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Ohio River level at Cincinnati is rising. See predicted crest and what it means

Published

2 years ago

January 26, 2024

Press Room

Ohio River level at Cincinnati is rising. See predicted crest and what it means

Thanks to all the precipitation we’ve been having, the level of the Ohio River is rising.

The river level in Cincinnati was at 35 feet on Friday morning.

With more rain in the forecast this weekend, the river level is expected to rise and crest at just above 43 feet on Monday morning. While that level is well below flood stage, which is 52 feet, it is above the “action stage” of 40 feet.

According to the National Weather Service, the action stage is the river level at which agencies in the surrounding areas should start closely monitoring the river level.

The level at which the casual observer will start to see water encroach on land is 42 feet when flooding starts at PNC Pavillion.

The most recent significant crest on the Ohio River was at just below 65 feet on March 5, 1997. That ranked as the ninth-highest crest recorded on the river in Cincinnati.

The river crossed the flood stage seven times in the 1990s. Since 2000, the river has crested above flood stage twice – at 54.42 feet on Feb 2, 2020, and at 56.86 feet on March 4, 2021.

The highest level ever recorded on the Ohio River in Cincinnati was on Jan. 26, during the devastating flood of 1937.

Historic crests on the Ohio River in Cincinnati

80 feet on Jan. 26, 1937
71.10 feet on Feb. 14, 1884
69.90 feet on April 1, 1913
69.20 feet on March 7, 1945
66.30 feet on Feb. 15, 1883

What happens as the Ohio River level rises

42 feet: Flooding encroaches PNC Pavilion.

45 feet: Water floods stage area of PNC Pavilion.

47 feet: Water affects some areas of Coney Island and PNC Pavilion. High water affects some yards in California, Ohio

48 feet: Flooding in California impacts Eldorado Street, with water impacting some fringe areas of Coney Island park. PNC Pavilion is flooded by this stage.

50 feet: Water covers low areas of Kellogg Avenue. Outbuildings at Coney Island flooded, as well as PNC Pavilion. Parts of Humbert Avenue in the East End of Cincinnati are also flooded. Some of Public Landing becomes flooded, as well as Riverside Park off River Road.

52 feet (flood stage): Increasing sections of Kellogg Avenue from east of Delta Avenue upstream to near Coney Island to near Eight Mile Road are flooded, as well as parts of Humbert Avenue in the East End of Cincinnati. Most of Public Landing is flooded, as well as Riverside Park off River Road.

60 feet: Significant flooding in East End, California and New Richmond in Ohio, with backwater floods in Silver Grove, Kentucky, and riverfront buildings in Aurora, Indiana. Stretches of U.S. 52 are flooded, with numerous additional low-lying roads near the river flooded. Backwater flooding along the Little Miami, Great Miami and Licking rivers, also results in road closures. Some main levels of homes flooded in the East End sections of Cincinnati.

70 feet: This is just above the FEMA 1 percent flood. Widespread flooding between Fort Washington Way and the river occurs. Inundation of unprotected property in Ohio extends from Cincinnati upstream along and south of Route 52. Downstream of Cincinnati, most property between Route 50 and the river is flooded. In Kentucky, widespread inundation occurs in unprotected areas between Route 8 and the river. In Indiana, unprotected areas from near Route 56 to the river are inundated including Aurora.

80 feet: This flood will exceed the highest stage on record. Widespread property damage occurs, with devastating backwater flooding also occurring along Ohio River tributaries. The City of Cincinnati becomes flooded at low areas near the river, with many Ohio River communities flooded. Backwater flooding along the Little Miami, Great Miami and Licking rivers also results in major damage. Thousands of evacuations are necessary.

Source: National Weather Service in Wilmington

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Ohio

Ohio State’s defense is already elite, but these two players could make it even better

Published

17 hours ago

October 21, 2025

Press Room

Ohio State’s defense is already elite, but these two players could make it even better

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State’s defense has been nothing short of dominant this season, but what’s scary for future opponents is that it might be on the verge of getting even better.

The latest episode of Buckeye Talk revealed two fascinating developments that could transform an already-elite unit into something truly unstoppable.

The first involves what Stephen Means described as “the ultimate good problem” at the nickel position. While Lorenzo Styles has been solid, Jermaine Mathews has shown flashes of being an elite playmaker who can dramatically change games with his ability to create turnovers.

“This is, I think, the ultimate good problem that a defense could have — where the guy who’s doing a job isn’t doing it poorly, but there just might be a guy who is elite, elite, elite at it,” Means said.

The option between Styles and Mathews represents the luxury Ohio State now has – two excellent players for one position, with Mathews offering a specific skill set that addresses one of the few areas where the defense could improve: creating more takeaways.

Co-host Stefan Krajisnik emphasized Mathews’ impact:

“I just think he’s such a difference-maker for you that if that’s the one thing you feel like this defense is lacking… I would continue to give Jermaine Mathews some snaps there in the slot.”

