Meramec River near Sullivan, MO
River level and flood forecast · Crawford County
Normal2.9 ftas of Mon 2:29 PM
The river is 8.1 ft below flood stage (11 ft).
Flow: 244 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 | 29 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 20 ft |
| Flood stage | 11 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (May 1, 2017) | 36.52 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 34 ftNear the entrance to Meramec State Park off Highway 185 west of the Meramec River bridge, this park access road near the visitor's center will begin flooding near this height.
- 29 ftThe main office at the Arapaho Campground begins flooding.
- 28 ftSpringer Road off of Sappington Bridge Road begins flooding near this height.
- 27 ftNear this height, rooms at the Do Drift Inn at Ozark Outdoors Resort will begin flooding.
- 25 ftSappington Bridge boat access parking area and restroom begins flooding near this height.
- 22 ftNear this height, Missouri Route W will be closed in both directions beyond Route JJ.
- 21 ftSappington Bridge Road just north of the Meramec River bridge begins flooding near this height.
- 18.5 ftNear this height, Missouri Route N will be closed in both directions.
- 17.3 ftThe Onondaga Cave State Park picnic shelter begins flooding near this height.
- 17 ftAt this height the entire Arapaho campground will be under water.
- 15.6 ftThe basic loop of the Onondaga Cave State Park campground begins flooding near this height.
- 14.5 ftAt this height the Arapaho Campground will evacuate campers. This campground is about 8.5 river miles downstream from the gage. About 14.3 miles upstream of the gage...Cave Road access to Ozark Outdoors begins flooding near this height.
- 14 ftThe main entrance road to the Meramec State Park campground begins flooding...blocking acess to cabins 1-8...the picnic and playground areas, and the Wilderness Trailhead parking lot. At Onondaga Cave State Park...the primary entrance to the campground is closed and the secondary entrance is used near this height.
- 13.5 ftCave Road begins flooding at Onondaga Cave State Park near this height.
- 12 ftThe main entrance gate at Onondaga Cave State Park begins flooding near this height. This may eventually force the park to use the rear entrance as the primary entrance to the park.
- 11.5 ftA small bridge in the back of Meramec State Park park is flooded, cutting the park in two. If the river continues to rise...park officials will evacuate the campgrounds at this point.
- 11 ftRight Bank begins to overflow flooding wooded areas.
- 6 ftWhen the river is rising above this height, canoe outfitters will generally not rent out canoes or rafts.
Highest crests on record
- 36.52 ft — May 1, 2017
- 33.5 ft — August 1, 1915
- 32.22 ft — December 4, 1982
- 32 ft — June 9, 1945
- 31.69 ft — March 20, 2008
Recent crests: 23.55 ft (July 11, 2026) · 18.21 ft (March 8, 2026) · 19.65 ft (March 6, 2026) · 19.8 ft (July 1, 2025) · 11.7 ft (June 7, 2025)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SLLM7); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.