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White River (IN) at Spencer, IN

River level and flood forecast · Owen County

Normal2.4 ftas of Mon 3:30 PM

The river is 11.6 ft below flood stage (14 ft).

Forecast to fall to 2.2 ft by Thu, Oct 22, 8 AM.

Flow: 820 cubic feet per second (USGS).

The last 7 days and the forecast

0510152025TueThuSatMonWedFriSunTueThuAction 9 ftFlood 14 ftModerate 20 ftMajor 24 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 stage24 ft
Moderate flood stage20 ft
Flood stage14 ft
Action stage9 ft
Record crest (March 26, 1913)28.5 ft

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

  • 29.5 ftRecord flood is in progress. Flood waters approaching courthouse from the south as south side of Spencer floods. Much of Prospect Park near SR 46 and U.S. 231 is completely underwater. A devastating flood on the river side of railroad tracks.
  • 29.1 ftSpencer Wastewater Treatment Plant begins to flood. It may be the only dry spot in Spencer proper except for the hills.
  • 28.5 ftWater is at record flood level. In the newer areas of southeast Spencer, flood waters surround apartments, the Senior Citizens Center, and nursing home. Flood waters two feet deep in Fairground Building. Possible first floor flooding on south side of Spencer.
  • 28 ftCity Maintenance Garage floods by several feet. Evacuations are necessary in Southport area. Residential area near gravel pit just downstream completely floods. Extensive rural flooding just north of Freedom is in progress.
  • 26 ftBuildings in the Owen County Fairgrounds begin to flood. Flood waters begin to enter Spencer proper. A few homes at the intersection of CR 25 E and CR 75 S impacted or will soon be impacted by high water immediately south of Spencer.
  • 25.5 ftCity Maintenance Garage begins to flood.
  • 24.6 ftNorth South road located on east side of Owen Valley Middle and High Schools begins to flood.
  • 24.3 ftProspect Park on west side of Spencer extensively floods. Streets that partially flood on the south side include E Cooper and Clay Streets, and S West, Montgomery Street, Main, Washington, Harrison, and East Streets. Sandbagging is necessary on the south side of Spencer.
  • 24 ftA major flood is in progress. As many as 150 people may be forced to evacuate from the western outskirts of Spencer.
  • 23 ftFlooding affects all homes in Prospect Park area in western Spencer. Evacuations are necessary. Flood water affects southern Spencer and across the river in Southport area. Fairgrounds parking lot and arena flood.
  • 22.5 ftEast side of Cooper Street on south side of Spencer begins to flood.
  • 22.3 ftCounty road south of river gage begins to flood.
  • 22 ftSome evacuations may begin in Prospect Park area and western outskirts of Spencer. Recreational area on southwest side of Spencer is flooded. Flood waters affect the southern part of Freedom while rural area just north of Freedom extensively floods. Several local roads along the White River in southern Owen County are flooded extensively.
  • 21 ftProspect Park area, western outskirts, and East Street begin to flood in Spencer.
  • 20 ftHyden Road, Fifth Avenue, and west side of Cooper Street in southern Spencer begin to flood.
  • 19 ftRoad south of river gage begins to flood. Gosport Road closes. Extensive agricultural flooding is in progress. Moon Road in very rural northwest Monroe County is extensively flooded.
  • 18 ftFlooding begins of Owen County Fairgrounds and Cooper Park on south side of Spencer.
  • 17.5 ftLowest portions of Trail 2 flood in McCormicks Creek State Park. Extensive backwater in Rattlesnake, Fall, McCormicks, Limestone, Big, and Bean Blossom Creeks with overflow flooding crops or hay.
  • 17.2 ftHigh water affects Owen County Fairgrounds parking lot and county roads in the Freedom area.
  • 17 ftA few mobile homes located downstream of Spencer are isolated because their driveway lanes flood. County Line Road on north side of river has one foot of water and begins to flood in a second place. Spencer Public Access extensively floods. North Moon Road in very rural northwest Monroe County is flooded by the White River.
  • 16.3 ftCounty Line Road south of Gosport begins to flood.
  • 16 ftFlood water affects gravel pit. High water concerns farmers in agricultural season about crops and livestock. Lowest portions of Trail 7 in McCormicks Creek Park flood.
  • 15.5 ftGosport Road, also known as County Line Road in Owen County, begins to flood on north side of river. Romona Road west of Gosport begins to flood. Flooding of low agricultural land is noticeable.
  • 14 ftLowland flooding begins in the Spencer and Gosport areas. The river begins to backup Rattlesnake, Fall, McCormicks, Limestone, Big, and Bean Blossom Creeks. Spencer Public Access site begins to flood.

Highest crests on record

  1. 28.5 ft — March 26, 1913
  2. 26.84 ft — June 8, 2008
  3. 25.08 ft — January 7, 2005
  4. 24.41 ft — April 7, 2025
  5. 23.95 ft — January 1, 1991

Recent crests: 20.96 ft (August 20, 2026) · 15.33 ft (May 21, 2026) · 19.27 ft (March 6, 2026) · 24.41 ft (April 7, 2025) · 15.48 ft (May 18, 2024)

Up and down the river, and nearby

See it on the live map →Radar & warnings for Owen CountyNWS gauge pageUSGS gauge 03357000

Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SPNI3); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.