Ohio River at Maysville, KY

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 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.

• 79 ftThis stage will surpass the flood of record at Maysville. The floodwall protects the City of Maysville to a stage just above 79 feet. Major flooding outside of the flood wall can be expected in areas near Maysville, Kentucky and Ripley, Ohio. Major property damage and evacuations will occur. Also, all of Aberdeen, Ohio is flooded.
• 75.59 ftThis flood will equal the highest stage on record. While the City of Maysville is protected to a level just above 79 feet, major flooding is widespread through other areas of Mason County and along the Ohio side of the river from near Manchester to Aberdeen to near Higginsport. Hundreds of homes and businesses are flooded and much of Route 52 and Kentucky Route 8 is flooded, as well as backwater flooding affecting streams entering into the Ohio River.
• 66 ftMajor flooding occurs with the flood plain near the Ohio River in both Ohio and Kentucky completely inundated. Numerous homes are evacuated, especially in Manchester, Aberdeen, Huntington Park and Ripley along the Ohio side of the river. The City of Maysville itself is protected to a stage just above 79 feet, but major flooding occurs along the river in both Ohio and Kentucky.
• 65 ftA Stage of this level is roughly equivalent to the FEMA 1 percent flood. Major flooding occurs in Aberdeen and Ripley Ohio, with numerous homes and businesses between route 52 and the river impacted in Aberdeen, while most of Ripley experiences flooding from both the Ohio and backwater flooding along Redoak Creek. Much of Dover Kentucky between Kentucky Route 8 and the river is flooded. Long stretches of U.S. 52 are flooded. The city of Maysville is protected by levees and floodwalls to a stage of 79 feet.
• 64 ftSignificant flooding occurs with about half of Ripley, Augusta, Higginsport and Aberdeen flooded. While the City of Maysville itself is protected by floodwalls to a level just above 79 feet, all of the floodplain is inundated outside of this protection.
• 60 ftSignificant flooding occurs in portions of Manchester, Ripley and Aberdeen, Ohio. Water enters homes and businesses in these communities, mainly structures between Route 52 and the river, as well as any structures close to streams, which will incur major backwater flooding. The City of Maysville itself is protected to a level just above 79 feet.
• 58 ftModerate flooding occurs along the river especially on the Ohio side in Adams and Brown Counties. Stretches of Route 52 are flooded, and backwater flooding closes portions of Route 221 and other secondary roads along creeks. The City of Maysville itself is protected to a stage just above 79 feet. Some homes and businesses between Route 52 and the river are flooded. Some structures in and near Augusta and Dover on the Kentucky side of the river are flooded.
• 56 ftFlooding occurs along the river especially on the Ohio side in Adams and Brown Counties. Stretches of Route 52 are flooded, and backwater flooding closes portions of Route 221 and other secondary roads along creeks. The City of Maysville itself is protected to a stage just above 79 feet.
• 55 ftWidespread backwater flooding can be expected and roads near the river become flooded, especially on the Ohio side of the river. Portions of Routes 52 and 221 in Brown County flood, as well as secondary roads along Eagle Creek and Straight Creek. The City of Maysville itself is protected to a stage just above 79 feet.
• 53.5 ftFlooding occurs in low areas of Ripley and Aberdeen, Ohio. Areas within the flood plain are increasingly inundated. Backwater and lowland flooding can be expected along the river. The City of Maysville itself is protected to a stage just above 79 feet.
• 52 ftBackwater flooding traveling up Red Oak Creek near Ripley, Ohio results in flooding along and east of Cherry Street, with water also approaching the Ripley Post Office.
• 51 ftWater enters Huntington Park Power Plant and backwater and lowland flooding begins along creeks near Maysville. Backwater flooding also begins in Brown County, especially along Eagle and Straight Creeks. The City of Maysville itself is protected by flood walls to a stage just above 79 feet.
• 50 ftFlooding of lowland areas near the river occurs in Mason County. Backwater flooding into creeks and streams can also be expected. The City of Maysville itself is protected by flood walls to stages just above 79 feet.
• 49 ftFlooding of lowland areas near the river occurs in Mason County. Backwater flooding into creeks and streams can also be expected. Flooding also begins in Brown County, especially along Eagle and Straight Creeks. The City of Maysville itself is protected to a stage of 79 feet.

Highest crests on record

1. 75.6 ft — January 27, 1937
2. 68.8 ft — March 31, 1913
3. 65.5 ft — March 9, 1945
4. 64.1 ft — April 17, 1948
5. 62.65 ft — March 13, 1964

Recent crests: 54.47 ft (April 7, 2025) · 52.4 ft (February 19, 2025) · 50.2 ft (April 7, 2024) · 54.42 ft (March 4, 2021) · 52.13 ft (February 15, 2020)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamOhio River at Portsmouth, OH
• North Fork Licking River near Mount Olivet, KY
• White Oak Creek above Georgetown, OH
• Ohio Brush Creek near West Union, OH
• Licking River at Blue Licks Spring, KY
• Licking River at McKinneysburg, KY
• Licking River at Catawba, KY
• South Fork Licking River at Hayes, KY
• Rock Lick Creek near Sharkey, KY