River stage
New Palestine, Sugar Creek
- River level
- 2.59 ft
- Status
- Below flood stage
- 7-day change
- -0.04 ft
- Recent high
- 7.45 ft
- Recent low
- 2.56 ft
Last reported 2026-10-13 | NWS NPLI3
- 30-day change
- -0.17 ft
- Average
- 3.24 ft
- Readings
- 122
- Data span
- 122 days
- Record crest
- 11.58 ft
In brief
The Sugar Creek at New Palestine, IN read 2.59 ft on Oct 13, 2026, 3.91 ft below action stage. That is 0.17 ft lower than 30 days earlier.
Source: National Weather Service gauge NPLI3
River level timeline
Stage threshold profile
Highest crests on record
| Rank | Crest | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11.58 ft | 2013-12-22 |
| 2 | 10.80 ft | 2005-01-06 |
| 3 | 10.35 ft | 2025-04-05 |
| 4 | 10.34 ft | 1979-02-23 |
| 5 | 10.31 ft | 1990-12-30 |
| 6 | 10.08 ft | 1993-11-14 |
| 7 | 9.68 ft | 2005-01-13 |
| 8 | 9.50 ft | 1986-10-04 |
Flood crests recorded at this gauge by the National Weather Service.
What happens at each level
- 6.50 ft
Lowest areas along Sugar Creek begin to flood in New Palestine area.
- 7.50 ft
Lowland flooding south in Johnson County along the creek.
- 8.00 ft
Lowland flooding in progress along Sugar Creek in New Palestine area. Some local roads may be affected by high water.
- 9.00 ft
Extensive flooding along Sugar Creek in southern Hancock and western Shelby Counties. After reaching this level, and when the Big Blue River was near 16.5 feet, one day later several homes along the creek west of Shelbyville were evacuated.
- 9.50 ft
Extensive lowland flooding in progress along Sugar Creek in New Palestine area. Local river roads closed by high water. Flooding of some residential property and backyards begins.
- 11.00 ft
Major flood in progress. Flooding of a few homes in the New Palestine area begins. Sugar Creek is extensively flooding. Some local river roads flooded by a few feet of water. Shelby CR 700N may be flooded east of the bridge over Sugar Creek especially if Buck Creek at Acton is 13 feet or higher. Several homes possibly damaged in western Shelby County.
- 11.50 ft
Extensive flooding occurred along Sugar Creek during December 2013. Local road to the Waste Water Treatment Plant and a few other roads nearby closed by high water. Water 8 inches below the bridge deck on US Hwy 52 on the east side of New Palestine. Flooding of at least one home downstream in Johnson County. This was the highest level for this site since establishment in October 1967.
Written by the local National Weather Service forecast office for this exact gauge.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sugar Creek flooding at New Palestine?
No. The Sugar Creek at New Palestine is at 2.59 ft, 3.91 ft below action stage.
What is the flood stage at New Palestine?
The National Weather Service sets action stage 6.5 ft, minor flooding 8 ft, moderate flooding 10 ft and major flooding 11 ft.
What is the highest the Sugar Creek has been at New Palestine?
The highest crest on record is 11.58 ft, on 2013-12-22.
Is the Sugar Creek high or low right now at New Palestine?
At 2.59 ft it is higher than 7% of readings over the last 122 days.
Stage and flood information from the NOAA National Weather Service (gauge NPLI3); daily history from the U.S. Geological Survey (site 03361650). Last reading 2026-10-13. For flood safety decisions always follow official National Weather Service warnings.