Iowa River Levels & Streamflow
As of Aug 14, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 127% of normal across 117 USGS gauges — the highest is 42,100 cfs on the Mississippi River At Clinton. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in Iowa.
Streamflow levels across Iowa are currently 127% of normal, with the Mississippi River At Clinton reporting the highest discharge in the state at 42,100 cfs and a gauge stage of 9.42 ft.
Meanwhile, the Little Cedar River Near Ionia is seeing a spike today — up 212% 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.
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
100% is the historical norm. Below 70% indicates drought; above 130% can flag elevated flood risk.
Highest discharge
Gauge stage 9.42 ft
Biggest 24h spike
Now 496 cfs
Network coverage
USGS gauges feeding 0 named rivers in Iowa.
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
21 hours ago · USGS 05420500 |
42,700 cfs | 9.59 ft | 79°F | 70°F | 593 ft | Copperas-Duck |
|
Iowa River At Wapello, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05465500 |
10,600 cfs | 14.90 ft | 49°F | 69°F | 554 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Cedar River Near Conesville, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05465000 |
9,080 cfs | 9.18 ft | · | 72°F | 593 ft | Lower Cedar |
|
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05464500 |
7,230 cfs | 5.53 ft | 62°F | 71°F | 712 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Cedar River At Waterloo, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05464000 |
5,610 cfs | 7.14 ft | · | 72°F | 823 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Cedar River At Cedar Falls, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05463050 |
5,150 cfs | 78.70 ft | · | 72°F | 853 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05422000 |
4,340 cfs | 9.87 ft | · | 70°F | 646 ft | Lower Wapsipinicon |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05421740 |
3,360 cfs | 9.16 ft | · | 67°F | 779 ft | Lower Wapsipinicon |
|
Iowa River Near Lone Tree, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05455700 |
3,330 cfs | 7.62 ft | · | 72°F | 601 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Iowa River At Iowa City, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05454500 |
2,810 cfs | 12.36 ft | · | 72°F | 643 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Cedar River At Janesville, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05458500 |
2,780 cfs | 3.42 ft | · | 72°F | 859 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Des Moines River At Keosauqua, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05490500 |
2,640 cfs | 11.03 ft | 83°F | 72°F | 579 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Wapsipinicon River At Independence, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05421000 |
2,450 cfs | 6.81 ft | · | 70°F | 889 ft | Upper Wapsipinicon |
|
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05418500 |
2,410 cfs | 13.29 ft | · | 69°F | 646 ft | Maquoketa |
|
Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05453520 |
2,390 cfs | 51.01 ft | · | 71°F | 669 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Des Moines River Near Tracy, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05488500 |
2,220 cfs | 3.22 ft | · | 73°F | 676 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Cedar River At Waverly, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05458300 |
2,160 cfs | 5.10 ft | 77°F | 71°F | 895 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Turkey River At Garber, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05412500 |
1,870 cfs | 8.36 ft | 76°F | 71°F | 646 ft | Turkey |
|
Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05485500 |
1,730 cfs | 9.90 ft | · | 73°F | 779 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Des Moines River Near Pella, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05488110 |
1,720 cfs | 84.30 ft | 80°F | 72°F | 689 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Shell Rock River At Shell Rock, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05462000 |
1,540 cfs | 8.82 ft | · | 71°F | 882 ft | Shell Rock |
|
Iowa River Near Belle Plaine, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05452500 |
1,540 cfs | 8.15 ft | · | 70°F | 748 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Des Moines River At Ottumwa, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05489500 |
1,420 cfs | 1.76 ft | 85°F | 71°F | 635 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Iowa River At Marengo, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05453100 |
1,390 cfs | 7.88 ft | · | 70°F | 729 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Skunk River At Augusta, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05474000 |
1,340 cfs | 2.86 ft | · | 71°F | 553 ft | Skunk |
|
Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05482000 |
