Blanchard River at Findlay, OH

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 11:01 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.

• 24 ftGauge overtopped.
• 18.5 ftHigh water mark of the 1913 and 2007 floods.
• 17.5 ftFlooding can be expected from Westerfield Drive to County Road 236 along the Blanchard River. Flooding can also be expected along Eagle and Lye Creeks between State Route 15 and the Blanchard River. About three quarters of the city inundated.
• 17 ftFEMA 0.2 percent flood level. Hundreds of properties along the Blanchard River and tributaries flooded.
• 16 ftFEMA 1 percent flood level. Flood waters extend from West Main Cross Street near Interstate 75 ramp. Numerous properties between the river and West and East Cross Street impacted. Water extends further north of the river to Frazier Street, Broad Avenue, and Center Street. Blanchard River flood waters will combine with backwater from the Lye and Eagle Creeks.
• 15.5 ftSeveral businesses impacted downtown, with many roads near the river closed. County Road 236 to State Route 568 inundated. The following streets are likely to be flooded, Main Cross Street from Western to Township Road 180, Broad Street, streets along Eagle Creek from Central to Rockside and streets along Lye Creek from Wedgewood to Strong Avenue.
• 15 ftWest Main Cross Street flooded and detours likely around downtown. East Main Cross Street impassable. Flood waters extending further north of the river on Blanchard Street to Center Street. Defiance Avenue through County Road 223 with water impacting the property of Wal Mart.
• 14.5 ftMajor flooding blocking Martin Luther King Parkway and Blanchard Avenue. Several other low lying roads flooded along the river. Travel in and out of the city becomes difficult.
• 14 ftFlood waters impacting Martin Luther King Junior Parkway from Clinton Court to Blanchard Street. Backwater issues from the Lye and Eagle Creeks likely if those tributaries are also running high.
• 13.5 ftWater impacts River Street and Apple Alley on the west side of Findlay, Blanchard Street between Sandusky and Main Cross, and several streets south of Clinton Court near Riverside Park.
• 13 ftNorth Cory flooded from Washington to High Street including Meeks and Seneca Avenue. Roads south of Clinton Court flooded between South Blanchard Street and McManness Avenue. East Main Cross from Marcelle Avenue to Bright Road. County Road 236 near Little Red Schoolhouse to County Road 568.
• 12 ftFlooding impacts areas near Riverside Park and East Main Cross Street in the City of Findlay. Flooding on County Road 223 and portions of Howard Street. Water approaching some properties on Liberty Street and Apple Alley.
• 11 ftMinor flooding of a golf course near Country Club Drive.
• 10 ftSouth River Road flooded from Broad Avenue to Stanford Parkway.
• 9 ftRiver elevated and coming out of banks in a few low lying locations. Howard Street/County Road 223 flooded west of Broad Avenue near the Interstate 75 bridge to near backside of a shopping center.

Highest crests on record

1. 18.46 ft — August 22, 2007
2. 17.43 ft — June 14, 1981
3. 16.76 ft — February 11, 1959
4. 16.53 ft — July 14, 2017
5. 16.5 ft — February 7, 2008

Recent crests: 12.59 ft (April 2, 2026) · 10.62 ft (April 6, 2025) · 12.6 ft (May 10, 2021) · 11.81 ft (March 30, 2020) · 14.06 ft (June 2, 2019)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamBlanchard River above Findlay, OH
• DownstreamBlanchard River at Gilboa, OH
• Eagle Creek above Findlay, OH
• Lye Creek above Findlay, OH
• Blanchard River below Mt Blanchard, OH
• Riley Creek below Pandora, OH
• Blanchard River at Ottawa, OH
• Tymochtee Creek at Crawford, OH