Iowa River Levels & Streamflow
As of Oct 2, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 768% of normal across 116 USGS gauges — the highest is 48,300 cfs on the Mississippi River At Clinton. Live discharge, gauge height, and percent-of-normal for every USGS streamgauge in Iowa.
Iowa river map
See Iowa’s rivers on a live map
Every gauge, river and reservoir, one tap each:
- Rivers now — which are running high or low
- Reservoirs — how full each one is vs normal
- Rain — past 24 hrs and the 72-hr forecast, press play
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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 768% of normal, with the Mississippi River At Clinton reporting the highest discharge in the state at 48,300 cfs and a gauge stage of 9.75 ft.
Meanwhile, the South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City is seeing a spike today — up 3081% 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
**URGENT: Multiple Flood Warnings Active Across Iowa** — Excessive rainfall has triggered widespread flooding across Iowa with multiple rivers at or approaching flood stage. The Des Moines River at Des Moines is forecast to crest at 25.8 feet tomorrow morning, potentially affecting areas from downtown Des Moines to Runnells. The Black Hawk Creek at Hudson is expected to reach moderate flood levels of 16.5 feet, with possible residential evacuations in Waterloo and closure of Ranchero Road. Additional flooding is occurring in central Iowa counties including Grundy, Black Hawk, Tama, and Butler, with major impacts to Waterloo, Cedar Falls, and Grundy Center, and I-380 between mile markers 65-73 remains affected. The Raccoon River at Des Moines is forecast to crest at 15.9 feet by tomorrow afternoon, affecting Grays Lake trails and approaching Fleur Drive. Multiple rivers including the South Skunk River near Ames and North Raccoon River near Perry are also under flood warnings. Avoid flooded roads and low-water crossings; conditions are expected to improve by late Sunday through Monday.
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.
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.
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%: 48 readings above that — including the 768% peak in Oct 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
| Streamgage | Streamflow | Gage height | Water temp | Air temp | Elevation | Watershed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mississippi River At Clinton, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05420500 |
49,600 cfs | 10.25 ft | 66°F | 50°F | 593 ft | Copperas-Duck |
|
Iowa River At Wapello, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05465500 |
42,200 cfs | 21.98 ft | 49°F | 50°F | 554 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Des Moines River At Keosauqua, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05490500 |
24,400 cfs | 16.90 ft | 66°F | 51°F | 579 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Skunk River At Augusta, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05474000 |
24,300 cfs | 16.52 ft | · | 52°F | 553 ft | Skunk |
|
Cedar River Near Conesville, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05465000 |
23,800 cfs | 13.29 ft | · | 50°F | 593 ft | Lower Cedar |
|
Des Moines River At Ottumwa, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05489500 |
23,000 cfs | 8.27 ft | 67°F | 50°F | 635 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05485500 |
22,700 cfs | 21.34 ft | · | 48°F | 779 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Iowa River Near Lone Tree, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05455700 |
17,200 cfs | 15.94 ft | · | 50°F | 601 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Raccoon River At Van Meter, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05484500 |
16,700 cfs | 14.04 ft | 32°F | 47°F | 862 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Cedar River At Waterloo, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05464000 |
16,400 cfs | 10.03 ft | · | 46°F | 823 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05484650 |
14,400 cfs | 30.73 ft | · | 48°F | 797 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Raccoon River At Fleur Drive, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05484900 |
14,100 cfs | 12.20 ft | · | 48°F | 797 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Cedar River At Cedar Falls, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05463050 |
14,000 cfs | 78.70 ft | · | 45°F | 853 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Turkey River At Garber, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05412500 |
13,900 cfs | 16.84 ft | 62°F | 47°F | 646 ft | Turkey |
|
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05464500 |
13,700 cfs | 7.49 ft | 62°F | 49°F | 712 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Des Moines River Near Tracy, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05488500 |
12,900 cfs | 6.49 ft | · | 48°F | 676 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Des Moines River Near Stratford, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05481300 |
