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Flow report

Iowa River Levels & Streamflow

As of Oct 4, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 1110% of normal across 116 USGS gauges — the highest is 60,100 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
1110%
0%normal200%
Paddle runs
0
Updated
Oct 4
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Flow briefing · Oct 4, 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 1110% of normal, with the Mississippi River At Clinton reporting the highest discharge in the state at 60,100 cfs and a gauge stage of 10.47 ft.

Meanwhile, the Black Hawk Creek At Hudson is seeing a spike today — up 94% 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.

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 1110%
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.

1110% of normal today
+1053pts vs this day last year (57%)
266of 366 days below normal, past year
1110% 3-year peak · Oct 2026 · above the axis
50% 100% normal 150% 200% 250%
Sep 2023 202420252026 Oct 4, 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%: 50 readings above that — including the 1110% 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

116 gauges
Streamgage Streamflow Gage height Water temp Air temp Elevation Watershed
Mississippi River At Clinton, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05420500
53,300 cfs 10.63 ft 66°F 72°F 593 ft Copperas-Duck
Iowa River At Wapello, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05465500
46,100 cfs 22.60 ft 49°F 73°F 554 ft Lower Iowa
Des Moines River Blw Raccoon Riv At Des Moines, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05485500
30,300 cfs 24.02 ft · 52°F 779 ft Lake Red Rock
Des Moines River At Ottumwa, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05489500
24,600 cfs 8.71 ft 67°F 50°F 635 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River Near Tracy, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05488500
24,000 cfs 9.58 ft · 50°F 676 ft Lower Des Moines
Cedar River At Cedar Rapids, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05464500
23,800 cfs 10.38 ft 62°F 71°F 712 ft Middle Cedar
Des Moines River At Keosauqua, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05490500
23,600 cfs 16.72 ft 65°F 51°F 579 ft Lower Des Moines
Des Moines River Near Pella, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05488110
23,600 cfs 93.51 ft 66°F 51°F 689 ft Lower Des Moines
Cedar River Near Conesville, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05465000
23,000 cfs 13.15 ft · 72°F 593 ft Lower Cedar
Skunk River At Augusta, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05474000
22,600 cfs 15.83 ft · 75°F 553 ft Skunk
Cedar River At Waterloo, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05464000
18,700 cfs 10.60 ft · 69°F 823 ft Middle Cedar
Raccoon River At Fleur Drive, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05484900
18,500 cfs 13.81 ft · 51°F 797 ft North Raccoon
Iowa River Near Lone Tree, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05455700
17,400 cfs 16.03 ft · 72°F 601 ft Lower Iowa
Raccoon River At 63rd Street At Des Moines, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05484650
17,000 cfs 32.39 ft · 52°F 797 ft North Raccoon
Des Moines River At 2nd Avenue, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05482000
15,400 cfs 20.37 ft 32°F 54°F 808 ft Middle Des Moines
Raccoon River At Van Meter, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05484500
15,000 cfs 13.20 ft 32°F 51°F 862 ft North Raccoon
Cedar River At Cedar Falls, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05463050
14,000 cfs 78.70 ft · 68°F 853 ft Middle Cedar
Des Moines River Near Saylorville, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05481650
13,900 cfs 12.11 ft · 51°F 819 ft Middle Des Moines
Wapsipinicon River Near De Witt, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05422000
9,790 cfs 12.60 ft · 71°F 646 ft Lower Wapsipinicon
Nishnabotna River Above Hamburg, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06810000
9,720 cfs 19.31 ft · 57°F 904 ft Nishnabotna
Iowa River At Marshalltown, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05451500
9,070 cfs 17.91 ft · 69°F 853 ft Middle Iowa
South Skunk River Near Oskaloosa, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05471500
9,040 cfs 20.49 ft · 72°F 692 ft South Skunk
Iowa River At Iowa City, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05454500
8,760 cfs 17.71 ft · 71°F 643 ft Lower Iowa
Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Nr Coralville, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05453520
8,210 cfs 54.79 ft · 71°F 669 ft Middle Iowa
Iowa River At Marengo, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05453100
7,970 cfs 15.49 ft · 71°F 729 ft Middle Iowa
Des Moines River Near Stratford, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05481300
7,830 cfs 10.66 ft · 49°F 902 ft Middle Des Moines
Iowa River Near Belle Plaine, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05452500
7,560 cfs 15.56 ft · 70°F 748 ft Middle Iowa
Thompson River At Davis City, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06898000
7,030 cfs 8.11 ft · 51°F 910 ft Thompson
Wapsipinicon River At Independence, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05421000
6,750 cfs 9.57 ft · 68°F 889 ft Upper Wapsipinicon
South Skunk River At Colfax, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05471050
6,660 cfs 17.79 ft · 71°F 793 ft South Skunk
Wapsipinicon River Near Anamosa, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05421740
6,580 cfs 12.62 ft · 70°F 779 ft Lower Wapsipinicon
