White River (IN) at Petersburg, IN

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:09 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.

• 40 ftEstimated low steel height of the SR 61 Bridge over the White River, a level more than 6 feet higher than any known flood.
• 30 ftRecord flood is in progress. Possible concern about the former IPL Power Plant even though it is located above the 100 year flood plain. Immense flood destruction to roads, agricultural lands, oil fields and river cabins. Flood waters overtop any remaining agricultural levees. Evacuation is necessary of people and livestock. This is just above the estimated height of the March 1913 flood.
• 27 ftA near record flood is in progress. Water level is at a height approached in June 2008 and exceeded in January 2005. Evacuations are necessary. River cabins are destroyed. Great damage occurs to rural county road system. SR 56 begins to flood in the Bowman area. Flooding may damage railroads. Flood waters overtop almost all levees in the Petersburg area.
• 26.96 ftDuring the Great June 2008 flood, flood waters were at the edge of SR 56 near Bowman. US Highway 50 closed as record flood levels from Edwardsport area approached. During the June 2008 flood less water came from the Shoals area than in January 2005 flood. Shoals was above 5 ft higher during January 2005 and Edwardsport about 1.5 ft lower. Not much heard from the Petersburg area, but great agricultural damage and Dodge City probably cleared out.
• 26 ftThe Dodge City area floods extensively. The January 2005 flood quickly passed this level and exceeded 27.5 feet. Nobody remained in Dodge City. The June 2008 and May 2011 floods also exceeded the 26 foot level.
• 25.8 ftNear major flooding in progress. During the May 1990 flood, the town of Petersburg lost their main water line at this level. This problem is believed to have been corrected. Seven floods since May 1990 have reached this level. Levees are monitored at this level. Numerous roads flooded. Flood waters approach SR 56 near Bowman. Extensive flooding in Dodge City.
• 25 ftA very significant flood is in progress. Emergency flood fighting may be needed. Evacuations would begin from river cabins in Dodge City. Livestock must be moved.
• 23.5 ftExtensive flooding in progress with several bottom land roads flooded in Pike County in March 2011. Pike County roads flooded...some by several feet of water...east of SR 57 included CR 750N...CR 600N and CR 1000E. Pike County roads flooded west of SR 57 included...River Rd...CR 250W...CR 400W...CR 675N...CR 700N...CR 1000W...CR 900W...CR 700W and CR 775W.
• 23.49 ftWater from the Great June 2008 Flood recedes from SR 257 south of Washington. The river stage at Shoals was less than 10 feet and less than 14 feet previous day. The Lost River was low...except for backwater from the East Fork White...during this entire flood event.
• 23 ftExtensive flooding is progress affecting agricultural and rural residential areas. Several rural county roads extensively flooded including Bottoms Rd...Brothers Rd and E. Governor Rd in Knox County. A few residents may move out in an area locally known as Dodge City. Several small oil fields are inaccessible. During agricultural season much flood damage can occur. High water isolates some river cabin residents.
• 21.3 ftState Road 257 south of Washington began to flood during May 2008 after local rains of more than an inch on very wet soils with Petersburg at 21.3 feet and rising and Shoals at 15.5 feet and rising.
• 21.01 ftDuring May 2008 and March 2011...flood waters recede from State Road 257 south of Washington when Petersburg was 21 feet and falling and Shoals slightly below 15 feet and falling. During March 2011...White River was rising very slowly and Shoals dropped to 14.7 feet and was leveling off.
• 21 ftFlooding affects higher bottomlands and may affect a few residents in an area known as Dodge City. Local roads leading to Dodge City area are flooded. State Road 257 south of Washington completely floods at this level if Shoals remains above 16 feet. Ditch Road begins to flood.
• 20.85 ftDuring June 2010 State Road 257 south of Washington began to flood at this crest level at Petersburg after Shoals crested at 18.19 feet. About a week later Petersburg crested at 21.34 feet...about one half foot higher...but the water did not reach State Road 257 after Shoals crested at 15.59 feet...about 2.5 feet lower. Lost River did not contribute much water during this June flood and locally it was not extremely wet.
• 20.5 ftCounty Road 250 West from State Road 56 floods and blocks the vehicle access to Dodge City. During the March 2008 flood the river remained above this level from late afternoon March 19 through April 9. As mid-March 2011 high water was receding...SR 257 south of Washington reopened when Shoals was at 10.5 feet and falling steadily for the past 2 days.
• 19 ftLow bottomlands flood and flooding begins on higher bottomlands. State Road 257 may begin to flood if Shoals gage reading is over 17 feet. Private levees may be overtopped in many cases.
• 18 ftLowland flooding begins to flood several Pike County roads. Many of the following county roads begin to flood around this level...east of SR 57 include CR 750N...CR 600N and CR 1000E. Pike county road subject to flooding west of SR 57 include...CR 250 W...CR 400W...CR 675N...CR 700 N...CR 1000w...CR 900W...CR 700W and CR 775W.
• 17 ftFlooding affects low agricultural lands, low oil fields and closes Bottoms Rd...Brothers Rd and East Governors Road in Knox County. In agricultural season...farmers are concerned at this stage.
• 16 ftFlooding affects agricultural lands.
• 15 ftAgricultural land near the confluence of the White and East Fort White Rivers begins to flood.

Highest crests on record

1. 29.5 ft — March 29, 1913
2. 28.3 ft — January 22, 1937
3. 27.66 ft — April 11, 2025
4. 27.64 ft — January 11, 2005
5. 26.96 ft — June 12, 2008

Recent crests: 18.45 ft (August 22, 2026) · 18.69 ft (June 28, 2026) · 22.87 ft (May 24, 2026) · 24.8 ft (March 12, 2026) · 16.49 ft (July 2, 2025)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamWhite River (IN) above Petersburg, IN
• Patoka River above Winslow, IN
• White River (IN) at Old U.S. Highway 41 located at Hazleton, IN
• Patoka River at Princeton, IN
• Wabash River at Vincennes, IN
• White River (IN) near Edwardsport, IN
• Pigeon Creek (IN) above Fort Branch, IN
• Smothers Creek (IN) near Plainville, IN