White River (IN) at 82nd Street Bridge near Nora, IN

River level and flood forecast · Marion County

Normal2.3 ftas of Mon 5 PM

The river is 8.8 ft below flood stage (11 ft).

Forecast to hold near 2.3 ft through Sat, Oct 17, 8 AM.

Flow: 304 cubic feet per second (USGS).

The last 7 days and the forecast

05101520TueThuSatMonWedFriAction 8 ftFlood 11 ftModerate 16 ftMajor 19 ftNowObserved (ft)NWS forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:09 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

Major flood stage19 ft
Moderate flood stage16 ft
Flood stage11 ft
Action stage8 ft
Record crest (March 26, 1913)22.4 ft

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

  • 26 ftMaximum reading possible at gaging station is 26 to 27 feet.
  • 24.5 ftFlood waters reach the bottom of 82nd Street.
  • 22.4 ftFlood waters reach record flood height. Flood waters at the top of Warfleigh levee project in the Broad Ripple area that protects nearly 1400 homes and more than 200 businesses. Thousands of evacuations are necessary. Many local roads and possibly some major highways are flooded. Flood waters begin to enter the Fashion Mall and Clearwater Crossings Shopping Center areas.
  • 21 ftThe highest flood since March 1913 is in progress. Flood waters cross Keystone Avenue south of East 80th Street and Westfield Drive in Shore Acres. Extensive flooding of Ravenswood, Mystic Bay, Shore Acres, Rocky Ripple, and areas near the Fashion Mall and Clearwater Crossings Shopping Center. Water more than a foot deep in Riviera Club area. Evacuations are likely to exceed one thousand residents. Flood waters approaching critical levels on the Warfleigh levee project.
  • 20 ftFlood waters approach Keystone Avenue north of White River. Much of Ravenswood, Mystic Bay, and areas on both sides of Keystone Avenue south of East 80th Street are flooded by three feet of water. Flood waters nearing residential areas in Shore Acres, Williams Creek Cutoff east of Marott Park, and on the river side of Union Chapel Road. Extensive flooding of the river side of the flood protection in the vicinity of the Indianapolis Art Center and Edgewater Apartments. Flood waters nearing Arden Drive.
  • 19 ftMajor flood is in progress. 200 to 400 homes flood. Water overtops an agricultural levee at Conner Prairie Settlement and is at the top of levee in Rocky Ripple. Warfleigh levee raised and fortified in June 2008 from McDonalds in Broad Ripple to Kessler Boulevard. Luxury homes located on Beach Avenue have three feet of water in their basements. Extensive flooding on both sides of Keystone Avenue south of East 80th Street.
  • 18.75 ftFlood waters reach low steel of the Monon Trail Bridge over the White River.
  • 18.5 ftAn agricultural levee may fail at the Connor Prairie Farm located in southern Hamilton County.
  • 18 ftMajor damage occurs in the Ravenswood area. Considerable flooding in the Indianapolis Art Center and Edgewater Apartments area. Numerous local streets on the north side of Indianapolis are flooded.
  • 16 ftMany homes experience basement to first floor flooding near White River at East 116th Street and in Ravenswood. River Edge roads flood.
  • 15.3 ftRiver Road just north of 86th Street near the Fashion Mall at the entrance to condominiums begins to flood. High water affects Ravenswood and River Edge Drive. Many basements in Ravenswood fill with one to two feet of water. Some basements fill with more than three feet of water.
  • 14 ftHigh water closes East 77th Street near Mystic Bay. River Road floods. River Edge Lane and River Road just north of 86th Street flood. Lowest residential areas begin to flood on River Edge Lane. High water staff gage readings begin at 14 feet and continue to 25 feet.
  • 12.5 ftEast 77th Street near Mystic Bay begins to flood.
  • 12 ftWhite River begins to back up into Mystic Bay and cause the lake level to rise.
  • 11.5 ftA few streets flood in Ravenswood.
  • 11 ftLocal roads begin to flood. Howland Ditch begins to flood 69th Street west of Kingsley Drive. Water is at the edge of River Edge Lane and the section of River Road located north of 86th Street and south of I-465.
  • 8.5 ftBackyards of a few homes begin to flood in the Ravenswood area.
  • 3.5 ftRiver at low level. Using appropriate protection and care, the river can be waded on the south side of 82nd Street bridge.

Highest crests on record

  1. 22.4 ft — March 26, 1913
  2. 21.18 ft — August 15, 2026
  3. 19.19 ft — January 1, 1991
  4. 18.65 ft — April 23, 1964
  5. 18.56 ft — January 14, 2005

Recent crests: 21.18 ft (August 15, 2026) · 15.4 ft (April 7, 2025) · 14.95 ft (April 13, 2024) · 11.26 ft (March 5, 2023) · 12.55 ft (March 9, 2022)

Up and down the river, and nearby

Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (NORI3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.