Live water data

Lake and river levels near Louisville

Current levels for every lake and river we cover, straight from federal gauges. Each reading shows its source and the time it was taken. We refresh at most every 30 minutes.

Lock chamber walls at McAlpine Locks and Dam on the Ohio River, Louisville
Photo: Antony-22 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · cropped

Ohio River Level at Louisville Today

Ohio River at Louisville, McAlpine upper gauge (the pool above the dam)13.05 ft stageAs of Oct 28, 2026, 5:00 PM ET · Source: NOAA National Weather Service (NWPS), gauge MLUK2

9.95 ft below flood stage (23 ft at this gauge per the National Weather Service; action stage 21 ft)

NWS gaugeObservedForecastFlood stage
McAlpine upper gauge (Louisville, above the dam) (MLUK2)13.05 ft
Oct 28, 2026, 5:00 PM ET		12.80 ft
for Oct 28, 2026, 8:00 PM ET		23 ft
McAlpine lower gauge (Louisville, below the dam) (MLPK2)10.94 ft
Oct 28, 2026, 5:00 PM ET		11.20 ft
for Oct 29, 2026, 2:00 PM ET		55 ft
Clifty Creek gauge (near Madison, IN) (CLFI3)421.97 ft
Oct 28, 2026, 5:00 PM ET		421.80 ft
for Oct 29, 2026, 2:00 AM ET		451 ft

Provisional real-time data from federal agencies; it can change after review. Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:44 PM ET.

What these numbers mean, ramps and FAQ →

Taylorsville Lake Level Today

Taylorsville Lake elevation545.93 ft above sea leveldown 0.03 ft in the last 24 hoursAs of Oct 28, 2026, 4:15 PM ET · Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CWMS Data API

1.07 ft below summer pool (547 ft) · 0.93 ft above winter pool (545 ft)

Provisional real-time data from federal agencies; it can change after review. Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:44 PM ET.

What these numbers mean, ramps and FAQ →

Rough River Lake Level Today

Rough River Lake elevation484.84 ft above sea leveldown 0.46 ft in the last 24 hoursAs of Oct 28, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CWMS Data API

10.16 ft below summer pool (495 ft) · 14.84 ft above winter pool (470 ft)

Provisional real-time data from federal agencies; it can change after review. Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:44 PM ET.

What these numbers mean, ramps and FAQ →

Nolin Lake Level Today

Nolin Lake elevation514.22 ft above sea leveldown 0.05 ft in the last 24 hoursAs of Oct 28, 2026, 4:10 PM ET · Source: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CWMS Data API

0.78 ft below summer pool (515 ft) · 24.22 ft above winter pool (490 ft)

Provisional real-time data from federal agencies; it can change after review. Checked Oct 28, 2026, 5:44 PM ET.

What these numbers mean, ramps and FAQ →

Where the data comes from

SourceWhat we useWaters
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CWMS Data APILake elevation (USGS-fed lake gauges and the Louisville District's hourly readings), dam outflow, Taylorsville water temperatureNolin, Rough River, Taylorsville
NOAA National Weather Service (National Water Prediction Service)Observed stage, flood stages and forecastsNolin (NOLK2), Rough River (RRLK2), Ohio River at McAlpine (MLUK2, MLPK2) and near Madison (CLFI3)
U.S. Geological Survey, Water Data API (new OGC API)Stage and flow below McAlpine Dam (gauge 03294500)Ohio River at Louisville

Federal real-time data is provisional and can be revised. Elevations are in feet above sea level (NGVD29). River stages are measured from each gauge's own zero point and are not depths. If a source doesn't respond, we show the last good reading with its time, or a link to the official page.

Lake Cumberland, Barren River and Green River levels are planned next.