1,340 cfs | 15.44 ft | 32°F | 73°F | 808 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Des Moines River Near Saylorville, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05481650 |
1,130 cfs | 3.19 ft | · | 73°F | 819 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Cedar River At Charles City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05457700 |
938 cfs | 3.42 ft | · | 70°F | 977 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05412020 |
895 cfs | 6.42 ft | · | 70°F | 726 ft | Turkey |
|
South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05471500 |
884 cfs | 10.02 ft | · | 70°F | 692 ft | South Skunk |
|
South Skunk River At Colfax, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05471050 |
879 cfs | 9.30 ft | · | 70°F | 793 ft | South Skunk |
|
Volga River At Littleport, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05412400 |
823 cfs | 6.68 ft | · | 67°F | 694 ft | Turkey |
|
Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06810000 |
785 cfs | 8.54 ft | · | 76°F | 904 ft | Nishnabotna |
|
Maquoketa River At Manchester, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05416900 |
701 cfs | 6.26 ft | · | 70°F | 920 ft | Maquoketa |
|
Des Moines River Near Stratford, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05481300 |
670 cfs | 5.46 ft | · | 69°F | 902 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05420680 |
669 cfs | 10.56 ft | · | 67°F | 1,019 ft | Upper Wapsipinicon |
|
South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05471000 |
664 cfs | 11.97 ft | · | 72°F | 872 ft | South Skunk |
|
Turkey River Near Eldorado, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05411850 |
613 cfs | 6.30 ft | · | 66°F | 897 ft | Turkey |
|
Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05388250 |
596 cfs | 7.43 ft | · | 69°F | 668 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Salt Creek Near Elberon, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05452000 |
570 cfs | 9.27 ft | · | 68°F | 802 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05418400 |
557 cfs | 3.89 ft | 39°F | 69°F | 689 ft | Maquoketa |
|
West Fork Cedar River At Finchford, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05458900 |
557 cfs | 7.57 ft | · | 72°F | 859 ft | West Fork Cedar |
|
Iowa River At Marshalltown, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05451500 |
533 cfs | 10.50 ft | · | 71°F | 853 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Big Sioux River At Akron, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06485500 |
470 cfs | 4.83 ft | · | 71°F | 1,151 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
West Nishnabotna River At Randolph, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06808500 |
446 cfs | 8.18 ft | 83°F | 75°F | 956 ft | West Nishnabotna |
|
Little Sioux River Near Turin, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06607500 |
443 cfs | 6.92 ft | · | 72°F | 1,029 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05484650 |
399 cfs | 20.18 ft | · | 73°F | 797 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Des Moines River At Fort Dodge, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05480500 |
373 cfs | 3.84 ft | · | 71°F | 974 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Raccoon River Near West Des Moines, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05484600 |
358 cfs | 26.28 ft | · | 73°F | 844 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Upper Iowa River At Decorah, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05387500 |
338 cfs | 2.06 ft | · | 66°F | 854 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Black Hawk Creek At Hudson, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05463500 |
337 cfs | 7.43 ft | · | 72°F | 897 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Raccoon River At Van Meter, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05484500 |
334 cfs | 2.53 ft | 32°F | 74°F | 862 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Raccoon River At Fleur Drive, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05484900 |
331 cfs | · | · | 71°F | 797 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Wolf Creek Near Dysart, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05464220 |
324 cfs | 3.35 ft | · | 70°F | 835 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Clear Creek Near Coralville, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05454300 |
310 cfs | 3.48 ft | · | 71°F | 660 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Squaw Creek At Ames, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05470500 |
308 cfs | 2.59 ft | · | 72°F | 907 ft | South Skunk |
|
Upper Iowa River At Bluffton, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05387440 |
288 cfs | 3.61 ft | · | 66°F | 970 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Little Cedar River Near Ionia, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05458000 |
