River Conditions
Illustrated map of Mississippi River

River stage

Helena, Mississippi River

River level
15.25 ft
Status
Below flood stage
Action stage
40.00 ft
Flood stage
44.00 ft
Record crest
60.21 ft

Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS HEEA4

Record crest
60.21 ft
Flood stage
44.00 ft
Moderate flood
50.00 ft
Major flood
55.00 ft
Crest date
1937-02-12

In brief

The Mississippi River at Helena, AR read 15.25 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 24.75 ft below action stage.

Source: National Weather Service gauge HEEA4

Stage threshold profile

Action stage 40.00 ftMinor flooding 44.00 ftModerate flooding 50.00 ftMajor flooding 55.00 ft CURRENT 15.25 ft

Highest crests on record

RankCrestDate
1 60.21 ft 1937-02-12
2 56.75 ft 1927-04-27
3 56.59 ft 2011-05-12
4 55.20 ft 1913-04-22
5 54.30 ft 1912-04-22
6 53.40 ft 1916-02-11
7 53.10 ft 1922-05-03
8 51.75 ft 1897-04-04

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

What happens at each level

  1. 29.00 ft

    In Mississippi, fields along the Highway 49 bridge are beginning to flood.

  2. 31.00 ft

    In Arkansas, the lowest roads inside the levee east of Helena, Arkansas, are beginning to flood. Pastures and fields on Island 64 are starting to go underwater.

  3. 32.00 ft

    In Arkansas, fields and pastures inside the levee east of Elaine, Arkansas, are starting to flood. Pastures and fields on Island 64 are being covered by water. In Mississippi, open areas near Big Eddy Lake are beginning to flood. Fields, pastures, and game flood plots begin to flood on Island 67.

  4. 33.00 ft

    In Mississippi, the road to fields north of Highway 49 bridge is flooding. Pastures and fields inside the levee west of Farrell, Mississippi, are starting to flood. In Arkansas, fields north of the river from mile 647 to mile 650 are beginning to flood.

  5. 34.00 ft

    In Mississippi, the road to houses west of Horseshoe Lake is beginning to flood near the levee. Fields near mile 658 are beginning to flood. The road to houses on the southwest side of Desoto Lake is underwater near the bridge.

  6. 35.00 ft

    In Mississippi, the road to the river landing west of Delta, Mississippi, is flooded. Fields, pastures, and game food plots begin to flood on Island 67.

  7. 36.00 ft

    In Arkansas, the settlement east of Mellwood inside the levee along Phillips County Road 524 is being inundated.

  8. 37.00 ft

    In Arkansas, water is near or against the levee from mile 657 south past mile 655. The lowest section of trail going to Island 66 is covered. In Mississippi, west sections of the road going to Miller Point are flooding. The road to the hunting club on Island 61 is going underwater. The road to Island 67 is covered at the lowest spot.

  9. 38.00 ft

    In Mississippi, the lowest roads in the Robson Towhead area are beginning to flood. The road to cabins near Ward Lake is flooded near the levee. The settlement near Ward Lake is being flooded. The road to cabins inside the levee southwest of Sherard, Mississippi, is covered near the levee. The road from Rena Lara to houses east of Desoto Lake is covered in many places.

  10. 39.00 ft

    In Mississippi, the cabin area inside the levee southwest of Sherard is flooding. In Arkansas, the road to aggregate business near the Highway 49 bridge is flooding.

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the Mississippi River flooding at Helena?

No. The Mississippi River at Helena is at 15.25 ft, 24.75 ft below action stage.

What is the flood stage at Helena?

The National Weather Service sets action stage 40 ft, minor flooding 44 ft, moderate flooding 50 ft and major flooding 55 ft.

What is the highest the Mississippi River has been at Helena?

The highest crest on record is 60.21 ft, on 1937-02-12.

Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge HEEA4). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.