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Flow report

Iowa River Levels & Streamflow

As of Sep 26, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 572% of normal across 116 USGS gauges — the highest is 60,200 cfs on the Mississippi River At Clinton. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in Iowa.

USGS gauges
116
State percent normal
572%
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
0
Updated
Sep 26
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Flow briefing · Sep 26, 2026

Iowa river conditions today

Where rivers are running versus normal, what’s spiking and what’s coming — refreshed daily from USGS and NOAA.

Streamflow levels across Iowa are currently 572% of normal, with the Mississippi River At Clinton reporting the highest discharge in the state at 60,200 cfs and a gauge stage of 11.57 ft.

Meanwhile, the Chariton River Near Moulton is seeing a spike today — up 34% 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.

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Active weather warnings for Iowa

# Iowa Storm Center Report

Major flooding continues across eastern Iowa with significant impacts to Scott, Clinton, and Louisa counties. The Wapsipinicon River near De Witt remains at major flood stage (12.7 feet as of Saturday morning), with water affecting U.S. Highway 61 and expected to remain elevated through Thursday afternoon. The Iowa River at Oakville and Wapello is experiencing minor flooding with River Road currently underwater and water reaching the levees. While both rivers are forecast to recede below flood stage by early Thursday and Friday respectively, residents should avoid flooded roadways and remain cautious. Additional heavy rain is possible next week in eastern Iowa, which could exacerbate current flooding conditions. Those in affected areas should monitor weather updates closely and prepare for potential evacuation if conditions worsen.

Source: National Weather Service

Iowa vs normal

How Iowa’s rivers compare to normal

Every gauge placed by its own percent of normal, and three years of the statewide trend.

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.

State average 572%
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.

572% of normal today
+514pts vs this day last year (58%)
274of 366 days below normal, past year
727% 3-year peak · Sep 2026 · above the axis
50% 100% normal 150% 200% 250%
Sep 2023 202420252026 Sep 26, 2026

799 daily readings from 116 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%: 42 readings above that — including the 727% peak in Sep 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.

