Wabash River at Vincennes, IN

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:11 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 30.5 ftRecord flood is in progress. The City of Vincennes is threatened. A levee failure at this stage would flood Vincennes with several feet of water.
• 30 ftDisastrous flooding in unprotected area of north side of Vincennes along Old Terre Haute Road and Kelso Creek. Lawrence County Illinois floods to Lawrenceville, Illinois. U.S. Highway 41 has water on both sides as southern Knox County is underwater.
• 29.33 ftWater is a flood height of record. Serious flooding in much of Lawrence County Illinois and Knox County Indiana. Many evacuations necessary. Disruptions to much of the land transportation routes.
• 28 ftA major flood is in progress. Water is at critical stage for levee beginning just south of Vincennes. If levees fail, thousands of acres of acres in rural Knox County flood. Levees overtop in Lawrence County Illinois flooding much of Lawrence County. Extensive flooding in unprotected north side area of Vincennes along Old Terre Haute Roads and Kelso Creek.
• 27 ftWater is very close to the top of the levee on the Illinois side. Evacuations are necessary in Old Terre Haute area. Sawmill floods. Kelso Creek fills with backwater. Levees are patrolled. Water at critical stage for Niblack levee.
• 26 ftFlood fighting becomes serious. Rural levees are near or above critical stage. Extensive flooding along Old Terre Haute Road. Many river cabins flood. Numerous local roads flood.
• 25 ftWater is at critical stage for England Pond Levee on Illinois side. Pearl City extensively floods. Installation of flood gates is required for the city of Vincennes. Flooding occurs in Old Vincennes area. Extensive agricultural flooding continues.
• 24.5 ftOn the north side of Vincennes near Old Terre Haute Road, sawmill extensively floods including the concrete structures. Flood waters surround about 5 to 10 houses just west of road near the Executive Inn. Kelso Creek has extensive backwater. Wabash River is within a few inches of closing Oliphant Drive at Kelso Creek. A heavy local rain would cause severe flooding to shopping center near Kelso Creek. Fort Knox Road floods at Snapp Creek. Park located on Fort Knox Road also floods.
• 24.25 ftThe rural route between St. Francesville, Illinois and Vincennes, Indiana floods by several feet at the Embarras River. Flood water from the Wabash River affect the Embarras River upstream to Lawrenceville, Illinois. Fort Knox Road and Kimmell Park extensively floods. Backwater for the Wabash River causes extensive agricultural flooding along the Embarras River in Lawrence County Illinois.
• 24 ftWater is at critical stage for portions of the Brevoort Levee and Russell-Allison Levees. Seep water becomes a problem in rural areas protected by levees. Commercial and a few residential areas flood along Old Vincennes Road. Extensive agricultural flooding is in progress.
• 23 ftExtensive flooding is in progress on the northside of Vincennes along Old Terre Haute Road. Flooding affects local sawmill. At least 1 family may move from their home. The river is more than a mile wide at the Red Skelton Bridge.
• 22 ftAlmost all unprotected areas flood. River cabins are surrounded by high water. Oil fields in lowland areas are inaccessible by land vehicles. Most local river roads flood.
• 21 ftExtensive agricultural flooding in progress in areas that are not protected by levees. In Lawrence County Illinois, River Road is flooded from the Lincoln Memorial Bridge to the east edge of Billett.
• 20 ftKimmell Park at Vincennes is extensively flooded. River cabins begin to flood. Extensive lowland flooding occurs in unprotected areas.
• 18 ftAgricultural lands and some oil fields flood. Several township roads about 1.25 miles south of St. Francesville and River Road between Billett Road and Lincoln Memorial Bridge in Lawrence County are flooded. Extensive flooding of Kimmell Park at Vincennes.
• 17 ftConsiderable agricultural flooding extends from just north of the junction of Illinois 33 with Business 50 to the St. Francesville, Illinois area. River Road from Lincoln Memorial Bridge to Billett Rd is impassable. Extensive seep water forms behind Illinois levees extending from Russellville to U.S. Highway 50. Flooding of agricultural land begins in Knox County Indiana west of the railroad extending for the Oaktown area to the north side of Vincennes. Extensive flooding of Small Creek.
• 16 ftSome flooding at Kimmell Park in Vincennes. Agricultural lands flood in the St. Francisville, Illinois area.
• 15 ftAgricultural flooding begins in the St. Francesville, Illinois area.
• 14 ftBankfull level in the St. Francisville, Illinois area and the river begins to flood a few low spots.
• 10 ftPumping of drainage ditch begins.

Highest crests on record

1. 29.33 ft — May 23, 1943
2. 29.04 ft — January 18, 1950
3. 27.72 ft — April 27, 2013
4. 27.5 ft — June 10, 2008
5. 27.47 ft — May 3, 2011

Recent crests: 18.8 ft (August 26, 2026) · 16.8 ft (June 24, 2026) · 21.57 ft (April 10, 2025) · 18.19 ft (April 13, 2024) · 16.12 ft (February 6, 2024)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamWabash River at Riverton, IN
• DownstreamWabash River at Mount Carmel, IL
• Embarras River (IL) at Lawrenceville, IL
• White River (IN) at Old U.S. Highway 41 located at Hazleton, IN
• White River (IN) near Edwardsport, IN
• White River (IN) at Petersburg, IN
• White River (IN) above Petersburg, IN
• Patoka River at Princeton, IN
• Busseron Creek near Carlisle, IN