Flow report
Iowa River Levels & Streamflow
As of Sep 20, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 305% of normal across 117 USGS gauges — the highest is 22,800 cfs on the Des Moines River At Ottumwa. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in Iowa.
USGS gauges
117
State percent normal
305%
Paddle runs
0
Updated
Sep 20
Open the Iowa flow layer on the map
Every USGS streamgauge filtered to Iowa.
Open the map →
September
20
2026
Flow briefing
Streamflow levels across Iowa are currently 305% of normal, with the Des Moines River At Ottumwa reporting the highest discharge in the state at 22,800 cfs and a gauge stage of 8.20 ft.
Meanwhile, the Boone River Near Webster City is seeing a spike today — up 919% since yesterday and currently running near peak.
Tap any gauge below for the full hydrograph, paired weather forecast, and historical context. Use the rivers panel to jump into Iowa's named rivers.
River levels near Iowa towns
Active weather warnings for Iowa
# Iowa Natural Disaster Report
Iowa is currently experiencing widespread flooding across multiple regions due to excessive rainfall. Flood Warnings are active for the Turkey River affecting Clayton and Winneshiek Counties, with moderate flooding occurring at Garber where river stages reached 21.7 feet. The Volga River in northeastern Clayton and Fayette Counties is also flooding, while the Maquoketa River near Maquoketa in Jackson County and Iowa River near Lone Tree are forecast to experience minor flooding through Monday to Tuesday. Flash Flood Warnings remain in effect for the Dubuque area and surrounding communities including Dyersville, Monticello, and Cascade, with 1-2.5 inches of rain already fallen. Major population centers at risk include Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Muscatine, and Washington, where low-water crossings are impassable and urban flooding is occurring. Residents should avoid flooded roadways, expect slow-moving water in low-lying areas, and monitor conditions through Monday afternoon when most warnings expire.
Iowa is currently experiencing widespread flooding across multiple regions due to excessive rainfall. Flood Warnings are active for the Turkey River affecting Clayton and Winneshiek Counties, with moderate flooding occurring at Garber where river stages reached 21.7 feet. The Volga River in northeastern Clayton and Fayette Counties is also flooding, while the Maquoketa River near Maquoketa in Jackson County and Iowa River near Lone Tree are forecast to experience minor flooding through Monday to Tuesday. Flash Flood Warnings remain in effect for the Dubuque area and surrounding communities including Dyersville, Monticello, and Cascade, with 1-2.5 inches of rain already fallen. Major population centers at risk include Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, Muscatine, and Washington, where low-water crossings are impassable and urban flooding is occurring. Residents should avoid flooded roadways, expect slow-moving water in low-lying areas, and monitor conditions through Monday afternoon when most warnings expire.
Iowa at a glance
State-wide streamflow overview
The Iowa flow picture in four data points -- where the state sits versus historical norms, what's flowing hardest, and what's spiking fastest.
Percent of normal
305%
100% is the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought; above 130% can flag elevated flood risk.
Highest discharge
Des Moines River At Ottumwa
22,800 cfs
Gauge stage 8.20 ft
Biggest 24h spike
Boone River Near Webster City
+919%
Now 1,100 cfs
Network coverage
Gauges + rivers tracked
117 + 0
USGS gauges feeding 0 named rivers in Iowa.
Where every gauge actually sits
One dot per Iowa streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The state average is a single line through all of it.
0%
50%
100% · normal
150%
200%+
Much below normalunder 50%
Below normal50–90%
Near normal90–110%
Above normal110–150%
Much above normalover 150%
Percent of normal compares today's discharge with the historical average for this calendar day. Tap any dot to open that gauge.
Iowa streamflow, three water years
Statewide percent of normal, every day since Sep 2023. The dotted line is normal.
305%
of normal today
+237pts
vs this day last year (68%)
280of 366
days below normal, past year
364%
3-year peak · Aug 2026 · above the axis
50%
100% normal
150%
200%
250%
Sep 2023
202420252026
Sep 20, 2026
799 daily readings from 117 reporting gauges. Percent of normal is today's statewide discharge against the historical average for the same calendar day — 100% is normal, not "good". The axis tops out at 250%: 36 readings above that — including the 364% peak in Aug 2026 — are drawn along the top edge, so a few flood days cannot flatten three years of everything else. The line breaks in 2 places where the record skips more than five days — those are gaps in reporting, not readings of zero.
