Flow report

Iowa River Levels & Streamflow

As of Aug 5, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 124% of normal across 117 USGS gauges — the highest is 42,700 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
124%
Paddle runs
0
Updated
Aug 5
Open the Iowa flow layer on the map Every USGS streamgauge filtered to Iowa.
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August
5
2026
Flow briefing

Streamflow levels across Iowa are currently 124% of normal, with the Mississippi River At Clinton reporting the highest discharge in the state at 42,700 cfs and a gauge stage of 9.76 ft.

Meanwhile, the Cedar River At Janesville is seeing a spike today — up 27% 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 Natural Disaster Report

A Flash Flood Warning is in effect until 1:15 PM CDT on August 5th for Clarke, Decatur, Lucas, and Wayne counties in south-central Iowa, with heavy rainfall already producing flash flooding. Affected communities include Osceola, Corydon, Murray, Seymour, Allerton, Humeston, and Van Wert. Additionally, a Flood Watch remains active through 7:00 PM CDT for southeast Iowa counties including Des Moines, Henry, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, Louisa, Van Buren, and Washington. Residents should expect flooding of small creeks, streams, urban areas, highways, and low-lying locations. Avoid flooded roadways and underpasses. Additional heavy rainfall is possible through this evening, which could trigger isolated flash flooding in already saturated areas.

