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Flow report

Iowa River Levels & Streamflow

As of Aug 15, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 190% of normal across 117 USGS gauges — the highest is 36,400 cfs on the Mississippi River At Clinton. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in Iowa.

USGS gauges
117
State percent normal
190%
Paddle runs
0
Updated
Aug 15
Open the Iowa flow layer on the map Every USGS streamgauge filtered to Iowa.
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August
15
2026
Flow briefing

Streamflow levels across Iowa are currently 190% of normal, with the Mississippi River At Clinton reporting the highest discharge in the state at 36,400 cfs and a gauge stage of 9.62 ft.

Meanwhile, the English Creek Near Knoxville is seeing a spike today — up 28431% 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.

Active weather warnings for Iowa

# Iowa Storm Center Report

Iowa is experiencing significant flooding threats across multiple regions on August 15, 2026. A Flood Warning is currently active in Lee County (southeastern Iowa) until 2:30 PM CDT, with flooding already occurring in Fort Madison, West Point, Donnellson, and surrounding areas; rural roads are impassable and low-water crossings are inundated. Flood Watches remain in effect until 10:00 AM CDT across central and southern Iowa south of Interstate 80, as well as east-central counties including Linn, Johnson, Cedar, and Scott counties, where 3-5 inches of rainfall has already fallen in hardest-hit areas. Additionally, multiple river systems are under Flood Warnings through August 16-19, including the Iowa River at Oakville and Wapello (Louisa County) and the English River at Kalona (Johnson/Washington counties), with minor to moderate flooding forecast. Residents in affected areas should avoid flooded roadways, monitor water levels, and be prepared for possible evacuations.

Source: National Weather Service

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

190%

100% is the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought; above 130% can flag elevated flood risk.

Highest discharge

Mississippi River At Clinton 36,400 cfs

Gauge stage 9.62 ft

Biggest 24h spike

English Creek Near Knoxville +28431%

Now 408 cfs

Network coverage

Gauges + rivers tracked 117 + 0

USGS gauges feeding 0 named rivers in Iowa.

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.