But perhaps the most intriguing revelation came from defensive end Kenyatta Jackson, who approached defensive coordinator Matt Patricia about being allowed more freedom as a pass rusher.

Jackson, who has been disciplined in his containment responsibilities against mobile quarterbacks, wanted permission to use his full arsenal of pass-rush moves.

Means highlighted the significance of this conversation:

“I also love the fact that he said that Matt Patricia’s response was like, ‘Yeah, just don’t go past quarterback… You can do whatever you want as long as you don’t put us at a disadvantage.”

This context explains why Jackson hasn’t been as statistically productive as many expected. Against more traditional pocket passers, Jackson could now be unleashed, complementing Caden Curry (who’s putting up numbers comparable to Chase Young’s Heisman campaign start) and creating a truly terrifying pass rush.

What we witnessed against Wisconsin – where Jackson registered three pressures and a sack after this conversation with Patricia – might just be the beginning. Ohio State’s defense is already allowing a minuscule 5.9 points per game, but these adjustments suggest the best is yet to come.

Here’s the podcast for this week:

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What’s Up With That? Why isn’t trick or treating always on Halloween?

Published

2 days ago

October 20, 2025

Press Room

What’s Up With That? Why isn’t trick or treating always on Halloween?

Why do central Ohio communities trick or treat on nights other than Halloween?

This week’s What’s Up With That? is a personal one, as it’s a query I’ve had since I moved to Columbus nearly seven years ago. What’s the origin of central Ohio’s complex (to outsiders) tradition of holding trick or treating (or Beggars Night, as some call it) on nights other than Oct. 31?

It is a question that has been asked and answered by The Columbus Dispatch before. But to save you a journey through our archives, I’ll recap the history here.

Why does central Ohio schedule trick-or-treating on nights other than Halloween?

Up until 2005, when the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission adopted the current system for recommending when communities should hold trick-or-treating, Columbus hadn’t held the event on Halloween itself in 90 years, according to past Dispatch reporting.

Columbus historically held a raucous Downtown Halloween party on Oct. 31, according to our archives, prompting the preference for Oct. 30 as the day kids could collect candy. That party was discontinued in the 1950s over too much revelry, but Oct. 30 trick-or-treating persisted.

MORPC took on its role as trick-or-treat scheduler in 1993 and adopted the current system it uses to choose the date in 2005. MORPC’s recommendation is just that; communities are still free to set their own trick-or-treating days and times.

When is central Ohio trick-or-treating in 2025?

Here’s MORPC’s system: When Halloween falls on a Friday, Saturday or Sunday, trick or treat typically takes place the Thursday before Oct. 31 in central Ohio. When Halloween falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, expect costumed kids on the day itself.

In 2015, a MORPC spokesman told the Dispatch the system was meant to increase convenience for families. Friday or Saturday night trick or treating could conflict with football (as could Sunday, for that matter, although in central Ohio it’s largely the first two putting a dent in people’s calendars).

Since Halloween falls on a Friday this year, the recommended trick-or-treat date is Oct. 30, and cities and towns have official candy-calling hours of 6-8 p.m.

But there are exceptions. Here’s a look at which Franklin County communities are going their own way:

Bexley: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Grandview Heights: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31
Groveport: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Madison Township: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30
Worthington: 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31

You can see other communities’ hours in this list we published in early October.

Have a question about Columbus? I’ll find your answer

What other weird central Ohio traditions would you like to have explained? I’m happy to track down the information. Or just curious what that development is, or why the traffic pattern you hate is the way it is?

Email ekennedy@dispatch.com and I will see what I can do.

Eleanor Kennedy is the senior digital director of the Columbus Dispatch. She can breached at ekennedy@dispatch.com.

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Where is Ohio State football ranked in major polls after Week 8?

Published

2 days ago

October 19, 2025

Press Room

Where is Ohio State football ranked in major polls after Week 8?

Ohio State showed no sign of loosening its grip on the No. 1 ranking this weekend.

The Buckeyes routed Wisconsin in a 34-0 win that marked the third time in four weeks that they prevailed on the road in the Big Ten to preserve their unblemished record.

At 7-0, they are one of only six unbeaten teams left in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Below is their ranking in the major polls after Week 8:

Ohio State football rankings after Week 8

US LBM Coaches Poll

The Buckeyes are the consensus No. 1 among the coaches, receiving all 65 first-place votes following Miami’s loss to Louisville on Oct. 17.

The Hurricanes, who were previously unbeaten, had two first-place votes last week prior to the upset.

The rest of the top-five includes Indiana at No. 2, Texas A&M at No. 3, Alabama at No. 4 and Georgia at No. 5.

AP Top 25

Ohio State received 60 out of the 66 first-place votes in the AP poll with second-ranked Indiana getting the remaining six.

Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com and follow along on Bluesky, Instagram and X for more.

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