wellhouse is flooded.
- 18 ftMajor flood strikes Shelbyville.
- 17 ftExtensive flooding along left bank affects business and residential property along Boggstown Road. Rural flooding of a few homes near CR 100N and Boggstown Road on April 21, 2011.
- 16.3 ftExtensive flooding occurring along Big Blue River. Several residences in Shelbyville had water in their yards on March 6, 2011. One day later extensive flooding at mile marker 82.5 in the Edinburgh area. Several homes along Sugar Creek were evacuated when the level peaked at nine ft on the New Palestine gage one day earlier.
- 15 ftHigh water affects trucking firm on Boggstown Road.
- 14 ftFlooding begins to affect business and residential property. West Washington Avenue east of rendering plant begins to flood. In winter and spring, persons are not too concerned. This level is rather unusual for summer.
- 13.5 ftFlooding affects Boggstown Road near sewage plant. Considerable flooding of agricultural fields south of Boggstown Road. Lowland flooding occurring along the Big Blue River in Johnson County.
- 13 ftFlood Stage. Water reaches CR 425W. Some agricultural land and extremely low-lying areas like Bear Chase golf course are flooded.
- 12.5 ftRight bank 50 feet upstream of gage site overflows.
- 12 ftLowland flooding begins in Sunset Park on left bank about one-half downstream of gage site. Water very near and may start flowing over Shelby CR 425W south of Shelby CR 50S and north of Shelby CR 100S.
- 11 ftFlooding begins at Bear Chase Golf Course. Lowland flooding begins in Sunset Park located on left bank about one-half mile downstream of gage site. Flood waters in agricultural fields in SR 44 area.
- 9 ftRiver is near bankfull and impairing sewage treatment operation. Some flooding is likely in southwest Shelby county.
Highest crests on record
- 20.2 ft — March 28, 1913
- 19.98 ft — April 6, 2025
- 18.43 ft — January 6, 2005
- 18.41 ft — November 15, 1993
- 18.3 ft — December 23, 2013
Recent crests: 16.69 ft (August 14, 2026) · 15.02 ft (March 5, 2026) · 19.98 ft (April 6, 2025) · 13.48 ft (April 3, 2024) · 14.34 ft (March 26, 2023)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamBig Blue River (IN) at Carthage, IN
- DownstreamDriftwood River near Edinburgh, IN
- Little Blue River (IN) at Walkerville, IN
- Brandywine Creek near Fairland, IN
- Sugar Creek (central) near Boggstown, IN
- Flatrock River at St. Paul, IN
- Buck Creek (IN) at Acton, IN
- Sugar Creek (central) at New Palestine, IN
- Youngs Creek at Amity, IN
- Haw Creek (IN) at Hope, IN
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SBVI3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.