Flood warnings and advisories issued across Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia after heavy rainfall
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued numerous flood warnings on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, following 50–100 mm (2–4 inches) of rainfall across Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia. Several rivers, including the East Fork White River, White River, and Big Blue River, are above flood stage, with additional rainfall forecast through the end of the week.
Image credit: Wheeling, WV Police Department
Flood warnings and advisories have been issued across central and southern Indiana, southeastern Ohio, and northern and central West Virginia, after 50–100 mm (2–4 inches) of rainfall caused rapid rises on rivers and creeks.
Additional rainfall of up to 0.5 inches (13 mm) is forecast through Thursday, which will cause water levels to remain elevated and prolong flooding through the weekend.
Indiana
Minor to moderate flooding is affecting multiple river basins following several rounds of rainfall. Buck Creek at Acton was observed at 2.9 m (9.5 feet) early Wednesday and is expected to crest near 3.3 m (10.8 feet) before receding below flood stage after midnight.
The Flatrock River at Saint Paul also remains above flood stage, cresting near 2.2 m (7.2 feet) before falling below flood stage later in the evening.
Mill Creek near Cataract reached 4.5 m (14.9 feet) and is forecast to crest at 4.7 m (15.4 feet) late Wednesday morning before falling below flood stage in the afternoon. Haw Creek near Clifford remains slightly above its 3.7 m (12.0 feet) flood stage, with water impacting sections of Rocky Ford Road and parts of the Columbus People Trail.
Youngs Creek at Amity continues to rise, with levels expected to reach 3.0 m (9.9 feet) in the afternoon and remain elevated overnight. The Big Blue River at Shelbyville will crest near 4.2 m (13.8 feet) on Wednesday evening before dropping below flood stage early Friday morning.
The White River at Spencer is forecast to rise above flood stage by afternoon, cresting near 5.8 m (18.9 feet) early Friday and remaining elevated until Sunday morning.
The Eel River at Bowling Green will reach a crest of approximately 5 m (16 feet) just after midnight, with water receding Friday afternoon. The Driftwood River near Edinburgh is expected to peak at 4.2 m (13.8 feet) early Friday afternoon, maintaining minor flooding until Sunday.
More significant impacts are expected on the East Fork White River at Seymour, where moderate flooding is forecast. The river is expected to crest near 5.4 m (17.8 feet) on Friday morning, inundating over half the floodplain in Jackson County and affecting rural access routes. Additional flooding is ongoing along the White River at Elliston and Newberry, which are forecast to crest near 7.6 m (24.8 feet) early Saturday and remain above flood stage through March 11.
Residents across Indiana are urged not to drive through flooded roads as high water continues to block low-lying routes and farmland access.
Ohio
A Flood warning has been issued for the Great Miami River at Miamitown, where water levels rose to near 5.1 m (16.7 feet) early Wednesday afternoon.
Minor flooding is already affecting lowland areas, including Riverfront West Park and Gymkhana Horse Club. The river is forecast to drop below flood stage by early Thursday morning.
Additional flood warnings remain in effect for Athens, Gallia, Jackson, Meigs, Vinton, and Washington counties. Between 25 and 50 mm (1–2 inches) of rainfall has already fallen, flooding low-lying roads and creeks such as the Shade River near Chester and Little Tygart Creek at Mineral Wells, both in action stage. Another 13 mm (0.5 inches) of rain is expected later in the day.
West Virginia
Flood warnings have also been issued across central and northern West Virginia, covering Braxton, Calhoun, Doddridge, Gilmer, Harrison, Lewis, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Tyler, Wirt, and Wood counties. Rivers and creeks, including the South Fork Hughes River and Meathouse Fork, are rising, with several areas already in action or minor flood stages.
In the southeast, warnings extend through early afternoon for Jackson, Mason, Pleasants, Wirt, and Wood counties, where 25–50 mm (1–2 inches) of rain have fallen. Additional moderate to heavy rain is expected through Wednesday, prolonging flooding along small tributaries and low-lying crossings.
Authorities continue to advise residents to avoid driving through flooded areas, especially in hilly terrain where water levels can rise quickly.
Forecast
The warnings and advisories have been issued due to a multi-day storm event forecast to unfold across the central and southern United States, with impacts spreading into the eastern and northeastern states.
The Storm Prediction Center (SPC) has issued a slight to enhanced risk of severe thunderstorms across the Southern and Central Plains from Wednesday to Friday.
Around 13 mm (0.5 inches) of additional rain is forecast across Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia through March 4. Damaging winds and hail are possible, but the main hazard for most locations remains heavy rainfall, with a small chance for isolated tornadoes embedded within the larger convective system.
Rainfall totals of 25 to 75 mm (1–3 inches) are forecast from the Southern Plains into the Ohio Valley between Wednesday and Friday, with isolated totals of 100 mm (4 inches) as storms repeatedly track over the same areas.
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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