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

124%

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

Highest discharge

Mississippi River At Clinton 42,700 cfs

Gauge stage 9.76 ft

Biggest 24h spike

Cedar River At Janesville +27%

Now 2,790 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
12 hours ago · USGS 05420500
39,600 cfs 9.77 ft 79°F 69°F 593 ft Copperas-Duck
Iowa River At Wapello, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05465500
12,600 cfs 15.57 ft 49°F 70°F 554 ft Lower Iowa
Cedar River Near Conesville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05465000
8,930 cfs 9.12 ft · 70°F 593 ft Lower Cedar
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05464500
7,400 cfs 5.58 ft 62°F 66°F 712 ft Middle Cedar
Cedar River At Waterloo, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05464000
4,660 cfs 6.86 ft · 61°F 823 ft Middle Cedar
Cedar River At Cedar Falls, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05463050
4,170 cfs 78.70 ft · 61°F 853 ft Middle Cedar
Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05422000
3,430 cfs 9.15 ft · 68°F 646 ft Lower Wapsipinicon
Iowa River Near Lone Tree, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05455700
2,940 cfs 7.26 ft · 69°F 601 ft Lower Iowa
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05418500
2,570 cfs 13.49 ft · 67°F 646 ft Maquoketa
Des Moines River Near Tracy, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05488500
2,530 cfs 3.36 ft · 64°F 676 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River At Keosauqua, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05490500
2,480 cfs 10.96 ft 79°F 69°F 579 ft Lower Des Moines
Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05453520
2,340 cfs 50.97 ft · 67°F 669 ft Middle Iowa
Iowa River At Iowa City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05454500
2,300 cfs 11.87 ft · 67°F 643 ft Lower Iowa
Cedar River At Janesville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05458500
2,200 cfs 2.96 ft · 60°F 859 ft Upper Cedar
Des Moines River At Ottumwa, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05489500
2,100 cfs 2.27 ft 81°F 66°F 635 ft Lower Des Moines
Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05421740
2,040 cfs 7.48 ft · 62°F 779 ft Lower Wapsipinicon
Des Moines River Near Pella, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05488110
2,000 cfs 84.56 ft 79°F 63°F 689 ft Lower Des Moines
Cedar River At Waverly, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05458300
1,860 cfs 5.09 ft 73°F 59°F 895 ft Upper Cedar
Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05485500
1,650 cfs 9.82 ft · 63°F 779 ft Lake Red Rock
Skunk River At Augusta, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05474000
1,590 cfs 3.11 ft · 70°F 553 ft Skunk
Iowa River At Marengo, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05453100
1,460 cfs 8.01 ft · 64°F 729 ft Middle Iowa
Iowa River Near Belle Plaine, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05452500
1,350 cfs 7.81 ft · 61°F 748 ft Middle Iowa
Cedar River At Charles City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05457700
1,130 cfs 3.69 ft · 60°F 977 ft Upper Cedar
Turkey River At Garber, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05412500
1,110 cfs 7.48 ft 73°F 61°F 646 ft Turkey
Shell Rock River At Shell Rock, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05462000
1,090 cfs 8.47 ft · 59°F 882 ft Shell Rock
Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05482000
1,030 cfs 15.24 ft 32°F 63°F 808 ft Middle Des Moines
Wapsipinicon River At Independence, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05421000
920 cfs 5.67 ft · 63°F 889 ft Upper Wapsipinicon
Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05388250
827 cfs 7.79 ft · 57°F 668 ft Upper Iowa
Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06810000
777 cfs 8.52 ft · 63°F 904 ft Nishnabotna
South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05471500
769 cfs 10.20 ft · 63°F 692 ft South Skunk
Des Moines River Near Saylorville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05481650
743 cfs 2.66 ft · 62°F 819 ft Middle Des Moines
Des Moines River Near Stratford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05481300
684 cfs 5.34 ft · 59°F 902 ft Middle Des Moines
Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05412020
641 cfs 6.00 ft · 63°F 726 ft Turkey
Upper Iowa River At Decorah, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05387500
632 cfs 2.47 ft · 58°F 854 ft Upper Iowa
Des Moines River At Fort Dodge, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05480500
565 cfs 3.82 ft · 57°F 974 ft Middle Des Moines
West Fork Cedar River At Finchford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05458900
557 cfs 7.57 ft · 62°F 859 ft West Fork Cedar
Big Sioux River At Akron, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06485500
531 cfs 5.02 ft · 53°F 1,151 ft Lower Big Sioux
Little Sioux River Near Turin, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06607500
524 cfs 7.11 ft · 58°F 1,029 ft Little Sioux
North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05418400
518 cfs 3.77 ft 39°F 66°F 689 ft Maquoketa
Raccoon River At Fleur Drive, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484900
514 cfs 1.35 ft · 63°F 797 ft North Raccoon
Upper Iowa River At Bluffton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05387440
504 cfs 4.06 ft · 60°F 970 ft Upper Iowa
West Nishnabotna River At Randolph, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06808500
473 cfs 8.25 ft 72°F 63°F 956 ft West Nishnabotna
Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484650
471 cfs 20.32 ft · 63°F 797 ft North Raccoon
South Skunk River At Colfax, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05471050
454 cfs 8.40 ft · 62°F 793 ft South Skunk
Iowa River At Marshalltown, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05451500
434 cfs 10.30 ft · 60°F 853 ft Middle Iowa
Raccoon River Near West Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484600
421 cfs 26.44 ft · 62°F 844 ft North Raccoon
Maquoketa River At Manchester, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05416900
407 cfs 5.21 ft · 63°F 920 ft Maquoketa
Raccoon River At Van Meter, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484500
397 cfs 2.65 ft 32°F 62°F 862 ft North Raccoon
Turkey River Near Eldorado, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05411850
375 cfs 5.79 ft · 61°F 897 ft Turkey
Volga River At Littleport, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05412400
351 cfs 5.41 ft · 61°F 694 ft Turkey
Wolf Creek Near Dysart, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05464220
274 cfs 3.23 ft · 63°F 835 ft Middle Cedar
Little Sioux River At Correctionville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06606600
256 cfs 4.77 ft · 55°F 1,106 ft Little Sioux
Des Moines River At Humboldt, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05476750
222 cfs 3.29 ft · 57°F 1,066 ft Upper Des Moines
Little Cedar River Near Ionia, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05458000
217 cfs 4.25 ft · 61°F 1,000 ft Upper Cedar
Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05420680
208 cfs 8.27 ft · 59°F 1,019 ft Upper Wapsipinicon
South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05471000
204 cfs 10.61 ft · 61°F 872 ft South Skunk
East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06809500
197 cfs 5.85 ft · 62°F 1,013 ft East Nishnabotna
Salt Creek Near Elberon, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05452000
188 cfs 6.91 ft · 61°F 802 ft Middle Iowa
North Skunk River Near Sigourney, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05472500
187 cfs 4.51 ft · 66°F 664 ft North Skunk
