Bourbeuse River at Union, MO
River level and flood forecast · Franklin County
Normal3.1 ftas of Mon 1:30 PM
The river is 11.9 ft below flood stage (15 ft).
Flow: 72 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 26 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 22 ft |
| Flood stage | 15 ft |
| Action stage | 13 ft |
| Record crest (December 29, 2015) | 34.31 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 31.7 ftAt this height, the McDonald's restaurant at U.S. Hwy 50 and Missouri Hwy 47 will begin flooding without additional protection. They can install flood panels around the restaurant to add an additional 3 feet of protection to this height.
- 31.3 ftU.S. Highway 50 will be closed near this height in both directions near the Bourbeuse River bridge.
- 31 ftNear this height...Missouri State Highway 47 will be closed in both directions just north of U.S. Highway 50.
- 29.6 ftPhillips 66 at East Main and Highway 47 North floods at floor level.
- 29.2 ftLiquor Express store on U.S. Highway 50 begins to flood.
- 28.9 ftBusiness front adjacent to Fenton Creek, west of Hwy 47, and south of railroad bridge floods from Fenton Creek backwater. Mistler's Oak Furniture on Missouri Highway 47 begins to flood from Fenton Creek backwater.
- 26.9 ftParking lot at store front adjacent to Fenton Creek, west of Hwy 47, and south of railroad bridge begins to flood.
- 26.6 ftDickey Bub Farm and Home begins to flood at floor level.
- 26.4 ftThe store front adjacent to Dickey Bub begins to flood.
- 25.6 ftWater enters the lift station behind the gas station on East Main.
- 25.2 ftState Highway AT (Old Route 66) floods near the intersection with State Highway O near the I-44 bridge over the Bourbeuse River.
- 24.5 ftWater begins flooding the streets and property of the Bourbeuse Camp Trailer Park at Missouri Highway AT and U.S. Highway 50.
- 24.2 ftNorth Bend Loop Road south of Union begins flooding near this height.
- 23.5 ftParking lot at East Main Street and East State Street is covered.
- 23.4 ftEast Main Street is closed.
- 23 ftRock Road begins to flood.
- 22.5 ftWater begins covering East Main Street.
- 22.3 ftThe lower quarter of the parking lot at the Dickey Bub Farm & Home store is flooded.
- 21.9 ftWater begins covering Old County Farm Road.
- 21 ftNear this height, water begins covering Highway O between Highway AM and American Inn Road.
- 19.8 ftNear this height, Missouri State Route UU is closed in both directions.
- 17 ftFlat Creek backs up to Smeltzer's Park.
Highest crests on record
- 34.31 ft — December 29, 2015
- 33.8 ft — December 5, 1982
- 29.38 ft — May 2, 2017
- 27.77 ft — April 13, 1994
- 26.37 ft — July 9, 1993
Recent crests: 15.35 ft (April 22, 2025) · 21.3 ft (April 7, 2025) · 19.13 ft (November 7, 2024) · 15.14 ft (April 4, 2024) · 19.6 ft (August 5, 2023)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (UNNM7); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.