Rouge River at Detroit, MI
River level and flood forecast · Wayne County
The river is 10.0 ft below flood stage (15 ft).
Flow: 48 cubic feet per second (USGS).
River camera
Camera by the U.S. Geological Survey. Most take a picture every hour, some every few minutes; many stop at night.
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Rouge River at Detroit to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 20 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 18 ft |
| Flood stage | 15 ft |
| Action stage | 13 ft |
| Record crest (June 26, 1968) | 21.4 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 21 ftFenkell Avenue floods to a depth of 3 feet and some businesses along Fenkell, where it crosses the upper rouge, flood. Evacuation of several residents is likely with many basements flooding in Livonia.
- 18 ftFlooding begins on Fenkell Avenue, Middlebelt Road, several side streets and residential areas in Redford Township and Livonia.
- 15 ftFlooding begins in some park areas, the River Rouge Municipal Golf Course, and a few homes. Most flood damage occurs on the Upper Rouge River with minor flooding occurring on the main branch.
- 14 ftThe river reaches bankfull.
Highest crests on record
- 21.4 ft — June 26, 1968
- 20.23 ft — May 26, 2011
- 19.92 ft — October 1, 1981
- 18.94 ft — June 26, 2021
- 18.94 ft — June 26, 2021
Recent crests: 15.02 ft (August 3, 2024) · 16.97 ft (January 27, 2024) · 15.05 ft (August 25, 2023) · 15.85 ft (February 18, 2022) · 17.21 ft (July 25, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (DETM4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.