Live streamflow across the country.

# Rivers Surge Across America: Major Flooding Hits Midwest and Ohio Valley

Rivers across the United States are experiencing dramatically varied conditions, with catastrophic flooding devastating parts of the Midwest and Ohio Valley while the Pacific Northwest faces below-normal flows. The Ohio River at Old Shawneetown on the Kentucky-Illinois border is carrying a massive 259,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), while the Upper Sangamon River watershed in Illinois has exploded to an astounding 32,824% of normal flows. These extreme conditions are impacting millions of residents from Jacksonville, Florida to Minneapolis-St. Paul, creating hazardous conditions for communities and transforming normally placid streams into raging torrents.

The flooding crisis is most severe across Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, where multiple river systems are experiencing catastrophic conditions. The Scioto River watershed near Columbus, Ohio is running at 3,714% of normal, while the Great Miami River system—including tributaries like the Stillwater River at 2,697% of normal—has turned southwestern Ohio into a flood zone. The Wabash River system in Indiana shows flows of 185,500 cfs at 1,538% of normal, with the Embarras River reaching an extraordinary 9,598% of normal. These conditions have forced evacuations and threaten infrastructure across the region. Meanwhile, the Mississippi River system shows elevated but manageable flows, with readings of 27,700 cfs near Hastings, Minnesota and 23,900 cfs at St. Paul under partly sunny skies.

Contrasting sharply with Midwest flooding, the Pacific Northwest and parts of the South face concerning low-water conditions. Washington's Samish River runs at just 70% of normal, while the Cedar River near Seattle registers 99% of normal amid scattered snow showers in the mountains. The Black Warrior River in Alabama flows at only 57% of normal despite recent rain. For water managers, these extremes highlight the challenges of climate variability, while outdoor enthusiasts should exercise extreme caution—the White River in Arkansas (43,800 cfs) and Snake River in Idaho offer dangerous whitewater conditions unsuitable for recreation, while low flows in the Southeast may limit fishing and boating opportunities.