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River Conditions
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River stage

Baton Rouge, Mississippi River

River level
10.16 ft
Status
Below flood stage
Action stage
30.00 ft
Flood stage
35.00 ft
Record crest
47.28 ft

Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS BTRL1

Record crest
47.28 ft
Flood stage
35.00 ft
Moderate flood
38.00 ft
Major flood
40.00 ft
Crest date
1927-05-15

In brief

The Mississippi River at Baton Rouge, LA read 10.16 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 19.84 ft below action stage.

Source: National Weather Service gauge BTRL1

Stage threshold profile

Action stage 30.00 ftMinor flooding 35.00 ftModerate flooding 38.00 ftMajor flooding 40.00 ft CURRENT 10.16 ft

Highest crests on record

RankCrestDate
1 47.28 ft 1927-05-15
2 45.18 ft 1945-04-29
3 45.18 ft 1922-05-16
4 45.01 ft 2011-05-18
5 44.58 ft 1945-04-16
6 44.48 ft 1937-02-28
7 44.35 ft 2020-04-16
8 44.18 ft 2019-03-18

Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.

What happens at each level

  1. 35.00 ft

    River islands from Red River Landing downstream to Baton Rouge will be inundated.

  2. 36.00 ft

    River traffic and industrial activity on the river side of the levees will be greatly affected. Navigational safety regulations will be strictly enforced.

  3. 38.00 ft

    River traffic and industrial activity on the river side of the levees will be greatly affected. Navigational safety regulations will be strictly enforced.

  4. 40.00 ft

    The grounds of the older part of Louisiana State University's campus become soggy. This includes the area around the Veterinary Medicine building, the Veterinary Medicine Annex, the stadium and ball fields. The city of Baton Rouge and the main LSU campus are protected by levees at this level.

  5. 43.00 ft

    Shipping and industrial activities are significantly affected. Unprotected low-lying areas will be flooded and agricultural operations will be impacted on the west side of the river. The city of Baton Rouge is protected by levees at this level.

  6. 47.28 ft

    This is the flood of record established on May 15, 1927.

Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.

Other gauges on the Mississippi River

Frequently asked questions

Is the Mississippi River flooding at Baton Rouge?

No. The Mississippi River at Baton Rouge is at 10.16 ft, 19.84 ft below action stage.

What is the flood stage at Baton Rouge?

The National Weather Service sets action stage 30 ft, minor flooding 35 ft, moderate flooding 38 ft and major flooding 40 ft.

What is the highest the Mississippi River has been at Baton Rouge?

The highest crest on record is 47.28 ft, on 1927-05-15.

Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge BTRL1). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.