Cimarron River near Ripley, OK
River level and flood forecast · Payne County
Normal6.6 ftas of Mon 3 PM
The river is 10.4 ft below flood stage (17 ft).
Flow: 85 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 22 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 20 ft |
| Flood stage | 17 ft |
| Action stage | 16 ft |
| Record crest (May 10, 1993) | 28.36 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 29 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County could suffer worse damages than from the great floods in October of 1986 and May 1957 and surpass levels seen in the May 1993 flood. Flood depths up to 12 feet devastate rural lands... oil fields... and other properties... Overflows continue... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 28 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County could suffer worse damages than from the great floods in October of 1986 and May 1957 and approach levels seen in the May 1993 flood. Flood depths up to 11 feet devastate rural lands... oil fields... and other properties... Overflows continue... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 27 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County could suffer worse damages than from the great floods in October 1986 and May 1957. Flood depths up to 10 feet devastate rural lands... oil fields... and other properties. Overflows continue from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 26 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County experiences water levels higher than the great floods of May 1957... October 1986... and June 1995. Flood depths up to 9 feet inundate rural areas... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 25 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 8 feet... worse than the flooding which occurred in May 1957. The flooding also approaches depths seen in the great floods of October 1986 and June 1995. Rural lands and roads located near the river banks are inundated... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 24 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths near 7 feet... and the flooding surpasses water levels seen during the floods of November 1998 and March 2004. Rural lands and roads located near the river banks are inundated... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 23 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 6 feet... with very hazardous currents. Floodwaters approach level seen in March 2004... and agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 22 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 5 feet... with very hazardous currents. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated... from many hours before to many hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 21 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 4 feet... with hazardous currents. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off... from several hours before to several hours after the crest passes Ripley.
- 20 ftThe Cimarron River valley in Payne County is covered by flood depths averaging 3 feet... with hazardous currents. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off... several hours before and after the crest passes Ripley.
- 19 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are covered by flood depths averaging 2 feet. Agricultural lands... oil wells... and water wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off for several hours... by water in side channels.
- 18 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are briefly flooded to depths of about a foot. Agricultural lands and oil wells located near the river banks are inundated or cut off by water in side channels.
- 17 ftPlaces along the Cimarron River valley in Payne County are briefly flooded. Agricultural lands and oil wells located near the channel are isolated by water in cutoff channels along the river valley.
- 16 ftExpect the Cimarron River to reach bankfull levels through Payne County. Small areas of agricultural land and oil wells located near the channel are isolated by water in cutoff channels along the river valley.
- 15 ftExpect the Cimarron River to remain mostly within its banks through Payne County. Small areas of agricultural land and oil wells located near the channel are isolated by water in cutoff channels along the river valley.
Highest crests on record
- 28.36 ft — May 10, 1993
- 26.6 ft — May 22, 2019
- 26.39 ft — May 26, 2019
- 25.23 ft — June 10, 1995
- 24.06 ft — May 26, 2015
Recent crests: 18.44 ft (June 19, 2025) · 18.06 ft (June 18, 2025) · 19.37 ft (June 16, 2025) · 18.24 ft (June 8, 2025) · 16.17 ft (June 5, 2025)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (RIPO2); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.