11,800 cfs | 12.82 ft | · | 45°F | 902 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06810000 |
11,100 cfs | 20.33 ft | · | 48°F | 904 ft | Nishnabotna |
|
Des Moines River Near Saylorville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05481650 |
11,000 cfs | 10.35 ft | · | 47°F | 819 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Des Moines River Near Pella, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05488110 |
11,000 cfs | 89.34 ft | 67°F | 48°F | 689 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
South Raccoon River At Redfield, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05484000 |
10,500 cfs | 12.12 ft | 32°F | 47°F | 917 ft | South Raccoon |
|
Iowa River At Iowa City, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05454500 |
10,400 cfs | 19.09 ft | · | 50°F | 643 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05482000 |
10,100 cfs | 19.34 ft | 32°F | 48°F | 808 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05471000 |
10,000 cfs | 22.84 ft | · | 46°F | 872 ft | South Skunk |
|
Thompson River At Davis City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06898000 |
9,480 cfs | 9.83 ft | · | 52°F | 910 ft | Thompson |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05422000 |
8,960 cfs | 12.37 ft | · | 49°F | 646 ft | Lower Wapsipinicon |
|
Iowa River At Marshalltown, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05451500 |
8,680 cfs | 17.72 ft | · | 45°F | 853 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05471500 |
8,650 cfs | 20.10 ft | · | 48°F | 692 ft | South Skunk |
|
Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05453520 |
8,610 cfs | 55.02 ft | · | 50°F | 669 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Iowa River At Marengo, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05453100 |
8,520 cfs | 15.81 ft | · | 48°F | 729 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
West Nishnabotna River At Randolph, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06808500 |
8,290 cfs | 17.70 ft | 64°F | 48°F | 956 ft | West Nishnabotna |
|
East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06809500 |
8,050 cfs | 16.69 ft | · | 64°F | 1,013 ft | East Nishnabotna |
|
North Raccoon River Near Jefferson, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05482500 |
7,810 cfs | 12.33 ft | 37°F | 45°F | 978 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Cedar River At Janesville, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05458500 |
7,030 cfs | 6.27 ft | · | 45°F | 859 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
English River At Kalona, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05455500 |
6,860 cfs | 17.39 ft | · | 50°F | 655 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05412020 |
6,560 cfs | 10.94 ft | · | 46°F | 726 ft | Turkey |
|
North Skunk River Near Sigourney, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05472500 |
6,150 cfs | 18.99 ft | · | 49°F | 664 ft | North Skunk |
|
Wapsipinicon River At Independence, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05421000 |
6,090 cfs | 9.16 ft | · | 46°F | 889 ft | Upper Wapsipinicon |
|
Iowa River Near Belle Plaine, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05452500 |
6,070 cfs | 14.25 ft | · | 48°F | 748 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Nodaway River At Clarinda, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06817000 |
5,940 cfs | 15.85 ft | · | 65°F | 966 ft | West Nodaway |
|
Turkey River Near Eldorado, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05411850 |
5,890 cfs | 11.50 ft | · | 45°F | 897 ft | Turkey |
|
Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05473400 |
5,850 cfs | 17.31 ft | · | 50°F | 590 ft | Skunk |
|
Middle River Near Indianola, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05486490 |
5,800 cfs | 18.80 ft | · | 48°F | 794 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
South Skunk River Near Ames, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05470000 |
5,670 cfs | 12.77 ft | · | 46°F | 928 ft | South Skunk |
|
Squaw Creek At Ames, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05470500 |
5,480 cfs | 10.49 ft | · | 46°F | 907 ft | South Skunk |
|
Cedar River At Waverly, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05458300 |
5,430 cfs | 4.43 ft | 63°F | 45°F | 895 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05483450 |
5,370 cfs | 20.43 ft | · | 46°F | 1,054 ft | South Raccoon |
|
South River Near Ackworth, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05487470 |
5,270 cfs | 15.47 ft | · | 48°F | 805 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
South Skunk River At Colfax, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05471050 |
4,800 cfs | 15.66 ft | · | 47°F | 793 ft | South Skunk |
|
White Breast Creek Near Dallas, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05487980 |
4,530 cfs | 16.38 ft | · | 48°F | 773 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05418500 |
4,510 cfs | 15.64 ft | · | 49°F | 646 ft | Maquoketa |
|
West Nishnabotna River At Hancock, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06807410 |