Full streamgauge inventory
Iowa USGS streamgauges
Every USGS gauge Snoflo tracks in Iowa. Sortable, quickly filterable. Numeric columns heat-mapped from light to deep. Tap any gauge for its full hydrograph and forecast.
| Streamgage | Streamflow | Gage height | Water temp | Air temp | Elevation | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi River At Clinton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05420500 |
62,500 cfs | 10.67 ft | 70°F | 64°F | 593 ft | Copperas-Duck |
|
Turkey River At Garber, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05412500 |
25,000 cfs | 22.08 ft | 64°F | 59°F | 646 ft | Turkey |
|
Des Moines River At Ottumwa, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05489500 |
24,000 cfs | 8.54 ft | 72°F | 70°F | 635 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Des Moines River At Keosauqua, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05490500 |
23,100 cfs | 16.60 ft | 71°F | 70°F | 579 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Des Moines River Near Pella, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05488110 |
22,100 cfs | 93.05 ft | 71°F | 68°F | 689 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Des Moines River Near Tracy, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05488500 |
20,800 cfs | 9.15 ft | · | 68°F | 676 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05418500 |
15,900 cfs | 23.71 ft | · | 62°F | 646 ft | Maquoketa |
|
Iowa River At Wapello, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05465500 |
14,700 cfs | 16.20 ft | 49°F | 69°F | 554 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05464500 |
13,200 cfs | 7.35 ft | 62°F | 63°F | 712 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Cedar River Near Conesville, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05465000 |
13,100 cfs | 10.59 ft | · | 69°F | 593 ft | Lower Cedar |
|
Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05412020 |
12,800 cfs | 15.03 ft | · | 61°F | 726 ft | Turkey |
|
Volga River At Littleport, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05412400 |
10,300 cfs | 16.68 ft | · | 62°F | 694 ft | Turkey |
|
Iowa River Near Lone Tree, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05455700 |
9,430 cfs | 12.05 ft | · | 68°F | 601 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05485500 |
9,370 cfs | 15.28 ft | · | 65°F | 779 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05418400 |
8,770 cfs | 15.07 ft | 39°F | 61°F | 689 ft | Maquoketa |
|
Turkey River Near Eldorado, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05411850 |
7,120 cfs | 12.33 ft | · | 60°F | 897 ft | Turkey |
|
Skunk River At Augusta, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05474000 |
5,970 cfs | 6.65 ft | · | 67°F | 553 ft | Skunk |
|
English River At Kalona, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05455500 |
5,960 cfs | 15.96 ft | · | 69°F | 655 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Cedar River At Waterloo, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05464000 |
5,760 cfs | 7.18 ft | · | 64°F | 823 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05388250 |
5,590 cfs | 12.01 ft | · | 58°F | 668 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Iowa River At Iowa City, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05454500 |
5,540 cfs | 14.91 ft | · | 67°F | 643 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Raccoon River At Fleur Drive, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484900 |
5,100 cfs | 6.43 ft | · | 65°F | 797 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05482000 |
5,090 cfs | 17.22 ft | 32°F | 65°F | 808 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05422000 |
4,800 cfs | 10.21 ft | · | 64°F | 646 ft | Lower Wapsipinicon |
|
Upper Iowa River At Bluffton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05387440 |
4,550 cfs | 8.52 ft | · | 55°F | 970 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05421740 |
4,550 cfs | 10.63 ft | · | 62°F | 779 ft | Lower Wapsipinicon |
|
Des Moines River Near Saylorville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05481650 |
4,510 cfs | 6.27 ft | · | 62°F | 819 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05453520 |
4,480 cfs | 52.50 ft | · | 67°F | 669 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Upper Iowa River At Decorah, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05387500 |
4,370 cfs | 5.48 ft | · | 59°F | 854 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484650 |
4,260 cfs | 24.07 ft | · | 65°F | 797 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06810000 |
4,260 cfs | 14.22 ft | · | 63°F | 904 ft | Nishnabotna |
|
Cedar River At Cedar Falls, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05463050 |
4,200 cfs | 78.70 ft | · | 64°F | 853 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Des Moines River Near Stratford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05481300 |
3,860 cfs | 8.21 ft | · | 60°F | 902 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Raccoon River At Van Meter, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484500 |
