A Thousand Year Rain Storm Just Hit The Midwest. See Where the Flooding Is Most Severe
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/07225018/551615-150x150.jpegLast week, heavy rains and damaging winds descended on large swaths of the South and Midwest. The storm system drenched cities and towns from Texas to Ohio, causing widespread flooding and killing at least 23 people.
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While the rains have since moved up the Atlantic coast, the 1-in-1,000 year rain event has left substantial riverine flooding in dozens of communities. Many flood monitoring systems have registered water levels more than six feet above the flooding threshold, a degree of flood inundation that could take weeks to subside. A closer look at the latest data reveals which cities have the worst flooding right now.
To determine the cities where flooding is most severe, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on flood inundation from the NOAA’s Office of Water Prediction. Waterbody monitoring stations were ranked based on the difference between observed water levels on April 8, 2025 and defined flooding thresholds. Waterbody monitoring stations were matched to cities using Census Bureau boundary definitions. Only cities with at least 2,500 residents were considered.
20. Paducah, KY (Ohio River)
- Water level: 45.7 feet (+6.7 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 39.0 feet
- City population: 26,869
19. Seymour, IN (East Fork White River)
- Water level: 18.8 feet (+6.8 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 12.0 feet
- City population: 21,373
18. Newport, AR (White River)
- Water level: 32.9 feet (+6.9 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 26.0 feet
- City population: 7,984
17. Nicholasville, KY (Kentucky River)
- Water level: 37.1 feet (+7.1 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 30.0 feet
- City population: 31,352
16. Mount Carmel, IL (Wabash River)
- Water level: 26.2 feet (+7.2 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 19.0 feet
- City population: 6,978
15. Memphis, TN (Wolf River)
- Water level: 14.3 feet (+7.3 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 7.0 feet
- City population: 630,027
14. Dyersburg, TN (North Fork Forked Deer River)
- Water level: 29.4 feet (+7.4 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 22.0 feet
- City population: 16,170
13. Madison, IN (Ohio River)
- Water level: 458.5 feet (+7.4 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 451.0 feet
- City population: 12,301
12. Carmi, IL (Little Wabash River)
- Water level: 35.1 feet (+8.1 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 27.0 feet
- City population: 5,042
11. Cincinnati, OH (Ohio River)
- Water level: 60.4 feet (+8.4 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 52.0 feet
- City population: 308,870
10. Pocahontas, AR (Black River)
- Water level: 25.4 feet (+8.4 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 17.0 feet
- City population: 7,384
9. Lawrenceville, IL (Embarras River)
- Water level: 38.8 feet (+8.8 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 30.0 feet
- City population: 4,210
8. Tell City, IN (Ohio River)
- Water level: 48.2 feet (+10.2 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 38.0 feet
- City population: 7,470
7. Newburgh, IN (Ohio River)
- Water level: 48.6 feet (+10.5 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 38.0 feet
- City population: 3,350
6. Valley Park, MO (Meramec River)
- Water level: 28.7 feet (+10.7 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 18.0 feet
- City population: 6,848
5. Louisville, KY (Ohio River)
- Water level: 35.9 feet (+12.9 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 23.0 feet
- City population: 629,176
4. Wildwood, MO (Meramec River)
- Water level: 32.1 feet (+13.1 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 19.0 feet
- City population: 35,276
3. Murphysboro, IL (Big Muddy River)
- Water level: 35.7 feet (+13.7 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 22.0 feet
- City population: 7,101
2. Frankfort, KY (Kentucky River)
- Water level: 46.1 feet (+15.1 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 31.0 feet
- City population: 28,460
1. Camden, AR (Ouachita River)
- Water level: 41.6 feet (+15.6 feet above flooding threshold)
- Flooding threshold: 26.0 feet
- City population: 10,587
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