Big Nemaha River at Falls City, NE
River level and flood forecast · Richardson County
Normal4.9 ftas of Mon 2:45 PM
The river is 22.1 ft below flood stage (27 ft).
Flow: 383 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Thu, Oct 1, 1:25 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 36 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 30 ft |
| Flood stage | 27 ft |
| Action stage | 25 ft |
| Record crest (May 29, 2019) | 31.59 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 36 ftFloodwaters begin to impact the bottom of the Highway 73 bridge.
- 30 ftPrimary roads have begun to flood. This may include portions of Highway 73 and Preston Road. Other primary roads in the area may be inundated depending on flows along Muddy Creek and the Missouri River.
- 29 ftThe parking lots of businesses just south of Falls City in the floodplain begin to be impacted. In addition, overflow begins at the Highway 73 bridge at the gage site.
- 28 ftAt this level county roads begin to flood.
- 27 ftLow lying flooding begins to impact farm fields and roadway ditches.
Highest crests on record
- 31.59 ft — May 29, 2019
- 30.99 ft — June 25, 2021
- 30.94 ft — June 5, 2015
- 30.46 ft — May 7, 2007
- 28.91 ft — May 30, 2013
Recent crests: 18.79 ft (September 23, 2025) · 22.85 ft (June 19, 2024) · 11.8 ft (April 20, 2023) · 18.58 ft (May 26, 2022) · 30.99 ft (June 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 (FLLN1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.