3,570 cfs | 6.04 ft | 32°F | 62°F | 862 ft | North Raccoon |
|
South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05471500 |
3,540 cfs | 14.44 ft | · | 68°F | 692 ft | South Skunk |
|
Iowa River At Marengo, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05453100 |
3,240 cfs | 10.52 ft | · | 66°F | 729 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Iowa River Near Belle Plaine, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05452500 |
3,090 cfs | 10.82 ft | · | 65°F | 748 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Wapsipinicon River At Independence, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05421000 |
3,060 cfs | 7.21 ft | · | 63°F | 889 ft | Upper Wapsipinicon |
|
Iowa River At Marshalltown, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05451500 |
2,730 cfs | 13.15 ft | · | 65°F | 853 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
South Skunk River At Colfax, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05471050 |
2,350 cfs | 12.20 ft | · | 66°F | 793 ft | South Skunk |
|
Cedar River At Janesville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05458500 |
2,260 cfs | 3.01 ft | · | 63°F | 859 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Cedar River At Charles City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05457700 |
2,250 cfs | 5.12 ft | · | 59°F | 977 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05471000 |
2,100 cfs | 14.85 ft | · | 64°F | 872 ft | South Skunk |
|
Maquoketa River At Manchester, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05416900 |
1,970 cfs | 9.50 ft | · | 62°F | 920 ft | Maquoketa |
|
Turkey River At Spillville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05411600 |
1,860 cfs | 7.15 ft | · | 59°F | 1,067 ft | Turkey |
|
Yellow River At Ion, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05389000 |
1,840 cfs | 8.91 ft | · | 60°F | 681 ft | Coon-Yellow |
|
Cedar River At Waverly, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05458300 |
1,810 cfs | 3.55 ft | 67°F | 62°F | 895 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Wolf Creek Near Dysart, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05464220 |
1,700 cfs | 6.54 ft | · | 63°F | 835 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
North River Near Norwalk, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05486000 |
1,570 cfs | 14.59 ft | · | 63°F | 811 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
North Skunk River Near Sigourney, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05472500 |
1,500 cfs | 9.58 ft | · | 64°F | 664 ft | North Skunk |
|
Shell Rock River At Shell Rock, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05462000 |
1,450 cfs | 8.75 ft | · | 63°F | 882 ft | Shell Rock |
|
Nodaway River At Clarinda, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06817000 |
1,390 cfs | 11.93 ft | · | 65°F | 966 ft | West Nodaway |
|
South Skunk River Near Ames, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05470000 |
1,350 cfs | 6.48 ft | · | 64°F | 928 ft | South Skunk |
|
Middle River Near Indianola, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05486490 |
1,330 cfs | 11.46 ft | · | 66°F | 794 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Des Moines River At Fort Dodge, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05480500 |
1,320 cfs | 4.84 ft | · | 59°F | 974 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Raccoon River Near West Des Moines, Ia
5 days ago · USGS 05484600 |
1,320 cfs | 30.19 ft | · | 65°F | 844 ft | North Raccoon |
|
East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06809500 |
1,220 cfs | 9.70 ft | · | 62°F | 1,013 ft | East Nishnabotna |
|
South Raccoon River At Redfield, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484000 |
1,170 cfs | 4.35 ft | 32°F | 64°F | 917 ft | South Raccoon |
|
Black Hawk Creek At Hudson, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05463500 |
1,130 cfs | 11.31 ft | · | 64°F | 897 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
West Nishnabotna River At Randolph, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06808500 |
1,070 cfs | 9.79 ft | 72°F | 65°F | 956 ft | West Nishnabotna |
|
Salt Creek Near Elberon, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05452000 |
1,060 cfs | 11.66 ft | · | 66°F | 802 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05455100 |
1,010 cfs | 8.26 ft | 46°F | 68°F | 654 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
East Nishnabotna River Near Atlantic, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06809210 |
909 cfs | 5.11 ft | · | 61°F | 1,109 ft | East Nishnabotna |
|
Walnut Creek At Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484800 |
897 cfs | 6.84 ft | · | 65°F | 808 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Beaver Creek Near Grimes, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05481950 |
881 cfs | 6.49 ft | · | 62°F | 829 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Clear Creek Near Coralville, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05454300 |
