Mad River near Dayton, OH
River level and flood forecast · Greene County
Normal2.9 ftas of Mon 4:30 PM
The river is 22.1 ft below flood stage (25 ft).
Forecast to hold near 2.9 ft through Sat, Oct 17, 8 AM.
Flow: 472 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Mon, Oct 12, 10:22 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 52 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 32 ft |
| Flood stage | 25 ft |
| Action stage | 15 ft |
| Record crest (January 23, 1959) | 32 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 58 ftThis is the height of the emergency spillway at Huffman. While the dam would still be storing water at this point, heights above this level would substantially worsen flooding downstream of Huffman in unprotected areas.
- 52 ftSignificant and widespread flooding occurs. Major inundation occurs in Fairborn, Riverside and portions of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Much of Dayton itself along the Mad River is protected by levees to 58 feet.
- 40 ftThis exceeds the flood of 1959 by 5 feet. In addition to road and runway flooding at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, flooding occurs along Route 4 in numerous locations from near Huffman Metropark and northward. Flooding also occurs near Osborn Road.
- 35 ftThis is equivalent to the FEMA 1 percent flood, with significant flooding of structures and the runway at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Over half of the Fairway Terrace Mobile Home community is flooded.
- 33 ftModerate flooding expands. In addition to flooding within portions of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, some areas of State Route 4 begin to flood between Valley Pike and Lower Valley Pike. The City of Dayton near the Mad River is protected to a stage of 58 feet.
- 32 ftModerate flooding occurs. This equals the highest crest on record, which occurred in January 1959. Runway flooding continues at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, with additional roads on the base flooding. Flooding also occurs near Valley Pike.
- 30 ftSubstantial backwater flooding occurs on Mud Creek. Much of the Fairway Terrace mobile home community is flooded, especially between Welington Drive and Mud Creek.
- 25 ftFlooding occurs along the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base runway as well as low areas around the base. Backwater flooding along Mud Creek approaches homes in the Fairway Terrace mobile home community along Lower Spring Valley Pike.
- 22 ftLowland flooding occurs in the area of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, with water beginning to spill onto the main runway.
- 21 ftWater impacts lowland areas near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base with water approaching the main runway.
Highest crests on record
- 32 ft — January 23, 1959
- 28.2 ft — February 26, 1929
- 27.1 ft — March 5, 1963
- 24 ft — January 21, 1937
- 23.8 ft — January 27, 1952
Recent crests: 16.88 ft (April 6, 2025) · 19.21 ft (April 4, 2018) · 16.72 ft (December 22, 2013) · 16.3 ft (June 5, 2008) · 17.4 ft (March 20, 2008)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (MRDO1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.