Hurricane Isaac (2012): peak water levels
90 river and stream gauges and 8 tide gauges · Baton Rouge, Houma–Thibodaux, New Orleans and the Northshore, Mississippi Gulf Coast · August 27, 2012 to September 4, 2012
Against today's NWS flood stages, 26 of the 90 river and stream gauges here peaked at or above a flood stage (11 at major, 4 at moderate, 11 at minor). For 11 of them it is the highest peak in their comparable USGS record: Wolf River near Landon, East Hobolochitto Creek near Caesar, Amite River at Highway 22 near Maurepas, Escatawpa River at I-10 near Orange Grove, Mississippi Sound at USGS Merrill Shell Bank Light, Black Bayou at Highway 621 near Prairieville and 5 more. The highest tide gauge reading was 9.51 ft above MHHW at Shell Beach (Aug 29, 2012 at 12:36 AM CDT).
Tide gauges
| Tide gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's flood thresholds | Station record (NOAA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Beach | +9.51 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 12:36 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | this storm |
| Bay Waveland Yacht Club | +8.02 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 11:42 AM CDT | at or above NWS major | +9.09 ft (September 1, 2008) |
| Grand Isle | +4.19 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 9:06 AM CDT | at or above NOAA major HTF | +4.61 ft (August 29, 2021) |
| New Canal Station | +5.97 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 3:24 AM CDT | at or above NWS moderate | this storm |
| Pascagoula NOAA Lab | +4.56 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 10:36 AM CDT | at or above NWS moderate | +6.98 ft (October 29, 2020) |
| Pilots Station East, S.W. Pass | +2.67 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 2:36 AM CDT | at or above NOAA moderate HTF | +5.54 ft (August 29, 2005) |
| Pilottown | +4.60 ft | Aug 28, 2012 at 10:24 PM CDT | — | this storm |
| West Bank 1, Bayou Gauche | 2.97 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 11:54 PM CDT | — | — |
Highest six-minute water level in the window, relative to mean higher high water (an ordinary high tide) on today's tidal datum.
River and stream gauges
Baton Rouge
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amite River at Highway 22 near Maurepas | 7.48 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 10:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 29 years of record |
| Amite River near French Settlement | 6.87 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 10:30 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2016 |
| Amite River near Denham Springs | 29.83 ft | Sep 1, 2012 at 8:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Manchac near Little Prairie | 10.76 ft | Sep 2, 2012 at 11:15 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Tickfaw River at Liverpool | 9.54 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 3:00 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Amite River at Port Vincent | 8.92 ft | Sep 2, 2012 at 5:45 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Comite River near Comite | 19.67 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 4:30 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Tickfaw River at Holden | 14.81 ft | Sep 1, 2012 at 11:30 AM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2022 |
| Tickfaw River at Montpelier | 12.45 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 7:00 PM CDT | at or above action stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Black Bayou at Highway 621 near Prairieville | 9.95 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 29 years of record |
| Beaver Bayou at Denham Road near Baton Rouge | 65.90 ft | August 30, 2012 | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Amite River at Magnolia | 42.55 ft | Sep 2, 2012 at 5:30 AM CDT | 5.5 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Comite River at Greenwell Springs Road near Baton Rouge | 38.20 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 1:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Ward Creek at Government St at Baton Rouge | 35.29 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 2:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Beaver Bayou at Wax Road near Baton Rouge | 33.08 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 3:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| White Bayou at State Highway 64 near Zachary | 32.59 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 8:30 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| North Branch Ward Creek at Baton Rouge | 23.83 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 7:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Jones Creek at Old Hammond Highway near Baton Rouge | 21.22 ft | Sep 2, 2012 at 3:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Comite River at Point Hudson-Pride Road near Milldale | 20.40 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 12:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Ward Creek at Essen Lane near Baton Rouge | 20.23 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Dawson Creek at Bluebonnet Blvd near Baton Rouge | 19.69 ft | August 29, 2012 | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Corporation Canal at East Roosevelt Street at Baton Rouge | 19.61 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 2:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Claycut Bayou at Antioch Road near Baton Rouge | 16.28 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Amite River near Darlington | 13.75 ft | Sep 1, 2012 at 5:30 AM CDT | 4.2 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2016 |
