Cedar River At Waterloo flow report
As of July 13, 2026, Cedar River At Waterloo is flowing at 26,000 cfs with a gage height of 12.35 ft, rising 16% over the past 24 hours. Source: USGS gauge #05464000, refreshed throughout the day.
Historical Data
Cedar River At Waterloo at a glance
How Cedar River At Waterloo is running right now, where it sits on the map, and the key gauge stats.
Cedar River At Waterloo is flowing at 26,000 cfs, with the water sitting 12.35 ft at the gage. Flow is up 16% since yesterday — a rising hydrograph.
This is USGS gauge #05464000 in Iowa. Over the past 10 days the average has been 14,471 cfs, peaking at 26,000 cfs.
Over the next 5 days, Cedar River At Waterloo is expected to recede from today's 22500 cfs, toward roughly 17946 cfs by 2026-07-17 (likely range 8029-40108 cfs) -- about normal for the date.
For real-time updates and historical context, see the realtime view or the historical comparison. Browse other gauges in the Iowa flow report.
Streamflow Forecast
Powered by PULSE — Snoflo’s Predictive Unified Learning & Simulation Engine, which learns from how this river has answered every past storm, snowmelt, and dry spell to forecast where it’s headed with a precision generic models can’t match.
How does this compare to past years?
Year-over-year overlay, annual peak discharge, the full distribution of daily flows on record, and the gauge's rating curve.
Weather Forecast
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day forecast
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Cedar River At Waterloo
The river also passes through the Cedar River Dam, which helps regulate its flow. Seasonally, the river experiences higher flows in the spring due to snowmelt and potential flooding, and lower flows in the summer and fall. Interestingly, the Cedar River was once known as the Red Cedar River because of the reddish-brown color of its water, caused by tannins from decaying vegetation. Today, the water is much clearer due to improved water quality.
Nearby streamflow levels
Cross-check Cedar River At Waterloo's discharge against nearby gauges to spot whether the change here is local or regional.
| Gauge | Streamflow |
|---|---|
| Cedar River At Waterloo | 26,000 cfs |
| Cedar River At Cedar Falls | 27,100 cfs |
| Black Hawk Creek At Hudson | 399 cfs |
| Cedar River At Janesville | 15,600 cfs |
| West Fork Cedar River At Finchford | 3,380 cfs |
| Beaver Creek At New Hartford | 408 cfs |
Nearby snowpack data
Snowpack at SNOTEL stations near Cedar River At Waterloo. Spring snowmelt is the dominant driver of streamflow in mountain basins -- a deep snowpack upstream means more runoff later in the season.
| SNOTEL station | Snowpack |
|---|---|
| Waterloo 1.9 Sse | 0 in |
| Waterloo Snow | 1 in |
| Waterloo Municipal Airport | 0 in |
| Cedar Falls 0.4 Wnw | 0 in |
| Grundy Center | 0 in |
| Allison | 0 in |
Plan a trip
Reservoirs, boat launches, river runs, and fishing spots within driving distance of Cedar River At Waterloo.
Boat launches
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River levels & flood safety
- Read the level before you go
- A river that's runnable at one flow can be deadly at another. Check current discharge and gage height — like the values shown above — against the flood-stage thresholds, and remember levels can spike fast after rain or a dam release.
- Respect cold water
- Snowmelt rivers run cold even in summer. Sudden immersion triggers cold-water shock and saps strength within minutes. Wear a PFD, dress for the water temperature (not the air), and never wade or paddle alone.
- Watch for swiftwater hazards
- Strainers (downed trees), undercut rocks, and low-head dams are the deadliest features on moving water. High, fast, muddy water hides them. If in doubt, scout from shore and portage.
- Mind flash floods & releases
- Narrow canyons can flood from a storm miles upstream, and dam-controlled reaches can rise without warning. Know the forecast, the release schedule, and your exit before you launch.
Track Cedar River At Waterloo in the Snoflo app
Save this gauge as a favorite, set push alerts when streamflow crosses a threshold (e.g. "alert me when Cedar River At Waterloo crosses 5,000 cfs"), and Snoflo's iOS app will push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
About Cedar River At Waterloo
Where does the streamflow data for Cedar River At Waterloo come from?
Discharge, gage height, and water temperature come directly from the USGS streamflow gauge 05464000. Snoflo refreshes the time series throughout the day. Forecasts come from the NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
USGS gauges report continuously (typically every 15 minutes). Snoflo pulls fresh values throughout the day — look for the "as of" timestamp on the streamflow hero card.
What's the difference between discharge and gage height?
Discharge (cubic feet per second, or cfs) is the volume of water flowing past the gauge each second. Gage height is how high the water sits at the gauge (feet). They're related by a rating curve specific to each gauge — higher water means more flow, but the exact ratio depends on channel shape.
How is "percent of median" calculated?
Today's discharge is compared to the historical median discharge on this calendar day across the gauge's full record. 100% = right on median; 200% = a very high year; 30% = a drought-level low.
What are flood stages, and is this river safe right now?
Flood stages are NWS-defined gage-height thresholds — Action, Minor, Moderate, Major — marking when nearby roads or floodplains start to be affected. "Safe" depends on your activity and skill: a level that's a fun paddle for an expert can be lethal for a wader. Always check the current level against the thresholds above and the safety links, and when in doubt, stay off the water.
Can I get alerts when Cedar River At Waterloo rises?
Yes — flow alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this gauge, set a streamflow threshold (e.g. "alert me when discharge crosses 5,000 cfs"), and you'll get a push the moment USGS reports the crossing.
Access the free Cedar River At Waterloo report
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