282 cfs | 4.49 ft | · | 70°F | 1,000 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
South Skunk River Near Ames, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05470000 |
252 cfs | 3.96 ft | · | 72°F | 928 ft | South Skunk |
|
Winnebago River At Mason City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05459500 |
206 cfs | 5.25 ft | · | 69°F | 1,101 ft | Winnebago |
|
Little Sioux River At Correctionville, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06606600 |
199 cfs | 4.66 ft | · | 67°F | 1,106 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Des Moines River At Humboldt, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05476750 |
184 cfs | 3.19 ft | · | 71°F | 1,066 ft | Upper Des Moines |
|
South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05451210 |
182 cfs | 3.62 ft | · | 68°F | 963 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Boone River Near Webster City, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05481000 |
178 cfs | 2.31 ft | 35°F | 68°F | 1,028 ft | Boone |
|
North Skunk River Near Sigourney, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05472500 |
161 cfs | 4.34 ft | · | 72°F | 664 ft | North Skunk |
|
East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06809500 |
160 cfs | 5.70 ft | · | 75°F | 1,013 ft | East Nishnabotna |
|
Indian Creek Near Mingo, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05471200 |
145 cfs | 3.90 ft | · | 69°F | 827 ft | South Skunk |
|
Boyer River At Logan, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06609500 |
144 cfs | 3.52 ft | · | 72°F | 1,014 ft | Boyer |
|
Yellow River At Ion, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05389000 |
132 cfs | 5.82 ft | · | 67°F | 681 ft | Coon-Yellow |
|
Floyd River At James, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06600500 |
131 cfs | 8.15 ft | · | 68°F | 1,117 ft | Floyd |
|
Thompson River At Davis City, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06898000 |
130 cfs | 1.30 ft | · | 74°F | 910 ft | Thompson |
|
East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05479000 |
125 cfs | 7.82 ft | · | 71°F | 1,043 ft | East Fork Des Moines |
|
Beaver Creek At New Hartford, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05463000 |
120 cfs | 2.08 ft | · | 71°F | 890 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
South Raccoon River At Redfield, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05484000 |
115 cfs | 2.32 ft | 32°F | 74°F | 917 ft | South Raccoon |
|
Maple River At Mapleton, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06607200 |
115 cfs | 4.44 ft | · | 67°F | 1,114 ft | Maple |
|
Little Sioux River At Linn Grove, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06605850 |
112 cfs | 4.79 ft | · | 66°F | 1,249 ft | Little Sioux |
|
West Nishnabotna River At Hancock, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06807410 |
112 cfs | 1.92 ft | · | 72°F | 1,089 ft | West Nishnabotna |
|
Turkey River At Spillville, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05411600 |
109 cfs | 2.38 ft | · | 66°F | 1,067 ft | Turkey |
|
Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05473400 |
107 cfs | 3.26 ft | · | 71°F | 590 ft | Skunk |
|
Soldier River At Pisgah, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06608500 |
106 cfs | 2.82 ft | · | 73°F | 1,047 ft | Blackbird-Soldier |
|
Nodaway River At Clarinda, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06817000 |
100 cfs | 10.67 ft | · | 75°F | 966 ft | West Nodaway |
|
Fourmile Creek Near Ankeny, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05485605 |
97 cfs | 3.05 ft | · | 73°F | 911 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06602400 |
97 cfs | 4.72 ft | · | 72°F | 1,021 ft | Monona-Harrison Ditch |
|
Fourmile Creek At Des Moines, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05485640 |
93 cfs | 4.24 ft | · | 73°F | 813 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Clear Creek Near Oxford, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05454220 |
88 cfs | 3.35 ft | · | 71°F | 722 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
English River At Kalona, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05455500 |
82 cfs | 3.89 ft | · | 72°F | 655 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Rock River Near Rock Valley, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06483500 |
79 cfs | 4.22 ft | · | 66°F | 1,238 ft | Rock |
|
Middle River Near Indianola, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05486490 |
75 cfs | 7.28 ft | · | 73°F | 794 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
North Raccoon River Near Jefferson, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05482500 |
74 cfs | 4.76 ft | 37°F | 72°F | 978 ft | North Raccoon |
|
North River Near Norwalk, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05486000 |
70 cfs | 5.68 ft | · | 73°F | 811 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Rapid Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05454000 |