117 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow Gage height Water temp Air temp Elevation Watershed
Mississippi River At Clinton, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05420500
30,500 cfs 9.44 ft 77°F 70°F 593 ft Copperas-Duck
Iowa River At Wapello, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05465500
24,700 cfs 18.69 ft 49°F 72°F 554 ft Lower Iowa
Des Moines River Near Tracy, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05488500
15,300 cfs 7.52 ft · 72°F 676 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River Near Pella, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05488110
15,000 cfs 90.89 ft 79°F 72°F 689 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River At Ottumwa, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05489500
10,700 cfs 4.78 ft 78°F 73°F 635 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05485500
9,930 cfs 15.49 ft · 72°F 779 ft Lake Red Rock
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05464500
9,910 cfs 6.33 ft 62°F 71°F 712 ft Middle Cedar
Cedar River Near Conesville, Ia
23 hours ago · USGS 05465000
9,350 cfs 9.28 ft · 72°F 593 ft Lower Cedar
Cedar River At Waterloo, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05464000
7,060 cfs 7.55 ft · 69°F 823 ft Middle Cedar
Raccoon River At Fleur Drive, Ia
9 hours ago · USGS 05484900
6,700 cfs 7.20 ft · 72°F 797 ft North Raccoon
Iowa River Near Lone Tree, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05455700
6,150 cfs 9.89 ft · 72°F 601 ft Lower Iowa
Cedar River At Cedar Falls, Ia
9 hours ago · USGS 05463050
5,890 cfs 78.70 ft · 69°F 853 ft Middle Cedar
Des Moines River At Keosauqua, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05490500
5,800 cfs 12.18 ft 80°F 73°F 579 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05482000
5,070 cfs 17.04 ft 32°F 72°F 808 ft Middle Des Moines
Skunk River At Augusta, Ia
9 hours ago · USGS 05474000
4,940 cfs 5.90 ft · 72°F 553 ft Skunk
Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05484650
4,860 cfs 24.58 ft · 72°F 797 ft North Raccoon
Des Moines River Near Saylorville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05481650
4,820 cfs 6.43 ft · 71°F 819 ft Middle Des Moines
Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05422000
4,550 cfs 10.03 ft · 70°F 646 ft Lower Wapsipinicon
Raccoon River At Van Meter, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05484500
4,520 cfs 6.64 ft 32°F 74°F 862 ft North Raccoon
South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05471500
4,060 cfs 15.56 ft · 72°F 692 ft South Skunk
Middle River Near Indianola, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05486490
3,980 cfs 16.14 ft · 72°F 794 ft Lake Red Rock
Iowa River At Iowa City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05454500
3,570 cfs 13.10 ft · 72°F 643 ft Lower Iowa
Iowa River At Marengo, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05453100
3,490 cfs 10.90 ft · 70°F 729 ft Middle Iowa
South Skunk River At Colfax, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05471050
3,460 cfs 13.70 ft · 72°F 793 ft South Skunk
Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05421740
3,300 cfs 9.09 ft · 69°F 779 ft Lower Wapsipinicon
Wapsipinicon River At Independence, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05421000
3,180 cfs 7.26 ft · 68°F 889 ft Upper Wapsipinicon
Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05453520
3,120 cfs 51.56 ft · 71°F 669 ft Middle Iowa
Iowa River Near Belle Plaine, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05452500
3,120 cfs 10.66 ft · 69°F 748 ft Middle Iowa
Des Moines River Near Stratford, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05481300
3,030 cfs 7.55 ft · 69°F 902 ft Middle Des Moines
South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05471000
2,950 cfs 16.08 ft · 70°F 872 ft South Skunk
North River Near Norwalk, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05486000
2,890 cfs 18.38 ft · 72°F 811 ft Lake Red Rock
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05418500
2,620 cfs 13.56 ft · 68°F 646 ft Maquoketa
Cedar River At Janesville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05458500
2,620 cfs 3.30 ft · 68°F 859 ft Upper Cedar
Turkey River At Garber, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05412500
2,330 cfs 8.86 ft 71°F 68°F 646 ft Turkey
Iowa River At Marshalltown, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05451500
2,260 cfs 12.69 ft · 69°F 853 ft Middle Iowa
South Raccoon River At Redfield, Ia
9 hours ago · USGS 05484000
2,100 cfs 5.53 ft 32°F 71°F 917 ft South Raccoon
English River At Kalona, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05455500
1,890 cfs 9.70 ft · 72°F 655 ft Lower Iowa
Cedar River At Waverly, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05458300
1,840 cfs 5.11 ft 71°F 70°F 895 ft Upper Cedar
South Skunk River Near Ames, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05470000
1,830 cfs 7.49 ft · 70°F 928 ft South Skunk
Shell Rock River At Shell Rock, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05462000
1,700 cfs 8.93 ft · 70°F 882 ft Shell Rock