834 cfs | 6.02 ft | · | 67°F | 660 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
West Fork Cedar River At Finchford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05458900 |
812 cfs | 8.23 ft | · | 63°F | 859 ft | West Fork Cedar |
|
Thompson River At Davis City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06898000 |
778 cfs | 2.66 ft | · | 67°F | 910 ft | Thompson |
|
South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05451210 |
765 cfs | 5.95 ft | · | 62°F | 963 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05420680 |
746 cfs | 10.87 ft | · | 62°F | 1,019 ft | Upper Wapsipinicon |
|
Boone River Near Webster City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05481000 |
739 cfs | 3.57 ft | 35°F | 62°F | 1,028 ft | Boone |
|
North Raccoon River Near Jefferson, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05482500 |
714 cfs | 5.96 ft | 37°F | 60°F | 978 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Beaver Creek At New Hartford, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05463000 |
576 cfs | 4.56 ft | · | 63°F | 890 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Big Sioux River At Akron, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06485500 |
572 cfs | 5.33 ft | · | 58°F | 1,151 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Squaw Creek At Ames, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05470500 |
556 cfs | 3.15 ft | · | 64°F | 907 ft | South Skunk |
|
Cedar Creek Near Bussey, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05489000 |
552 cfs | 6.76 ft | · | 68°F | 696 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Little Sioux River Near Turin, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06607500 |
520 cfs | 7.15 ft | · | 62°F | 1,029 ft | Little Sioux |
|
South River Near Ackworth, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05487470 |
471 cfs | 7.34 ft | · | 66°F | 805 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
West Nishnabotna River At Hancock, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06807410 |
471 cfs | 3.23 ft | · | 60°F | 1,089 ft | West Nishnabotna |
|
Indian Creek Near Mingo, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05471200 |
452 cfs | 5.20 ft | · | 62°F | 827 ft | South Skunk |
|
Des Moines River At Humboldt, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05476750 |
428 cfs | 3.79 ft | · | 58°F | 1,066 ft | Upper Des Moines |
|
Fourmile Creek At Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05485640 |
378 cfs | 5.23 ft | · | 66°F | 813 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Clear Creek Near Oxford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05454220 |
375 cfs | 6.72 ft | · | 67°F | 722 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Boyer River At Logan, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06609500 |
364 cfs | 4.16 ft | · | 60°F | 1,014 ft | Boyer |
|
White Breast Creek Near Dallas, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05487980 |
363 cfs | 7.90 ft | · | 67°F | 773 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Rock River Near Rock Valley, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06483500 |
348 cfs | 5.33 ft | · | 56°F | 1,238 ft | Rock |
|
Little Cedar River Near Ionia, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05458000 |
341 cfs | 4.68 ft | · | 60°F | 1,000 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Little Sioux River At Correctionville, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06606600 |
291 cfs | 4.85 ft | · | 58°F | 1,106 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Winnebago River At Mason City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05459500 |
283 cfs | 5.54 ft | · | 60°F | 1,101 ft | Winnebago |
|
Fourmile Creek Near Ankeny, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05485605 |
258 cfs | 3.77 ft | · | 62°F | 911 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Walnut Creek Near Hartwick, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05452200 |
252 cfs | 4.19 ft | · | 67°F | 806 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Middle Raccoon River At Panora, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05483600 |
223 cfs | 4.74 ft | 35°F | 61°F | 997 ft | South Raccoon |
|
East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05479000 |
214 cfs | 8.09 ft | · | 58°F | 1,043 ft | East Fork Des Moines |
|
Rapid Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05454000 |
204 cfs | 6.58 ft | · | 67°F | 688 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
North Raccoon River Near Sac City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05482300 |
201 cfs | 7.65 ft | 75°F | 58°F | 1,179 ft | North Raccoon |
|
English Creek Near Knoxville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05488200 |
198 cfs | 11.01 ft | · | 67°F | 749 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Floyd River At James, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06600500 |
187 cfs | 8.42 ft | · | 58°F | 1,117 ft | Floyd |
|
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05483450 |