Iowa flow report

116 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow Gage height Water temp Air temp Elevation Watershed
Mississippi River At Clinton, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05420500
46,800 cfs 11.28 ft 66°F 51°F 593 ft Copperas-Duck
Iowa River At Wapello, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05465500
35,900 cfs 20.91 ft 49°F 55°F 554 ft Lower Iowa
Cedar River Near Conesville, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05465000
20,100 cfs 12.56 ft · 55°F 593 ft Lower Cedar
Des Moines River At Keosauqua, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05490500
18,900 cfs 15.63 ft 67°F 58°F 579 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River At Ottumwa, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05489500
18,800 cfs 7.08 ft 68°F 59°F 635 ft Lower Des Moines
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05464500
18,200 cfs 8.82 ft 62°F 56°F 712 ft Middle Cedar
Des Moines River Near Tracy, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05488500
17,500 cfs 7.74 ft · 59°F 676 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River Near Pella, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05488110
17,000 cfs 91.50 ft 67°F 59°F 689 ft Lower Des Moines
Skunk River At Augusta, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05474000
11,500 cfs 10.09 ft · 57°F 553 ft Skunk
Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05422000
10,900 cfs 12.81 ft · 52°F 646 ft Lower Wapsipinicon
Iowa River Near Lone Tree, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05455700
10,800 cfs 12.83 ft · 56°F 601 ft Lower Iowa
Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05485500
9,850 cfs 15.54 ft · 63°F 779 ft Lake Red Rock
Cedar River At Waterloo, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05464000
8,600 cfs 7.98 ft · 56°F 823 ft Middle Cedar
Iowa River At Iowa City, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05454500
8,550 cfs 17.53 ft · 56°F 643 ft Lower Iowa
Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05453520
7,970 cfs 54.65 ft · 56°F 669 ft Middle Iowa
Cedar River At Cedar Falls, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05463050
7,470 cfs 78.70 ft · 59°F 853 ft Middle Cedar
Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05421740
6,420 cfs 12.47 ft · 54°F 779 ft Lower Wapsipinicon
Des Moines River Near Saylorville, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05481650
5,700 cfs 7.10 ft · 60°F 819 ft Middle Des Moines
Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05482000
5,560 cfs 17.44 ft 32°F 63°F 808 ft Middle Des Moines
Iowa River At Marengo, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05453100
5,100 cfs 12.55 ft · 56°F 729 ft Middle Iowa
South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05471500
4,510 cfs 15.67 ft · 59°F 692 ft South Skunk
Raccoon River At Van Meter, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05484500
4,480 cfs 6.69 ft 32°F 61°F 862 ft North Raccoon
Raccoon River At Fleur Drive, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05484900
4,310 cfs 5.78 ft · 60°F 797 ft North Raccoon
Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05484650
4,130 cfs 23.97 ft · 61°F 797 ft North Raccoon
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05418500
4,090 cfs 15.22 ft · 52°F 646 ft Maquoketa
Cedar River At Waverly, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05458300
3,950 cfs 3.96 ft 62°F 56°F 895 ft Upper Cedar
Iowa River Near Belle Plaine, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05452500
3,930 cfs 11.92 ft · 56°F 748 ft Middle Iowa
Wapsipinicon River At Independence, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05421000
3,890 cfs 7.75 ft · 55°F 889 ft Upper Wapsipinicon
Turkey River At Garber, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05412500
3,840 cfs 10.30 ft 62°F 52°F 646 ft Turkey
Cedar River At Janesville, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05458500
3,760 cfs 4.15 ft · 56°F 859 ft Upper Cedar
Des Moines River Near Stratford, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05481300
3,300 cfs 7.52 ft · 59°F 902 ft Middle Des Moines
Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06810000
2,550 cfs 11.99 ft · 62°F 904 ft Nishnabotna
South Skunk River At Colfax, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05471050
2,130 cfs 11.84 ft · 59°F 793 ft South Skunk
Iowa River At Marshalltown, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05451500
2,080 cfs 12.43 ft · 60°F 853 ft Middle Iowa
Cedar River At Charles City, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05457700
1,930 cfs 4.71 ft · 55°F 977 ft Upper Cedar
Shell Rock River At Shell Rock, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05462000
1,710 cfs 8.94 ft · 56°F 882 ft Shell Rock
Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05412020
1,690 cfs 7.41 ft · 52°F 726 ft Turkey
English River At Kalona, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05455500
1,570 cfs 8.84 ft · 56°F 655 ft Lower Iowa
North Skunk River Near Sigourney, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05472500
1,540 cfs 9.59 ft · 57°F 664 ft North Skunk
Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05388250
1,530 cfs 8.63 ft · 51°F 668 ft Upper Iowa
South Raccoon River At Redfield, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05484000
1,530 cfs 4.86 ft 32°F 61°F 917 ft South Raccoon
Nodaway River At Clarinda, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 06817000
1,460 cfs 11.98 ft · 61°F 966 ft West Nodaway
Des Moines River At Fort Dodge, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05480500
1,370 cfs 4.55 ft · 59°F 974 ft Middle Des Moines
Turkey River Near Eldorado, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05411850
1,240 cfs 7.27 ft · 53°F 897 ft Turkey
South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05471000
1,240 cfs 13.35 ft · 60°F 872 ft South Skunk
Upper Iowa River At Decorah, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05387500
1,200 cfs 3.00 ft · 52°F 854 ft Upper Iowa
West Nishnabotna River At Randolph, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06808500
1,110 cfs 9.86 ft 62°F 62°F 956 ft West Nishnabotna
Big Sioux River At Akron, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06485500
1,090 cfs 6.77 ft · 61°F 1,151 ft Lower Big Sioux
Beaver Creek Near Grimes, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05481950
1,060 cfs 7.03 ft · 60°F 829 ft Middle Des Moines
Middle River Near Indianola, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05486490
986 cfs 10.55 ft · 63°F 794 ft Lake Red Rock
North Raccoon River Near Jefferson, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05482500
949 cfs 6.26 ft 37°F 60°F 978 ft North Raccoon
North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05418400
936 cfs 5.07 ft 39°F 51°F 689 ft Maquoketa
Upper Iowa River At Bluffton, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05387440
918 cfs 4.76 ft · 53°F 970 ft Upper Iowa
West Fork Cedar River At Finchford, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05458900
869 cfs 8.37 ft · 59°F 859 ft West Fork Cedar
Rock River Near Rock Valley, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06483500
869 cfs 6.28 ft · 60°F 1,238 ft Rock
North River Near Norwalk, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05486000
856 cfs 11.69 ft · 63°F 811 ft Lake Red Rock
Volga River At Littleport, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05412400
841 cfs 6.72 ft · 52°F 694 ft Turkey
Wolf Creek Near Dysart, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05464220
749 cfs 4.48 ft · 59°F 835 ft Middle Cedar
Indian Creek Near Mingo, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05471200
728 cfs 5.99 ft · 59°F 827 ft South Skunk
Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05420680
701 cfs 10.69 ft · 55°F 1,019 ft Upper Wapsipinicon
Black Hawk Creek At Hudson, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05463500
698 cfs 9.18 ft · 59°F 897 ft Middle Cedar
Little Sioux River Near Turin, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06607500
685 cfs 7.49 ft · 62°F 1,029 ft Little Sioux
South Skunk River Near Ames, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05470000
662 cfs 5.01 ft · 60°F 928 ft South Skunk
Maquoketa River At Manchester, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05416900
661 cfs 6.13 ft · 53°F 920 ft Maquoketa
Thompson River At Davis City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 06898000
657 cfs 2.47 ft · 61°F 910 ft Thompson
East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06809500
645 cfs 8.38 ft · 61°F 1,013 ft East Nishnabotna
Des Moines River At Humboldt, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05476750
624 cfs 4.20 ft · 59°F 1,066 ft Upper Des Moines
East Nishnabotna River Near Atlantic, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06809210
610 cfs 4.49 ft · 61°F 1,109 ft East Nishnabotna
Boone River Near Webster City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05481000
544 cfs 3.22 ft 35°F 61°F 1,028 ft Boone
East Fork 102 River At Bedford, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06819185
534 cfs 13.27 ft · 61°F 1,084 ft One Hundred And Two
Salt Creek Near Elberon, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05452000
512 cfs 8.95 ft · 56°F 802 ft Middle Iowa
South River Near Ackworth, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05487470
502 cfs 7.45 ft · 63°F 805 ft Lake Red Rock
Beaver Creek At New Hartford, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05463000
476 cfs 4.13 ft · 59°F 890 ft Middle Cedar
Little Sioux River At Correctionville, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06606600
455 cfs 5.15 ft · 61°F 1,106 ft Little Sioux
Squaw Creek At Ames, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05470500
453 cfs 2.90 ft · 60°F 907 ft South Skunk
Boyer River At Logan, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06609500
441 cfs 4.42 ft · 59°F 1,014 ft Boyer
Fourmile Creek At Des Moines, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05485640
433 cfs 5.43 ft · 60°F 813 ft Lake Red Rock
South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05451210
432 cfs 4.66 ft · 60°F 963 ft Upper Iowa
Chariton River Near Moulton, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06904010
431 cfs 21.15 ft · 59°F 847 ft Upper Chariton
