Eel River at Bowling Green, 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.

• 30 ftRecord flood occurred in August 1875 and was estimated at 30 feet. With the completion of Cagles Mill Dam in 1953, it is unlikely that this height will ever be reached again. The river is nearly 1 mile wide and would submerge SR 46 & 59 by 2 feet. Great rural destruction occurs. Many rural evacuations, all roads in the flood plain and all levees are overtopped. Most river cabins and other structures in the flood plain are swept away. Residents on high ground are isolated.
• 25 ftFlood water isolates residents on high ground and begins to cross SR 46 just west of Bowling Green.
• 24 ftA very unusual flood. With Cagles Mill Reservoir in full operation since 1953, floods have not reached this level.
• 23 ftA large and unusual flood is in progress. Persons living in river cabins need to evacuate. SR 42 east of the Eel River extensively flooded. All county roads in the flood plain are underwater. Some residents on high ground need boats to reach or leave their homes. Levees protecting agricultural lands downstream failed or were overtopped in June 2008.
• 22 ftAn unusual flood is in progress. Water covers both lanes of SR 42 east of the Eel River. Many county roads flood extensively. Flood water isolates some farm houses. Water is near the top of most agricultural levees.
• 20 ftFlood water, possibly a foot deep, covers SR 42 just east of the Eel River. Several county roads flood extensively. Persons in river cabins move cars and possibly belongings to high ground. Agricultural levees are threatened. Poland-Bowling Green Road is impassable in several places.
• 19.1 ftFlood water covers both lanes of SR 42 just east of the Eel River. Several county roads are flooded. Persons in river cabins may move cars and possibly belongings to high ground. Poland-Bowling Green Road is impassable on the northeast outskirts of Bowling Green.
• 18 ftTypical high water after heavy rains. This causes extensive flooding of bottomlands and floods many county roads. Persons living in river cabins are inconvenienced. Campers must move from low ground. Poland-Bowling Green road is impassable.
• 17 ftFlood water covers considerable bottomlands and floods a few county roads including the Poland-Bowling Green Road.
• 16 ftLowland flooding is occurring along portions of the river. Sonnefield Road at McIntyre Creek is impassable. Water is on portions of Pioneer Road in the vicinity of CR 50 N. This level threatens campers.
• 15 ftLowland flooding begins along portions of the Eel River. Water approaches and may be on Sonnefield Road at McIntyre Creek. Lowest campgrounds along the river begin to flood.
• 14 ftThe Eel River is at bankfull levels in northeast Clay County. This level does not bother anyone if the river goes down in 1 to 2 days.

Highest crests on record

1. 30 ft — August 1, 1875
2. 24.8 ft — March 26, 1913
3. 23.53 ft — January 4, 1950
4. 23.48 ft — June 7, 2008
5. 23.39 ft — June 29, 1957

Recent crests: 16.37 ft (June 18, 2026) · 16.64 ft (May 19, 2026) · 17.38 ft (March 4, 2026) · 21.78 ft (April 6, 2025) · 19.73 ft (April 3, 2024)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamBig Walnut Creek (IN) near Reelsville, IN
• Mill Creek (IN) at Cagles Mill, IN
• Mill Creek (IN) near Cataract, IN
• White River (IN) at Spencer, IN
• Wabash River at Terre Haute...US Hwy 150 Eastbound, IN
• Big Raccoon Creek at Ferndale, IN
• Big Raccoon Creek at Coxville, IN
• Sugar Creek at West Terre Haute, IN, IN