East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06809500
1,700 cfs 9.43 ft · 71°F 1,013 ft East Nishnabotna
South River Near Ackworth, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05487470
1,500 cfs 10.15 ft · 73°F 805 ft Lake Red Rock
East Nishnabotna River Near Atlantic, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06809210
1,410 cfs 5.75 ft · 71°F 1,109 ft East Nishnabotna
Volga River At Littleport, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05412400
1,320 cfs 7.82 ft · 68°F 694 ft Turkey
Raccoon River Near West Des Moines, Ia
2 days ago · USGS 05484600
1,280 cfs 31.19 ft · 72°F 844 ft North Raccoon
West Fork Cedar River At Finchford, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05458900
1,100 cfs 8.91 ft · 68°F 859 ft West Fork Cedar
Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06810000
1,100 cfs 9.30 ft · 72°F 904 ft Nishnabotna
Squaw Creek At Ames, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05470500
1,050 cfs 4.20 ft · 70°F 907 ft South Skunk
Nodaway River At Clarinda, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06817000
932 cfs 11.67 ft · 73°F 966 ft West Nodaway
Little Sioux River Near Turin, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06607500
917 cfs 7.84 ft · 71°F 1,029 ft Little Sioux
South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05451210
908 cfs 6.66 ft · 71°F 963 ft Upper Iowa
Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05473400
870 cfs 6.96 ft · 72°F 590 ft Skunk
Black Hawk Creek At Hudson, Ia
9 hours ago · USGS 05463500
867 cfs 10.25 ft · 71°F 897 ft Middle Cedar
Cedar River At Charles City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05457700
794 cfs 3.20 ft · 71°F 977 ft Upper Cedar
Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05412020
780 cfs 6.25 ft · 67°F 726 ft Turkey
Salt Creek Near Elberon, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05452000
778 cfs 10.35 ft · 69°F 802 ft Middle Iowa
Boyer River At Logan, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06609500
764 cfs 5.62 ft · 72°F 1,014 ft Boyer
Indian Creek Near Mingo, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05471200
756 cfs 6.05 ft · 71°F 827 ft South Skunk
Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05473450
753 cfs 7.59 ft · 72°F 672 ft Skunk
Beaver Creek Near Grimes, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05481950
748 cfs 6.34 ft · 71°F 829 ft Middle Des Moines
Boone River Near Webster City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05481000
733 cfs 3.56 ft 35°F 71°F 1,028 ft Boone
Maquoketa River At Manchester, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05416900
710 cfs 6.29 ft · 67°F 920 ft Maquoketa
Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06602400
693 cfs 6.78 ft · 71°F 1,021 ft Monona-Harrison Ditch
West Nishnabotna River At Randolph, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06808500
693 cfs 8.78 ft 78°F 72°F 956 ft West Nishnabotna
Soldier River At Pisgah, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06608500
690 cfs 5.09 ft · 71°F 1,047 ft Blackbird-Soldier
Wolf Creek Near Dysart, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05464220
685 cfs 4.27 ft · 69°F 835 ft Middle Cedar
English Creek Near Knoxville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05488200
648 cfs 14.30 ft · 72°F 749 ft Lower Des Moines
Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05420680
633 cfs 10.41 ft · 67°F 1,019 ft Upper Wapsipinicon
Fourmile Creek At Des Moines, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05485640
612 cfs 6.27 ft · 72°F 813 ft Lake Red Rock
Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05388250
567 cfs 7.38 ft · 66°F 668 ft Upper Iowa
Cedar Creek Near Bussey, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05489000
556 cfs 6.81 ft · 73°F 696 ft Lower Des Moines
Turkey River Near Eldorado, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05411850
553 cfs 6.18 ft · 67°F 897 ft Turkey
North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05418400
479 cfs 3.65 ft 39°F 68°F 689 ft Maquoketa
Big Sioux River At Akron, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06485500
479 cfs 4.86 ft · 71°F 1,151 ft Lower Big Sioux
Des Moines River At Fort Dodge, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05480500
474 cfs 3.99 ft · 71°F 974 ft Middle Des Moines
West Nishnabotna River At Hancock, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06807410
471 cfs 3.45 ft · 71°F 1,089 ft West Nishnabotna
Fourmile Creek Near Ankeny, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05485605
470 cfs 5.52 ft · 71°F 911 ft Lake Red Rock
Beaver Creek At New Hartford, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05463000
408 cfs 3.82 ft · 68°F 890 ft Middle Cedar
Walnut Creek At Des Moines, Ia
9 hours ago · USGS 05484800
402 cfs 5.31 ft · 72°F 808 ft North Raccoon
White Breast Creek Near Dallas, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05487980
400 cfs 8.04 ft · 73°F 773 ft Lake Red Rock
North Raccoon River Near Jefferson, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05482500
399 cfs 5.44 ft 37°F 72°F 978 ft North Raccoon