4,470 cfs | 9.30 ft | · | 63°F | 1,089 ft | West Nishnabotna |
|
Volga River At Littleport, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05412400 |
4,270 cfs | 11.81 ft | · | 46°F | 694 ft | Turkey |
|
Middle Raccoon River At Panora, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05483600 |
4,060 cfs | 8.96 ft | 35°F | 46°F | 997 ft | South Raccoon |
|
Black Hawk Creek At Hudson, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05463500 |
3,750 cfs | 15.47 ft | · | 45°F | 897 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Des Moines River At Fort Dodge, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05480500 |
3,740 cfs | 5.86 ft | · | 44°F | 974 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Cedar Creek Near Bussey, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05489000 |
3,600 cfs | 12.91 ft | · | 48°F | 696 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05421740 |
3,380 cfs | 9.30 ft | · | 48°F | 779 ft | Lower Wapsipinicon |
|
Shell Rock River At Shell Rock, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05462000 |
3,220 cfs | 9.82 ft | · | 45°F | 882 ft | Shell Rock |
|
East Nishnabotna River Near Atlantic, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06809210 |
3,200 cfs | 8.85 ft | · | 64°F | 1,109 ft | East Nishnabotna |
|
West Fork Cedar River At Finchford, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05458900 |
3,150 cfs | 11.73 ft | · | 45°F | 859 ft | West Fork Cedar |
|
North River Near Norwalk, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05486000 |
2,860 cfs | 18.22 ft | · | 48°F | 811 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Boone River Near Webster City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05481000 |
2,840 cfs | 6.34 ft | 35°F | 45°F | 1,028 ft | Boone |
|
South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05451210 |
2,780 cfs | 10.70 ft | · | 45°F | 963 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Wolf Creek Near Dysart, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05464220 |
2,360 cfs | 7.92 ft | · | 49°F | 835 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05455100 |
2,320 cfs | 13.33 ft | 46°F | 50°F | 654 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Indian Creek Near Mingo, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05471200 |
2,310 cfs | 9.54 ft | · | 47°F | 827 ft | South Skunk |
|
Beaver Creek At New Hartford, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05463000 |
2,200 cfs | 9.09 ft | · | 45°F | 890 ft | Middle Cedar |
|
Beaver Creek Near Grimes, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05481950 |
2,010 cfs | 9.47 ft | · | 47°F | 829 ft | Middle Des Moines |
|
Maquoketa River At Manchester, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05416900 |
1,980 cfs | 9.53 ft | · | 46°F | 920 ft | Maquoketa |
|
Big Bear Creek At Ladora, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05453000 |
1,840 cfs | 17.98 ft | · | 48°F | 771 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Cedar River At Charles City, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05457700 |
1,820 cfs | 4.57 ft | · | 47°F | 977 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05473450 |
1,720 cfs | 10.42 ft | · | 50°F | 672 ft | Skunk |
|
Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05420680 |
1,520 cfs | 12.35 ft | · | 44°F | 1,019 ft | Upper Wapsipinicon |
|
Clear Creek Near Coralville, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05454300 |
1,510 cfs | 8.42 ft | · | 50°F | 660 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05388250 |
1,490 cfs | 8.59 ft | · | 45°F | 668 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Chariton River Near Chariton, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06903400 |
1,450 cfs | 14.38 ft | · | 49°F | 968 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Chariton River Near Moulton, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06904010 |
1,380 cfs | 25.02 ft | · | 50°F | 847 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Little Sioux River Near Turin, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06607500 |
1,300 cfs | 8.43 ft | · | 63°F | 1,029 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Yellow River At Ion, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05389000 |
1,290 cfs | 8.24 ft | · | 49°F | 681 ft | Coon-Yellow |
|
Big Sioux River At Akron, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06485500 |
1,260 cfs | 7.18 ft | · | 42°F | 1,151 ft | Lower Big Sioux |
|
Boyer River At Logan, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06609500 |
1,170 cfs | 6.37 ft | · | 63°F | 1,014 ft | Boyer |
|
Des Moines River At Humboldt, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05476750 |
1,120 cfs | 4.99 ft | · | 44°F | 1,066 ft | Upper Des Moines |
|
North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05418400 |
1,110 cfs | 5.52 ft | 39°F | 49°F | 689 ft | Maquoketa |
|
English Creek Near Knoxville, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05488200 |
1,110 cfs | 16.64 ft | · | 48°F | 749 ft | Lower Des Moines |
|
