Scioto River at Circleville, OH

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Tue, Sep 22, 7:26 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 28.2 ftThis is the flood of record, which occurred in March 1913. Backwater flooding along Hargus Creek inundates numerous homes, with areas of West Main Street near the U.S. 23 entrance ramps are flooded. Major flooding occurs along Mill and Canal Roads, as well as Island Road and State Route 762. Backwater flooding affects areas along Big Darby Creek. Major flooding within Circleville itself is mostly limited to properties along Hargus Creek.
• 26.5 ftThis is similar to the FEMA 1 percent flood. Major flooding occurs to the west and north of Circleville, including Mill, Canal and Island Roads. Many structures along Hargus Creek are flooded due to backwater. Most of the rest of Circleville itself is not impacted until about 30 feet. Parts of State Route 762 and State Route 316 are flooded and some sections of Route 23 may also be impacted. In addition, backwater flooding affects areas along Big Darby Creek.
• 25 ftNumerous properties are flooded along Hargus Creek due to backwater, in addition to flooded homes along areas of Canal, Mill and Island Roads west and north of Circleville, as well as State Route 762. Flooding likely affects the Pickaway County Sheriff's office and Circleville Juvenile Correctional Center. Backwater flooding affects areas along Big Darby Creek.
• 24 ftBackwater flooding affects homes along Hargus Creek, likely surrounding or possibly inundating homes north of the park. Some areas of the Pickaway County Sheriff's office and Circleville Juvenile Correctional facility are possibly flooded. Long stretches of Island Road, Mill Road and Canal Road are flooded, including flooded homes.
• 23 ftFlooding of homes is likley along Mill and Canal Roads, as well as Island Road and State Route 762. Backwater flooding affects areas along Big Darby Creek, with flooding along Hargus Creek surrounding some homes and covers nearly all of Ted Lewis Park. State route 56 is also flooded north of U.S. 22. High water overtakes much the Cooks Creek nature preserve.
• 22 ftStretches of Island Road are flooded, with some residents cut off north of Commercial Point Road. Flood water could flood homes along Mill Road, with long stretches of Canal Road flooded. Backwater flooding along Hargus Creek floods much of Ted Lewis Park.
• 21 ftFlood waters approach structures west of Circleville along Mill and Canal Roads, as well as Island Road and State Route 762. Backwater flooding can be expected near Big Darby Creek, with flooding near the Scioto river junction with Little Walnut Creek at the nature preserve along U.S. 23. Backwater flooding along Hargus Creek also floods some of Ted Lewis Park in Circleville.
• 20 ftFlooding occurs mainly west of Circleville along Mill and Canal Roads, as well as Island Road and State Route 762, with some Island Road residents cut off north of Commercial Point Road. Backwater flooding along Big Darby Creek causes flooding along roadways, with backwater flooding along Hargus Creek flooding low areas of Ted Lewis Park. Flooding may occur along State Route 56 north of U.S. 22 west of Circleville.
• 19 ftFlooding affects areas of Mill and Canal Roads, as well as Island road and State Route 762. Backwater flooding along Big Darby Creek causes flooding of some low lying roads, and some backwater flooding along Hargus Creek affects low spots of Ted Lewis Park. Flooding of the Cooks Creek Preserve also occurs.
• 18 ftLow-lying areas north of Circleville near Little Walnut begin to flood. Flooding also worsens at the intersection of Canal Road and State Route 104 and on Island Road north of Circleville. Minor backwater flooding occurs along Big Darby Creek near Circleville.
• 17 ftLowland flooding continues along the river, with flooding along Island Road worsening. Canal Road near State Route 104 also has flooding, as well as Cooks Creek Nature Preserve and State Route 762 in northern Pickaway County.
• 16 ftLowland flooding continues along the river and about one foot of water can be expected along portions of Island Road.
• 15 ftLow-lying agricultural and bottom land becomes flooded, while flooding begins along Island and Canal Roads.

Highest crests on record

1. 26.17 ft — January 22, 1959
2. 23.36 ft — January 7, 2005
3. 22.5 ft — January 28, 1952
4. 22.32 ft — January 6, 2004
5. 22.3 ft — February 27, 1929

Recent crests: 18.76 ft (August 22, 2026) · 16.63 ft (March 29, 2026) · 20.6 ft (April 7, 2025) · 15.37 ft (April 13, 2024) · 21.86 ft (April 4, 2024)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• UpstreamScioto River near Commercial Point, OH
• DownstreamScioto River at Chillicothe, OH
• Deer Creek at Williamsport, OH
• Big Darby Creek at Darbyville, OH
• Big Walnut Creek at Rees, OH
• Deer Creek at Mount Sterling, OH
• Paint Creek at Chillicothe, OH
• Hellbranch Run at Harrisburg, OH