Flood Warning Issued for Saint Joseph River in Williams County, Ohio

Alert Details

The National Weather Service in Northern Indiana has issued a Flood Warning for the Saint Joseph River Ohio below Montpelier. The warning was issued on the morning of March 11, 2026, and is effective starting this afternoon until further notice.

Affected Areas

The primary geographic region affected is Williams County, Ohio. Specific areas of concern include the Saint Joseph River below Montpelier, affecting locations near Montpelier, Newville, and the village of Pioneer.

What You Should Do

Residents are urged to take safety precautions. The National Weather Service advises: “Turn around, don’t drown when encountering flooded roads,” noting that most flood deaths occur in vehicles. Residents should avoid flooded areas and stay informed by monitoring local river forecasts.

Expected Conditions

Moderate flooding is forecast for the Saint Joseph River. As of 11:00 AM EDT Tuesday, the river stage was at 10.5 feet. The river is expected to rise above the flood stage of 12.0 feet this afternoon and continue rising to a crest of 13.5 feet early Friday morning.

Specific impacts include:

• At 13.0 feet: County Road K, located one mile southwest of Montpelier, begins to flood.
• Village Impacts: Flooding begins to affect the village of Pioneer.
• Agricultural Impacts: Significant low-land and agricultural flooding is expected to occur near the river.

Timeline

• Alert Effective: Wednesday afternoon, March 11, 2026.
• Flood Stage Onset: Expected this afternoon.
• Forecast Crest: 13.5 feet early Friday morning.
• Duration: The warning remains in effect until further notice.