| Comite River at Comite Dr near Baton Rouge | 12.99 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 4:15 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Bayou Fountain at Bluebonnet Blvd near B.R. | 12.49 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 9:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2023 |
| Beaver Bayou at Hooper Road near Baton Rouge | 11.95 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 8:45 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Comite River near Zachary | 11.70 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 12:00 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Old Ward Creek Diversion at Highland Road near Baton Rouge | 10.78 ft | August 29, 2012 | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bayou Lafourche southwest of Donaldsonville | 10.77 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 11:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2016 |
| Bayou Manchac at Alligator Bayou near Kleinpeter | 10.54 ft | Sep 1, 2012 at 8:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Grand Goudine at Babin Road near Duplessis | 10.25 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 12:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Welsh Gully at J. Broussard Road near Prairieville | 9.87 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 2:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Henderson Bayou near Port Vincent | 8.95 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 1:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2016 |
| Alligator Bayou near Kleinpeter | 8.02 ft | Sep 3, 2012 at 8:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Panama Canal at Highway 44 near Gonzales | 7.96 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 12:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Lower Grand River at Bayou Sorrel | 7.23 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 9:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Black Bayou east of Gonzales | 6.08 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 8:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2016 |
| Bayou Francois at Highway 61 near Gonzales | 5.49 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 10:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
Houma–Thibodaux
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bayou Perot at Point Legard near Cutoff | 8.88 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 1:00 PM CDT | — | highest in 17 years of record |
| Bayou Lafourche at Thibodaux | 7.78 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 4:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Bayou Lafourche at Lockport | 6.92 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 6:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Caillou Lake (Sister Lake) southwest of Dulac | 4.54 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 11:12 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Company Canal at Salt Barrier near Lockport | 4.15 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 7:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Company Canal at Highway 1 at Lockport | 3.64 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 5:15 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| Caillou Bay southwest of Cocodrie | 3.42 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 12:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Belle River at Highway 70 near Pierre Part | 1.98 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 5:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
New Orleans and the Northshore
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tangipahoa River at Robert | 24.02 ft | Sep 1, 2012 at 5:30 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2016 |
| Bogue Chitto River at Franklinton | 22.13 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 7:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2016 |
| Tchefuncte River near Folsom | 20.93 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 7:15 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bogue Chitto River near Bush | 19.82 ft | Sep 2, 2012 at 5:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2016 |
| Pearl River at Pearl River | 18.59 ft | Sep 4, 2012 at 12:00 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2016 |
| Bogue Falaya River near Camp Covington | 55.38 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 2:45 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Tchefuncte River near Covington | 26.81 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 4:30 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Bogue Falaya River at Boston St. at Covington | 15.08 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 6:30 PM CDT | at or above moderate flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Tangipahoa River near Amite | 23.30 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 9:30 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2016 |
| Pearl River near Bogalusa | 20.99 ft | Sep 3, 2012 at 5:30 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2024 |
| Natalbany River at Baptist | 18.70 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 2:45 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Bayou Liberty near Slidell | 8.14 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 1:45 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2021 |