Black Hawk Creek At Hudson, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05463500
182 cfs 6.35 ft · 60°F 897 ft Middle Cedar
Boyer River At Logan, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06609500
178 cfs 3.68 ft · 59°F 1,014 ft Boyer
North Raccoon River Near Jefferson, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05482500
159 cfs 4.99 ft 37°F 59°F 978 ft North Raccoon
Floyd River At James, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06600500
159 cfs 8.29 ft · 55°F 1,117 ft Floyd
Little Sioux River At Linn Grove, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06605850
157 cfs 4.99 ft · 54°F 1,249 ft Little Sioux
Indian Creek Near Mingo, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05471200
139 cfs 3.86 ft · 62°F 827 ft South Skunk
West Nishnabotna River At Hancock, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06807410
139 cfs 2.09 ft · 60°F 1,089 ft West Nishnabotna
South Raccoon River At Redfield, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484000
137 cfs 2.39 ft 32°F 61°F 917 ft South Raccoon
Beaver Creek At New Hartford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05463000
134 cfs 2.19 ft · 59°F 890 ft Middle Cedar
Winnebago River At Mason City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05459500
127 cfs 4.91 ft · 58°F 1,101 ft Winnebago
Maple River At Mapleton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06607200
121 cfs 4.47 ft · 57°F 1,114 ft Maple
Turkey River At Spillville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05411600
114 cfs 2.40 ft · 61°F 1,067 ft Turkey
South Skunk River Near Ames, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05470000
111 cfs 3.33 ft · 61°F 928 ft South Skunk
East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05479000
104 cfs 7.74 ft · 57°F 1,043 ft East Fork Des Moines
Rock River Near Rock Valley, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06483500
102 cfs 4.36 ft · 52°F 1,238 ft Rock
Yellow River At Ion, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05389000
98 cfs 5.61 ft · 62°F 681 ft Coon-Yellow
Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06602400
97 cfs 4.72 ft · 58°F 1,021 ft Monona-Harrison Ditch
Boone River Near Webster City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05481000
95 cfs 1.93 ft 35°F 58°F 1,028 ft Boone
Squaw Creek At Ames, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05470500
95 cfs 1.73 ft · 61°F 907 ft South Skunk
Nodaway River At Clarinda, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06817000
89 cfs 10.64 ft · 63°F 966 ft West Nodaway
Fourmile Creek At Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05485640
83 cfs 4.18 ft · 63°F 813 ft Lake Red Rock
Walnut Creek At Des Moines, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05484800
81 cfs 3.98 ft · 63°F 808 ft North Raccoon
English River At Kalona, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05455500
81 cfs 3.88 ft · 68°F 655 ft Lower Iowa
Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05473400
77 cfs 2.98 ft · 69°F 590 ft Skunk
East Nishnabotna River Near Atlantic, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06809210
77 cfs 2.47 ft · 60°F 1,109 ft East Nishnabotna
Soldier River At Pisgah, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06608500
72 cfs 2.65 ft · 58°F 1,047 ft Blackbird-Soldier
Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05455100
69 cfs 2.03 ft 46°F 64°F 654 ft Lower Iowa
Iowa River Near Rowan, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05449500
67 cfs 3.77 ft · 56°F 1,187 ft Upper Iowa
Middle Raccoon River At Panora, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05483600
64 cfs 4.18 ft 35°F 60°F 997 ft South Raccoon
Thompson River At Davis City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06898000
61 cfs 1.03 ft · 64°F 910 ft Thompson
Timber Creek Near Marshalltown, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05451700
56 cfs 2.60 ft · 60°F 862 ft Middle Iowa
North River Near Norwalk, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05486000
55 cfs 5.45 ft · 63°F 811 ft Lake Red Rock
Middle River Near Indianola, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05486490
55 cfs 7.14 ft · 63°F 794 ft Lake Red Rock
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05483450
51 cfs 8.97 ft · 59°F 1,054 ft South Raccoon
Big Bear Creek At Ladora, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05453000
47 cfs 10.94 ft · 64°F 771 ft Middle Iowa
Beaver Creek Near Grimes, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05481950
44 cfs 3.27 ft · 62°F 829 ft Middle Des Moines
North Raccoon River Near Sac City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05482300
43 cfs 6.74 ft 75°F 57°F 1,179 ft North Raccoon
South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05451210
40 cfs 2.46 ft · 59°F 963 ft Upper Iowa
Floyd River At Alton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06600100
31 cfs 5.40 ft · 53°F 1,289 ft Floyd
Fourmile Creek Near Ankeny, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05485605
31 cfs 2.43 ft · 62°F 911 ft Lake Red Rock
Ocheyedan River Near Spencer, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06605000
29 cfs 1.94 ft · 53°F 1,317 ft Little Sioux
Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06483290
26 cfs 6.57 ft · 51°F 1,316 ft Rock
Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05389400
22 cfs 4.19 ft · 63°F 634 ft Coon-Yellow
South River Near Ackworth, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05487470
22 cfs 4.75 ft · 63°F 805 ft Lake Red Rock
Clear Creek Near Coralville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05454300
21 cfs · · 67°F 660 ft Lower Iowa
Chariton River Near Moulton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06904010
21 cfs 18.29 ft · 66°F 847 ft Upper Chariton
Cedar Creek Near Bussey, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05489000
13 cfs 4.45 ft · 64°F 696 ft Lower Des Moines
Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05473450
13 cfs 3.37 ft · 68°F 672 ft Skunk
Clear Creek Near Oxford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05454220
12 cfs 1.76 ft · 66°F 722 ft Lower Iowa
Chariton River Near Rathbun, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06903900
12 cfs 2.24 ft · 66°F 855 ft Upper Chariton
Walnut Creek Near Hartwick, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05452200
12 cfs · · 60°F 806 ft Middle Iowa
Richland Creek Near Haven, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05451900
11 cfs 10.40 ft · 60°F 817 ft Middle Iowa
White Breast Creek Near Dallas, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05487980
9 cfs 5.98 ft · 64°F 773 ft Lake Red Rock
South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06903700
8 cfs 3.06 ft · 64°F 922 ft Upper Chariton
Rapid Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05454000
6 cfs 3.94 ft · 67°F 688 ft Lower Iowa
East Fork 102 River At Bedford, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06819185
4 cfs 10.71 ft · 63°F 1,084 ft One Hundred And Two
Chariton River Near Chariton, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 06903400
3 cfs 4.10 ft · 64°F 968 ft Upper Chariton
English Creek Near Knoxville, Ia
12 hours ago · USGS 05488200
2 cfs 7.96 ft · 64°F 749 ft Lower Des Moines
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Flow report FAQ

About Iowa streamflow

What are river levels like in Iowa right now?

As of August 5, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 124% of normal across 117 USGS streamgauges, and the Mississippi River At Clinton is reporting the highest discharge at 42,700 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.

Which Iowa river is running highest right now?

As of August 5, 2026, the highest discharge in Iowa is 42,700 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.