Elkhart River at Goshen, IN
River level and flood forecast · Elkhart County
Normal2.8 ftas of Mon 3:45 PM
The river is 4.2 ft below flood stage (7 ft).
Flow: 81 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 | 11 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 9 ft |
| Flood stage | 7 ft |
| Action stage | 6 ft |
| Record crest (February 21, 2018) | 12.53 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 13 ftAt this level, the Goshen wastewater plant operations are likely impacted.
- 12.5 ftAll-time record flood is in progress with many residences flooded. Water as high as four feet can be expected in some commercial areas.
- 11 ftA major flood is in progress with several streets and US 33 through Goshen flooded. Southeast Elkhart also floods. Many evacuations of residential areas are necessary.
- 10 ftSeveral residential streets are flooded in Goshen. US 33 begins to flood. Flooding from Chicago Poke Plaza reaches residential areas near the intersection of Indiana and Berkey Avenues in Goshen.
- 9 ftWater closes Chicago Avenue and Denver Street in Goshen. Rogers Park is completely flooded.
- 8 ftSome residential and commercial properties near SR 119 are affected by high water.
- 7 ftThe river reaches flood stage. Goshen, Shanklin, and Rogers Park in Goshen begin to flood. Island, Studebaker, and American Parks in Elkhart begin to flood.
- 5 ftThe very lowest areas along the Elkhart River begin to flood.
- 1.86 ftLowest river observation during 2012 drought.
Highest crests on record
- 12.53 ft — February 21, 2018
- 11.94 ft — March 14, 1982
- 11.87 ft — February 24, 1985
- 11.03 ft — December 30, 1990
- 10.46 ft — March 17, 1982
Recent crests: 6.92 ft (February 28, 2023) · 7.57 ft (February 17, 2022) · 5.55 ft (June 28, 2021) · 6.77 ft (January 12, 2020) · 9.12 ft (May 1, 2019)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamNorth Branch Elkhart River at Cosperville, IN
- DownstreamSt. Joseph River (MI/IN) at Elkhart, IN
- Pigeon River near Scott, IN
- Tippecanoe River at Oswego, IN
- Tippecanoe River at North Webster, IN
- Northern Indiana Lakes at Pike Lake at Warsaw, IN
- Judy Creek(Northern IN) near South Bend, IN
- St. Joseph River (MI/IN) at South Bend, IN
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (GSHI3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.