West Nishnabotna River At Hancock, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06807410
426 cfs 3.08 ft · 60°F 1,089 ft West Nishnabotna
Walnut Creek At Des Moines, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05484800
413 cfs 5.21 ft · 63°F 808 ft North Raccoon
Chariton River Near Rathbun, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06903900
409 cfs 4.39 ft · 60°F 855 ft Upper Chariton
Turkey River At Spillville, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05411600
398 cfs 3.47 ft · 56°F 1,067 ft Turkey
Little Cedar River Near Ionia, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05458000
393 cfs 4.84 ft · 55°F 1,000 ft Upper Cedar
Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05455100
359 cfs 4.83 ft 46°F 56°F 654 ft Lower Iowa
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05483450
343 cfs 10.93 ft · 60°F 1,054 ft South Raccoon
Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05473400
329 cfs 5.27 ft · 57°F 590 ft Skunk
Fourmile Creek Near Ankeny, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05485605
319 cfs 4.18 ft · 60°F 911 ft Lake Red Rock
Winnebago River At Mason City, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05459500
303 cfs 5.39 ft · 59°F 1,101 ft Winnebago
Middle Raccoon River At Panora, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05483600
303 cfs 4.92 ft 35°F 60°F 997 ft South Raccoon
Big Bear Creek At Ladora, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05453000
297 cfs 12.49 ft · 56°F 771 ft Middle Iowa
Little Sioux River At Linn Grove, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06605850
273 cfs 5.70 ft · 60°F 1,249 ft Little Sioux
East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05479000
262 cfs 8.30 ft · 59°F 1,043 ft East Fork Des Moines
Clear Creek Near Coralville, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05454300
252 cfs 3.10 ft · 56°F 660 ft Lower Iowa
Yellow River At Ion, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05389000
250 cfs 6.34 ft · 51°F 681 ft Coon-Yellow
Floyd River At James, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06600500
245 cfs 8.62 ft · 60°F 1,117 ft Floyd
Cedar Creek Near Bussey, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05489000
212 cfs 5.65 ft · 59°F 696 ft Lower Des Moines
Maple River At Mapleton, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06607200
176 cfs 4.68 ft · 59°F 1,114 ft Maple
Clear Creek Near Oxford, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05454220
172 cfs 4.37 ft · 56°F 722 ft Lower Iowa
White Breast Creek Near Dallas, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05487980
170 cfs 7.05 ft · 60°F 773 ft Lake Red Rock
Timber Creek Near Marshalltown, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05451700
158 cfs 3.91 ft · 60°F 862 ft Middle Iowa
Soldier River At Pisgah, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06608500
158 cfs 3.19 ft · 60°F 1,047 ft Blackbird-Soldier
North Raccoon River Near Sac City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05482300
155 cfs 7.42 ft 75°F 62°F 1,179 ft North Raccoon
Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 06483290
141 cfs 7.53 ft · 60°F 1,316 ft Rock
Walnut Creek Near Hartwick, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05452200
140 cfs 3.15 ft · 56°F 806 ft Middle Iowa
Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06602400
130 cfs 4.73 ft · 62°F 1,021 ft Monona-Harrison Ditch
Ocheyedan River Near Spencer, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06605000
125 cfs 2.71 ft · 61°F 1,317 ft Little Sioux
Richland Creek Near Haven, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05451900
109 cfs 11.93 ft · 56°F 817 ft Middle Iowa
English Creek Near Knoxville, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05488200
97 cfs 9.91 ft · 59°F 749 ft Lower Des Moines
Floyd River At Alton, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06600100
95 cfs 5.95 ft · 61°F 1,289 ft Floyd
Rapid Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
21 hours ago · USGS 05454000
79 cfs 4.81 ft · 55°F 688 ft Lower Iowa
Iowa River Near Rowan, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05449500
63 cfs 3.72 ft · 60°F 1,187 ft Upper Iowa
South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06903700
47 cfs 3.51 ft · 60°F 922 ft Upper Chariton
Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05473450
30 cfs 3.78 ft · 56°F 672 ft Skunk
Chariton River Near Chariton, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 06903400
25 cfs 5.16 ft · 60°F 968 ft Upper Chariton
Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette, Ia
20 hours ago · USGS 05389400
24 cfs 4.13 ft · 51°F 634 ft Coon-Yellow
Flow report FAQ

About Iowa streamflow

What are river levels like in Iowa right now?

As of September 26, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 572% of normal across 116 USGS streamgauges, and the Mississippi River At Clinton is reporting the highest discharge at 60,200 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.

Which Iowa river is running highest right now?

As of September 26, 2026, the highest discharge in Iowa is 60,200 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.