North Skunk River Near Sigourney, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05472500
389 cfs 5.63 ft · 72°F 664 ft North Skunk
Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05455100
368 cfs 4.89 ft 46°F 72°F 654 ft Lower Iowa
Middle Raccoon River At Panora, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05483600
346 cfs 4.99 ft 35°F 73°F 997 ft South Raccoon
Upper Iowa River At Decorah, Ia
9 hours ago · USGS 05387500
319 cfs 2.03 ft · 67°F 854 ft Upper Iowa
Clear Creek Near Coralville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05454300
318 cfs 3.53 ft · 71°F 660 ft Lower Iowa
Maple River At Mapleton, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06607200
280 cfs 5.13 ft · 71°F 1,114 ft Maple
Upper Iowa River At Bluffton, Ia
9 hours ago · USGS 05387440
260 cfs 3.54 ft · 66°F 970 ft Upper Iowa
Little Cedar River Near Ionia, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05458000
232 cfs 4.31 ft · 71°F 1,000 ft Upper Cedar
Little Sioux River At Correctionville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06606600
232 cfs 4.73 ft · 71°F 1,106 ft Little Sioux
Des Moines River At Humboldt, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05476750
194 cfs 3.22 ft · 71°F 1,066 ft Upper Des Moines
Winnebago River At Mason City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05459500
184 cfs 5.16 ft · 69°F 1,101 ft Winnebago
Floyd River At James, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06600500
161 cfs 8.30 ft · 71°F 1,117 ft Floyd
Big Bear Creek At Ladora, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05453000
157 cfs 11.81 ft · 70°F 771 ft Middle Iowa
Clear Creek Near Oxford, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05454220
146 cfs 4.24 ft · 71°F 722 ft Lower Iowa
East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05479000
137 cfs 7.86 ft · 71°F 1,043 ft East Fork Des Moines
Little Sioux River At Linn Grove, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06605850
128 cfs 4.92 ft · 70°F 1,249 ft Little Sioux
Yellow River At Ion, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05389000
121 cfs 5.76 ft · 66°F 681 ft Coon-Yellow
Turkey River At Spillville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05411600
109 cfs 2.38 ft · 66°F 1,067 ft Turkey
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05483450
102 cfs 9.44 ft · 70°F 1,054 ft South Raccoon
Thompson River At Davis City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06898000
100 cfs 1.20 ft · 73°F 910 ft Thompson
Rock River Near Rock Valley, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06483500
86 cfs 4.26 ft · 70°F 1,238 ft Rock
Timber Creek Near Marshalltown, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05451700
75 cfs 2.90 ft · 71°F 862 ft Middle Iowa
North Raccoon River Near Sac City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05482300
68 cfs 6.97 ft 75°F 68°F 1,179 ft North Raccoon
Iowa River Near Rowan, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05449500
66 cfs 3.76 ft · 68°F 1,187 ft Upper Iowa
Rapid Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05454000
64 cfs 5.02 ft · 71°F 688 ft Lower Iowa
Walnut Creek Near Hartwick, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05452200
41 cfs 1.68 ft · 72°F 806 ft Middle Iowa
Chariton River Near Moulton, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06904010
35 cfs 18.53 ft · 73°F 847 ft Upper Chariton
East Fork 102 River At Bedford, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06819185
32 cfs 10.97 ft · 74°F 1,084 ft One Hundred And Two
Ocheyedan River Near Spencer, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06605000
31 cfs 1.82 ft · 70°F 1,317 ft Little Sioux
Floyd River At Alton, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06600100
26 cfs 5.34 ft · 71°F 1,289 ft Floyd
South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06903700
24 cfs 3.27 ft · 73°F 922 ft Upper Chariton
Chariton River Near Rathbun, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06903900
22 cfs 2.35 ft · 74°F 855 ft Upper Chariton
Richland Creek Near Haven, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05451900
21 cfs 10.62 ft · 72°F 817 ft Middle Iowa
Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06483290
16 cfs 6.53 ft · 70°F 1,316 ft Rock
Chariton River Near Chariton, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06903400
13 cfs 4.71 ft · 73°F 968 ft Upper Chariton
Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette, Ia
1 day ago · USGS 05389400
0 cfs 3.47 ft · 67°F 634 ft Coon-Yellow
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Flow report FAQ

About Iowa streamflow

What are river levels like in Iowa right now?

As of August 15, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 190% of normal across 117 USGS streamgauges, and the Mississippi River At Clinton is reporting the highest discharge at 36,400 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.

Which Iowa river is running highest right now?

As of August 15, 2026, the highest discharge in Iowa is 36,400 cfs on the Mississippi River At Clinton. 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.