| Little Lake near Bay Dosgris east of Galliano | 9.76 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 12:00 PM CDT | — | highest in 16 years of record |
| Rigolets at Highway 90 near Slidell | 8.88 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 10:00 PM CDT | — | highest in 23 years of record |
| Barataria Bay near Grand Terre Island | 8.17 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 11:00 AM CDT | — | highest in 25 years of record |
| Pearl River at Pools Bluff near Bogalusa | 62.15 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 2:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Bogue Falaya at Covington | 22.95 ft | August 30, 2012 | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Mississippi River at Belle Chasse | 18.49 ft | Aug 28, 2012 at 11:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2019 |
| Northeast Bay Gardene near Point-A-LA-Hache | 13.21 ft | Aug 28, 2012 at 9:30 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2008 |
| Davis Pond Freshwater Diversion near Boutte | 11.79 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 1:15 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Tangipahoa River near Kentwood | 11.63 ft | Sep 2, 2012 at 12:00 AM CDT | 1.4 ft below minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Barataria Pass at Grand Isle | 10.40 ft | August 30, 2012 | — | highest since water year 2020 |
| Lake Cataouatche at Whiskey Canal south of Waggaman | 8.15 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 11:00 PM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
| Crooked Bayou northwest of Lake Cuatro Caballo near Delacroix | 6.05 ft | Aug 27, 2012 at 1:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Reggio Canal near Wills Point | 4.34 ft | Aug 28, 2012 at 11:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2021 |
| Caernarvon Outfall Channel at Caernarvon | 1.89 ft | Aug 28, 2012 at 11:45 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Naomi Diversion Canal near Naomi | 1.74 ft | Aug 27, 2012 at 12:00 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Hackberry Bay northwest of Grand Isle | 1.50 ft | Aug 27, 2012 at 9:00 AM CDT | measured on an earlier datum: not compared | — |
Mississippi Gulf Coast
| Gauge | Peak | Time | Against today's NWS flood stages | In its record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolf River near Landon | 31.31 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 7:30 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 47 years of record |
| East Hobolochitto Creek near Caesar | 21.50 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 2:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest in 30 years of record |
| Biloxi River at Wortham | 26.32 ft | Aug 30, 2012 at 12:45 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| West Hobolochitto Creek near Mcneill | 24.54 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 5:30 AM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 1962 |
| Jourdan River near Bay St Louis | 10.73 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 12:00 PM CDT | at or above major flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Escatawpa River at I-10 near Orange Grove | 10.90 ft | Aug 31, 2012 at 2:00 PM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest in 25 years of record |
| Pascagoula River at Merrill | 24.69 ft | Sep 3, 2012 at 2:45 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2019 |
| Pascagoula River at Graham Ferry | 17.45 ft | Sep 5, 2012 at 4:45 AM CDT | at or above minor flood stage | highest since water year 2026 |
| Mississippi Sound at USGS Merrill Shell Bank Light | 11.57 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 12:54 PM CDT | — | highest in 8 years of record |
| Mississippi Sound at USGS Round Island Light | 7.48 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 8:45 AM CDT | — | highest in 6 years of record |
| Biloxi River near Lyman | 22.23 ft | August 30, 2012 | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Red Creek at Vestry | 18.10 ft | Sep 1, 2012 at 3:45 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
| Old Fort Bayou at Ocean Springs | 6.96 ft | Aug 29, 2012 at 1:15 PM CDT | — | — |
| Biloxi Bay at Point Cadet Harbor at Biloxi | 4.75 ft | Aug 28, 2012 at 12:00 PM CDT | — | highest since water year 2024 |
| East Pearl River at Csx Railroad near Claiborne | 2.36 ft | Aug 27, 2012 at 10:30 AM CDT | — | highest since water year 2026 |
Highest gage height in the window: from USGS's 15-minute record where it exists, otherwise the gauge's USGS annual peak when that fell in the window (a date only). Flood stages are the National Weather Service's current ones, which can differ from those in use at the time. Peaks USGS records on an earlier datum are listed but not compared.
How this page is built
Each gauge's highest reading between August 27, 2012 and September 4, 2012 (the window runs past the rain because large rivers crest days later), from USGS and NOAA records, for the gauges this site carries today in Baton Rouge, Houma–Thibodaux, New Orleans and the Northshore, Mississippi Gulf Coast. Gauges installed since are not listed; a gauge out of service at the time has no row. Harris County's own gauges are not included: this site has their readings only from September 2026. Readings only: this page says nothing about damage or what happened at any street or property.
Every historic flood on this site · Storms since September 2026