60 cfs | 4.96 ft | · | 71°F | 688 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05455100 |
57 cfs | 2.04 ft | 46°F | 71°F | 654 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Iowa River Near Rowan, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05449500 |
56 cfs | 3.67 ft | · | 71°F | 1,187 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
East Nishnabotna River Near Atlantic, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06809210 |
54 cfs | 2.32 ft | · | 74°F | 1,109 ft | East Nishnabotna |
|
Middle Raccoon River At Panora, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05483600 |
49 cfs | 4.09 ft | 35°F | 73°F | 997 ft | South Raccoon |
|
Big Bear Creek At Ladora, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05453000 |
47 cfs | 10.94 ft | · | 70°F | 771 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
North Raccoon River Near Sac City, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05482300 |
43 cfs | 6.74 ft | 75°F | 71°F | 1,179 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Timber Creek Near Marshalltown, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05451700 |
41 cfs | 2.38 ft | · | 71°F | 862 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
South River Near Ackworth, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05487470 |
38 cfs | 5.00 ft | · | 73°F | 805 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05473450 |
38 cfs | 3.77 ft | · | 71°F | 672 ft | Skunk |
|
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05483450 |
37 cfs | 8.80 ft | · | 73°F | 1,054 ft | South Raccoon |
|
Chariton River Near Moulton, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 06904010 |
32 cfs | 18.48 ft | · | 75°F | 847 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
White Breast Creek Near Dallas, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05487980 |
26 cfs | 6.18 ft | · | 74°F | 773 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Ocheyedan River Near Spencer, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 06605000 |
25 cfs | 1.74 ft | · | 66°F | 1,317 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Chariton River Near Rathbun, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06903900 |
21 cfs | 2.34 ft | · | 74°F | 855 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Beaver Creek Near Grimes, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05481950 |
20 cfs | 3.02 ft | · | 73°F | 829 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Floyd River At Alton, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06600100 |
17 cfs | 5.21 ft | · | 66°F | 1,289 ft | Floyd |
|
Cedar Creek Near Bussey, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05489000 |
16 cfs | 4.49 ft | · | 73°F | 696 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 06903700 |
14 cfs | 3.15 ft | · | 75°F | 922 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Chariton River Near Chariton, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 06903400 |
13 cfs | 4.70 ft | · | 74°F | 968 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Walnut Creek At Des Moines, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05484800 |
13 cfs | 3.41 ft | · | 73°F | 808 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Walnut Creek Near Hartwick, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05452200 |
12 cfs | · | · | 71°F | 806 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 06483290 |
12 cfs | 6.43 ft | · | 65°F | 1,316 ft | Rock |
|
Richland Creek Near Haven, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05451900 |
9 cfs | 10.34 ft | · | 71°F | 817 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
East Fork 102 River At Bedford, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 06819185 |
5 cfs | 10.74 ft | · | 75°F | 1,084 ft | One Hundred And Two |
|
English Creek Near Knoxville, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05488200 |
1 cfs | 7.90 ft | · | 73°F | 749 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette, Ia
22 hours ago · USGS 05389400 |
0 cfs | 3.47 ft | · | 70°F | 634 ft | Coon-Yellow |
See every Iowa gauge ranked against normal.
- Percentile rank & % of median for all 117 gauges
- 15-day PULSE forecast on every gauge
- Custom flow alerts & full daily history
About Iowa streamflow
What are river levels like in Iowa right now?
As of August 14, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 127% of normal across 117 USGS streamgauges, and the Mississippi River At Clinton is reporting the highest discharge at 42,100 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.
Which Iowa river is running highest right now?
As of August 14, 2026, the highest discharge in Iowa is 42,100 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.
Streamflow in every state
Create a free account, or sign in.
Get the free Iowa report — alerts, favorites, and history & forecasts, plus the free iPhone app.