Salt Creek Near Elberon, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05452000 |
1,090 cfs | 11.81 ft | · | 47°F | 802 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06903700 |
937 cfs | 8.44 ft | · | 49°F | 922 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Upper Iowa River At Decorah, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05387500 |
932 cfs | 2.75 ft | · | 44°F | 854 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Little Sioux River At Correctionville, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06606600 |
905 cfs | 5.94 ft | · | 64°F | 1,106 ft | Little Sioux |
|
North Raccoon River Near Sac City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05482300 |
898 cfs | 10.09 ft | 75°F | 44°F | 1,179 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Rock River Near Rock Valley, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06483500 |
854 cfs | 6.24 ft | · | 40°F | 1,238 ft | Rock |
|
Clear Creek Near Oxford, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05454220 |
728 cfs | 9.84 ft | · | 50°F | 722 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Fourmile Creek At Des Moines, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05485640 |
696 cfs | 6.27 ft | · | 48°F | 813 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05479000 |
617 cfs | 9.09 ft | · | 44°F | 1,043 ft | East Fork Des Moines |
|
Upper Iowa River At Bluffton, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05387440 |
582 cfs | 4.21 ft | · | 44°F | 970 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Walnut Creek At Des Moines, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05484800 |
574 cfs | 5.78 ft | · | 48°F | 808 ft | North Raccoon |
|
Little Sioux River At Linn Grove, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06605850 |
537 cfs | 6.87 ft | · | 64°F | 1,249 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Timber Creek Near Marshalltown, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05451700 |
515 cfs | 6.85 ft | · | 46°F | 862 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Walnut Creek Near Hartwick, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05452200 |
509 cfs | 5.90 ft | · | 49°F | 806 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Turkey River At Spillville, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05411600 |
504 cfs | 3.82 ft | · | 45°F | 1,067 ft | Turkey |
|
East Fork 102 River At Bedford, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06819185 |
498 cfs | 13.16 ft | · | 64°F | 1,084 ft | One Hundred And Two |
|
Fourmile Creek Near Ankeny, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05485605 |
453 cfs | 4.98 ft | · | 47°F | 911 ft | Lake Red Rock |
|
Chariton River Near Rathbun, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 06903900 |
443 cfs | 4.54 ft | · | 49°F | 855 ft | Upper Chariton |
|
Little Cedar River Near Ionia, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05458000 |
430 cfs | 4.95 ft | · | 44°F | 1,000 ft | Upper Cedar |
|
Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06602400 |
401 cfs | 5.59 ft | · | 63°F | 1,021 ft | Monona-Harrison Ditch |
|
Soldier River At Pisgah, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06608500 |
390 cfs | 4.12 ft | · | 63°F | 1,047 ft | Blackbird-Soldier |
|
Winnebago River At Mason City, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05459500 |
323 cfs | 5.46 ft | · | 43°F | 1,101 ft | Winnebago |
|
Maple River At Mapleton, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06607200 |
311 cfs | 5.20 ft | · | 62°F | 1,114 ft | Maple |
|
Richland Creek Near Haven, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05451900 |
309 cfs | 13.91 ft | · | 49°F | 817 ft | Middle Iowa |
|
Floyd River At James, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06600500 |
302 cfs | 8.83 ft | · | 65°F | 1,117 ft | Floyd |
|
Rapid Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 05454000 |
226 cfs | 6.41 ft | · | 50°F | 688 ft | Lower Iowa |
|
Ocheyedan River Near Spencer, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06605000 |
208 cfs | 3.22 ft | · | 64°F | 1,317 ft | Little Sioux |
|
Iowa River Near Rowan, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05449500 |
201 cfs | 4.80 ft | · | 44°F | 1,187 ft | Upper Iowa |
|
Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids, Ia
8 hours ago · USGS 06483290 |
194 cfs | 7.77 ft | · | 39°F | 1,316 ft | Rock |
|
Floyd River At Alton, Ia
5 hours ago · USGS 06600100 |
146 cfs | 6.18 ft | · | 64°F | 1,289 ft | Floyd |
|
Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette, Ia
7 hours ago · USGS 05389400 |
109 cfs | 4.84 ft | · | 46°F | 634 ft | Coon-Yellow |
About Iowa streamflow
What are river levels like in Iowa right now?
As of October 2, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 768% of normal across 116 USGS streamgauges, and the Mississippi River At Clinton is reporting the highest discharge at 48,300 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.
Which Iowa river is running highest right now?
As of October 2, 2026, the highest discharge in Iowa is 48,300 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.