182 cfs | 10.08 ft | · | 60°F | 1,054 ft | South Raccoon |
|
Maple River At Mapleton, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06607200 |
178 cfs | 4.69 ft | · | 60°F | 1,114 ft | Maple |
|
Richland Creek Near Haven, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05451900 |
170 cfs | 12.62 ft | · | 66°F | 817 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Little Sioux River At Linn Grove, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06605850 |
151 cfs | 5.09 ft | · | 56°F | 1,249 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Big Bear Creek At Ladora, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05453000 |
134 cfs | 11.50 ft | · | 66°F | 771 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05473400 |
125 cfs | 3.98 ft | · | 69°F | 590 ft | Skunk |
|
Floyd River At Alton, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06600100 |
123 cfs | 5.95 ft | · | 57°F | 1,289 ft | Floyd |
|
Timber Creek Near Marshalltown, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05451700 |
117 cfs | 3.44 ft | · | 65°F | 862 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Soldier River At Pisgah, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06608500 |
112 cfs | 2.98 ft | · | 59°F | 1,047 ft | Blackbird-Soldier |
|
Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06602400 |
94 cfs | 4.62 ft | · | 62°F | 1,021 ft | Monona-Harrison Ditch |
|
East Fork 102 River At Bedford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06819185 |
87 cfs | 11.46 ft | · | 66°F | 1,084 ft | One Hundred And Two |
|
Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05389400 |
84 cfs | 4.68 ft | · | 58°F | 634 ft | Coon-Yellow |
|
Ocheyedan River Near Spencer, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06605000 |
84 cfs | 2.30 ft | · | 56°F | 1,317 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06483290 |
60 cfs | 7.07 ft | · | 55°F | 1,316 ft | Rock |
|
Iowa River Near Rowan, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 05449500 |
59 cfs | 3.70 ft | · | 61°F | 1,187 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Chariton River Near Moulton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06904010 |
46 cfs | 18.58 ft | · | 70°F | 847 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06903700 |
32 cfs | 3.36 ft | · | 68°F | 922 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05473450 |
23 cfs | 3.67 ft | · | 69°F | 672 ft | Skunk |
|
Chariton River Near Chariton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06903400 |
19 cfs | 4.96 ft | · | 68°F | 968 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Chariton River Near Rathbun, Ia
11 hours ago · USGS 06903900 |
15 cfs | 2.26 ft | · | 69°F | 855 ft | Upper Chariton |
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Flow report FAQ
About Iowa streamflow
What are river levels like in Iowa right now?
As of September 20, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 305% of normal across 117 USGS streamgauges, and the Des Moines River At Ottumwa is reporting the highest discharge at 22,800 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.
Which Iowa river is running highest right now?
As of September 20, 2026, the highest discharge in Iowa is 22,800 cfs on the Des Moines River At Ottumwa. See the sortable gauge table for the full statewide ranking.
Are Iowa rivers high or low right now?
Compare the statewide percent-of-normal on this page: above 100% means Iowa rivers are running higher than the seasonal average for the date, below 100% means lower (a dry spell or drought). Each gauge also shows its own percent of median.
Where does the Iowa streamflow data come from?
The U.S. Geological Survey National Water Information System. USGS streamgauges report continuously (every 15 minutes) and the data is the canonical real-time record for U.S. rivers. Snoflo pulls the latest readings and joins them to a 7-day NOAA weather forecast for each station.
What is cfs?
Cubic feet per second — the standard unit for streamflow. One cfs is about 7.5 gallons per second. Small creeks run at single-digit cfs; the Mississippi at hundreds of thousands.
What does Gauge Height mean?
The water level at the gauge in feet above the reference datum. Used together with discharge to track river state. Flood stage and runnable levels are typically expressed in gauge height (e.g., "flood at 16 ft").
How fresh is the Iowa data?
USGS streamgauges report every 15 minutes; Snoflo re-pulls throughout the day. The AI briefing regenerates daily.
Can I get a flow alert for a Iowa gauge?
Yes. Save any USGS gauge as a favorite in the Snoflo iOS app, set a discharge or stage threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 2,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment it crosses.
Is this a substitute for an NWS flood warning?
No. Snoflo is informational. For flood life-safety decisions always follow guidance from your local NWS forecast office and state emergency management. Snoflo data is one input among several.
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