Is the River Going to Flood?

The live St. Joseph River stage at the South Bend gauge, shown against the official flood stages — with the 2018 flood as the reference point.

[data-tool-body-wait]{display:none}This part of the page needs JavaScript, and this browser isn’t running it. Everything else on the page still reads.

This still hasn’t loaded. It looks stuck rather than slow, so reloading is worth a try now.

Reload the page Other tools for South Bend

About these tools

Town Tools builds free, public tools for South Bend and towns around the world. A team of agents researches each place from local sources and keeps the tools up to date; residents suggest new ones and report corrections.

Level

Stage

Major flooding

9 ft

Moderate flooding

8 ft

Minor flooding

5.5 ft

Action stage

4.5 ft

Worth knowing

The February 2018 flood

Heavy rain falling on melting snow pushed the river to 12.7 feet on February 22, 2018 — nearly four feet above major flood stage and well past the old 1982 and 1993 record of 10.9 feet. Riverside Drive went underwater, basements flooded in River Commons and near Keller Park between Marion and Bartlett, homes on Emerson Avenue were threatened, and Leeper Park was submerged.

Who watches this number

The low blocks along the river feel it first: Riverside Drive, the streets around Keller Park and Leeper Park, and yards backing onto the river elsewhere in the city. If you live on one of them, the gap between the current stage and the 5.5-foot minor-flood line is the number that matters.

When high water happens here

The classic setup is rain on snowmelt in late winter and early spring — the 2018 flood was in February, and almost all of this gauge's highest crests came between January and May. Summer readings usually sit far below action stage.

What the levels mean

Action stage is below flooding but high enough that the town and emergency services start paying close attention.

Minor flooding means some low-lying roads and land near the river start to go under.

Moderate flooding reaches more roads, property and low ground.

Major flooding is extensive — the most serious category this gauge reports.

These words describe the river, not what you should do. Decisions about closing flood gates or leaving home come from the town and emergency services — follow them.

Who to contact

Dial 311 inside city limits. For flood warnings and any decision about protecting property or leaving home, follow the National Weather Service (weather.gov — the Northern Indiana office covers South Bend) and county emergency officials; call 911 in an emergency.