Mad River near Springfield, OH
River level and flood forecast · Clark County
Normal3.4 ftas of Mon 2:15 PM
The river is 8.6 ft below flood stage (12 ft).
Forecast to hold near 3.4 ft through Sat, Oct 17, 8 AM.
Flow: 374 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 | 18 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 16 ft |
| Flood stage | 12 ft |
| Action stage | 9 ft |
| Record crest (April 5, 2025) | 14.13 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 21 ftMajor flooding occurs through Clark County along the river, with flooding affecting many homes close to the river between Lower Valley Pike and Dayton-Springfield Roads.
- 19 ftThis is a similar crest to the 1959 flood. Significant flooding of low-lying residences and businesses in Snyderville and Durbin occurs, as well as other low areas along the river southwest of Springfield. Spangler Road is flooded south of Medway, as well as Osborn, Union and Snider Roads. Flooding also occurs at the Waste Water Treatment Plant near Woodbury Road.
- 18 ftAbout half of the Springfield Waste Water Treatment Plant is flooded, as well as portions of Lower Valley Pike and Old Mill Road.
- 17 ftSeveral homes along the river become inundated, especially in low areas of Snyderville and Durbin. Portions of Lower Valley Pike are flooded, as well as near St. Paris Pike. Levees along Buck and Beaver Creeks help prevent backwater flooding in Springfield itself.
- 16 ftWater spills onto low-lying area roads south of Springfield, possibly cutting off access to some areas, particularly near Durbin and Snyderville. Locations along the river upstream in Champaign and Logan Counties also experience flooding in lowland areas. Some evacuations may be necessary in low-lying communities along the river.
- 14 ftWest 1st Street in Springfield Township floods, including the Forest Lake Fishing and Campround area, with water approaching some businesses along West 1st Street. Spangler Road downstream of Springfield also floods. Flood waters approach several homes to the southwest of Springfield. In addition, the Mad River experiences widespread flooding in Champaign County near the river.
- 13 ftIn addition to flooding along Lower Valley Pike between Old Mill Road and State Route 369, Spengler Road is flooded, and the I-70 Westbound exit to Medway at route 675 is closed.
- 12 ftFlooding occurs along Spangler Road and Lower Valley Pike.
Highest crests on record
- 14.13 ft — April 5, 2025
- 14.09 ft — March 27, 2026
- 11.6 ft — December 30, 1990
- 11 ft — January 31, 1982
Recent crests: 14.09 ft (March 27, 2026) · 14.13 ft (April 5, 2025) · 11.6 ft (December 30, 1990) · 11 ft (January 31, 1982)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (SGFO1); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.