Ohio River at Louisville
River flow & level · USGS gauge 03294500 · Kentucky · drains 91,170 sq mi
Latest reading Oct 26, 5:45 PM · streamflow
The Ohio River at Louisville is running 27,000 cfs, 82% of the median flow for October 26 (32,800 cfs, 97 years). Gage height is 11.07 ft, 43.9 ft below flood stage (55.0 ft). Flow is down 49% from 24 hours ago.
Streamflow
cubic feet per secondReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Gage height & flood stages
ft above gauge datumAction (53.0 ft) is 41.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (55.0 ft) is 43.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (65.0 ft) is 53.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (73.0 ft) is 61.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Action (53.0 ft) is 41.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMinor (55.0 ft) is 43.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartModerate (65.0 ft) is 53.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chartMajor (73.0 ft) is 61.9 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
Major (73.0 ft) is 61.0 ft above the latest reading, off this chart
ReadingNormal range for the date (25th–75th pct.)Median for the date
Ohio River at Louisville fishing report & conditions
updated Oct 26, 6:49 PM ETFlow 82% of normal, flow falling, calm wind — fair fall fishing day (5/10), best window 8:10 AM–9:10 AM (moonset near sunrise).
Flow 82% of normal, flow falling, calm wind — fair fall fishing day (4/10), best window 7:06 PM–8:06 PM (moonrise near sunset).
- Water temp—no water-temperature sensor on this water yet
- Air temphigh 76°F / low 48°FMostly Sunny
- WindCalm0–2 mph 6 AM–6 PM, gusts to 5
- Flow82% of normalFlow falling (-49% in 24 h)
Official Kentucky fishing report: Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife — Weekly fishing report
Best fishing times today
Today is a fair fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
5/10
Full moon · 99% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 8:03 AM · Sunset 6:50 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead12:23 AM–2:23 AM
- Moon underfoot12:51 PM–2:51 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset8:10 AM–9:10 AMSunrise
- Moonrise6:23 PM–7:23 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 26 | 5/10Fair | Major 12:23 AM–2:23 AM · 12:51 PM–2:51 PM Minor 8:10 AM–9:10 AM · 6:23 PM–7:23 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
|---|---|---|
| TueOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:19 AM–3:19 AM · 1:49 PM–3:49 PM Minor 9:26 AM–10:26 AM · 7:06 PM–8:06 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 2:20 AM–4:20 AM · 2:52 PM–4:52 PM Minor 10:42 AM–11:42 AM · 7:58 PM–8:58 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:24 AM–5:24 AM · 3:56 PM–5:56 PM Minor 11:52 AM–12:52 PM · 9:01 PM–10:01 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 4:28 AM–6:28 AM · 5:00 PM–7:00 PM Minor 12:52 PM–1:52 PM · 10:12 PM–11:12 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:31 AM–7:31 AM · 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Minor 1:40 PM–2:40 PM · 11:26 PM–12:26 AM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:28 AM–7:28 AM · 5:55 PM–7:55 PM Minor 1:19 PM–2:19 PM · 11:39 PM–12:39 AM Light wind 5–7 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonset × sunrise +1; Moonrise × sunset +1) | 2 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 0.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 0 |
| Today | 5, rounded | 5/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 38.28, -85.80 (moon times from astronomical equations, Ohio River at Louisville local time).
Best fishing times today
Today is a fair fishing day (solunar + local conditions)
4/10
Waning gibbous · 97% lit · New moon Mon, Nov 9 · Sunrise 8:04 AM · Sunset 6:49 PM
Major fishing times
- Moon overhead1:19 AM–3:19 AM
- Moon underfoot1:49 PM–3:49 PM
Minor fishing times
- Moonset9:26 AM–10:26 AM
- Moonrise7:06 PM–8:06 PMSunset
Fishing times for the next 7 days
| TodayOct 27 | 4/10Fair | Major 1:19 AM–3:19 AM · 1:49 PM–3:49 PM Minor 9:26 AM–10:26 AM · 7:06 PM–8:06 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
|---|---|---|
| WedOct 28 | 2/10Poor | Major 2:20 AM–4:20 AM · 2:52 PM–4:52 PM Minor 10:42 AM–11:42 AM · 7:58 PM–8:58 PM Calm wind 0–6 mph |
| ThuOct 29 | 5/10Fair | Major 3:24 AM–5:24 AM · 3:56 PM–5:56 PM Minor 11:52 AM–12:52 PM · 9:01 PM–10:01 PM Light wind 2–7 mph |
| FriOct 30 | 3/10Poor | Major 4:28 AM–6:28 AM · 5:00 PM–7:00 PM Minor 12:52 PM–1:52 PM · 10:12 PM–11:12 PM Calm wind 0–2 mph |
| SatOct 31 | 4/10Fair | Major 5:31 AM–7:31 AM · 6:00 PM–8:00 PM Minor 1:40 PM–2:40 PM · 11:26 PM–12:26 AM Calm wind 1–5 mph |
| SunNov 1 | 5/10Fair | Major 5:28 AM–7:28 AM · 5:55 PM–7:55 PM Minor 1:19 PM–2:19 PM · 11:39 PM–12:39 AM Light wind 5–7 mph |
| MonNov 2 | 4/10Fair | Major 6:21 AM–8:21 AM · 6:46 PM–8:46 PM Minor 1:51 PM–2:51 PM Light wind 4–7 mph |
How this rating works
Solunar theory says fish feed more when the moon is overhead or underfoot (major periods, about 2 hours) and around moonrise and moonset (minor periods, about 1 hour). On a lake or river there is no tide, so instead of tide changes we score the local conditions anglers watch: the barometric pressure trend, the wind, whether the river is steady, and the water temperature where it is measured.
| Base | every day starts at 1 | 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise / sunset | a period overlaps sunrise or sunset ±1 h: major +2, minor +1 (max 3) (Moonrise × sunset +1) | 1 |
| Moon phase | within 2 days of a new or full moon +2, within 4 days +1 (today: 1.5 days) | 2 |
| Local conditions | pressure 6 AM→6 PM: falling +2, steady or slowly rising +1, rising fast 0 · daytime wind 4–15 mph +1, over 20 mph (or gusts over 30) −1 · flow within ±15% in 24 h +1, rising over 25% −1 · water 55–75°F +1, below 45°F or above 85°F −1 (0 to 4 in total)
| 0 |
| Today | 4, rounded | 4/10 |
1–3 poor · 4–5 fair · 6–7 good · 8–10 excellent. Pressure and wind are the NOAA National Weather Service hourly forecast for this spot; the level/flow trend is the latest 24 hours of readings on this page. Days 2–7 score sun, moon, forecast pressure and forecast wind only (level and water temperature aren’t forecast). Solunar times are a rule of thumb, not a guarantee.
Solunar periods calculated for 38.28, -85.80 (moon times from astronomical equations, Ohio River at Louisville local time).
Weather & wind at Ohio River at Louisville
air temperature, not water3-day forecast
- Tonight48°Partly CloudyWind NW 1 mphRain 0%
- Tuesday76° / 52°Mostly SunnyWind SE 2 mphRain 0%
- Wednesday76° / 49°Mostly SunnyWind S 0 to 6 mphRain 0%
NOAA National Weather Service forecast for 38.280, -85.799 (grid LMK), issued Oct 26, 2:54 PM local time. High / low are air temperatures; water temperature is in the fishing section above. The “Air temp & weather” tile at the top refreshes live.
Flood stages
NOAA NWS gauge MLPK2- Action stage53 ft+41.9 ft from now
- Minor stage55 ft+43.9 ft from now
- Moderate stage65 ft+53.9 ft from now
- Major stage73 ft+61.9 ft from now
- Record crest85.44 ft1937
October 26 in history
97 years of flow records- Today27,000 cfs
- Same date last year22,100 cfs2025
- Median32,800 cfs
- Normal range17,500 cfs – 57,800 cfs25th–75th percentile
- Highest since 1929210,000 cfs1991
- Lowest since 19294,100 cfs1931
Last 10 days
| Date | Mean flow (cfs) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mon Oct 26 (today) | 35,874 | -30% |
| Sun Oct 25 | 51,500 | +2% |
| Sat Oct 24 | 50,700 | +12% |
| Fri Oct 23 | 45,300 | +5% |
| Thu Oct 22 | 43,200 | -29% |
| Wed Oct 21 | 61,000 | -26% |
| Tue Oct 20 | 82,400 | -12% |
| Mon Oct 19 | 93,700 | -4% |
| Sun Oct 18 | 97,400 | -6% |
| Sat Oct 17 | 104,000 | +4% |
Daily mean of all readings that day; today is the average so far.
Nearby lakes & rivers
- Taylorsville Lake32 mi · Lake · Taylorsville546.00 ft−1.00 ft vs full pool
- Patoka Lake50 mi · Lake · Cuzco537.76 ft+1.76 ft vs normal pool
- Kentucky River at Lock 4 at Frankfort50 mi · River450 cfs41% of normal
- Rough River Lake59 mi · Lake · Falls of Rough485.71 ft−9.29 ft vs full pool
- Monroe Lake63 mi · Lake · Harrodsburg537.70 ft−0.30 ft vs full pool
- Herrington Lake69 mi · Lake · Burgin732.61 ft+3.27 ft vs normal
About this data
- Gauge
- USGS 03294500 — Ohio River At Louisville, Ky
- Location
- 38.2803, -85.7991 · Kentucky
- Drainage area
- 91,170 sq mi
- Measures
- Streamflow (discharge), cubic feet per second
- Daily statistics
- 1929–2025 (approved daily values)
- Latest reading
- Oct 26, 5:45 PM local time (provisional)
- Page built
- Oct 26, 2026 6:49 PM ET
- Flood stages
- NWS gauge MLPK2 — National Water Prediction Service
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Water Data for the Nation (USGS monitoring location page). Readings every 15–60 minutes; the newest values are provisional. Percentiles compare today’s reading with every past year’s daily mean for the same calendar date. Weather: NOAA National Weather Service.