Turkey River At Garber, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05412500
5,820 cfs 12.01 ft 59°F 66°F 646 ft Turkey
North Skunk River Near Sigourney, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05472500
5,720 cfs 18.48 ft · 72°F 664 ft North Skunk
North Raccoon River Near Jefferson, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05482500
5,300 cfs 10.39 ft 37°F 52°F 978 ft North Raccoon
Maquoketa River Near Maquoketa, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05418500
5,230 cfs 16.33 ft · 70°F 646 ft Maquoketa
English River At Kalona, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05455500
4,690 cfs 14.86 ft · 71°F 655 ft Lower Iowa
South Raccoon River At Redfield, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05484000
4,270 cfs 7.77 ft 32°F 50°F 917 ft South Raccoon
South Skunk River Below Squaw Creek Near Ames, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05471000
4,260 cfs 17.99 ft · 70°F 872 ft South Skunk
West Nishnabotna River At Randolph, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06808500
3,870 cfs 12.96 ft 61°F 56°F 956 ft West Nishnabotna
Beaver Creek At New Hartford, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05463000
3,840 cfs 10.50 ft · 68°F 890 ft Middle Cedar
Black Hawk Creek At Hudson, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05463500
3,740 cfs 15.46 ft · 69°F 897 ft Middle Cedar
West Fork Cedar River At Finchford, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05458900
3,460 cfs 11.96 ft · 68°F 859 ft West Fork Cedar
Cedar River At Janesville, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05458500
3,340 cfs 3.84 ft · 68°F 859 ft Upper Cedar
Cedar River At Waverly, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05458300
3,190 cfs 3.94 ft 60°F 68°F 895 ft Upper Cedar
South Skunk River Near Ames, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05470000
3,040 cfs 9.21 ft · 69°F 928 ft South Skunk
Beaver Creek Near Grimes, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05481950
3,040 cfs 11.55 ft · 51°F 829 ft Middle Des Moines
North River Near Norwalk, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05486000
2,920 cfs 18.39 ft · 52°F 811 ft Lake Red Rock
Des Moines River At Fort Dodge, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05480500
2,720 cfs 5.38 ft · 49°F 974 ft Middle Des Moines
Turkey River Above French Hollow Cr At Elkader, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05412020
2,490 cfs 8.14 ft · 66°F 726 ft Turkey
Shell Rock River At Shell Rock, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05462000
2,280 cfs 9.31 ft · 68°F 882 ft Shell Rock
Wolf Creek Near Dysart, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05464220
2,280 cfs 7.74 ft · 69°F 835 ft Middle Cedar
Middle Raccoon River At Panora, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05483600
2,250 cfs 7.33 ft 35°F 50°F 997 ft South Raccoon
East Nishnabotna River At Red Oak, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06809500
2,140 cfs 11.20 ft · 54°F 1,013 ft East Nishnabotna
Middle Raccoon River Near Bayard, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05483450
2,080 cfs 16.31 ft · 50°F 1,054 ft South Raccoon
Cedar Creek Near Oakland Mills, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05473400
2,030 cfs 10.73 ft · 73°F 590 ft Skunk
West Nishnabotna River At Hancock, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06807410
2,020 cfs 6.38 ft · 55°F 1,089 ft West Nishnabotna
South Fork Iowa River Ne Of New Providence, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05451210
1,930 cfs 9.09 ft · 68°F 963 ft Upper Iowa
Turkey River Near Eldorado, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05411850
1,750 cfs 7.90 ft · 64°F 897 ft Turkey
Middle River Near Indianola, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05486490
1,660 cfs 12.20 ft · 52°F 794 ft Lake Red Rock
Boone River Near Webster City, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05481000
1,570 cfs 4.85 ft 35°F 49°F 1,028 ft Boone
Chariton River Near Chariton, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 06903400
1,540 cfs 14.56 ft · 51°F 968 ft Upper Chariton
East Nishnabotna River Near Atlantic, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06809210
1,490 cfs 6.12 ft · 50°F 1,109 ft East Nishnabotna
Volga River At Littleport, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05412400
1,460 cfs 8.09 ft · 66°F 694 ft Turkey
Wapsipinicon River Near Tripoli, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05420680
1,440 cfs 12.26 ft · 67°F 1,019 ft Upper Wapsipinicon
Cedar River At Charles City, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05457700
1,410 cfs 4.04 ft · 66°F 977 ft Upper Cedar
Little Sioux River Near Turin, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06607500
1,350 cfs 8.49 ft · 49°F 1,029 ft Little Sioux
Indian Creek Near Mingo, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05471200
1,230 cfs 7.31 ft · 70°F 827 ft South Skunk
Squaw Creek At Ames, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05470500
1,220 cfs 4.36 ft · 69°F 907 ft South Skunk
Upper Iowa River Near Dorchester, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05388250
1,110 cfs 8.16 ft · 66°F 668 ft Upper Iowa
Maquoketa River At Manchester, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05416900
1,110 cfs 7.44 ft · 68°F 920 ft Maquoketa
Big Sioux River At Akron, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 06485500
1,050 cfs 6.67 ft · 72°F 1,151 ft Lower Big Sioux
South River Near Ackworth, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05487470
970 cfs 8.83 ft · 51°F 805 ft Lake Red Rock
Des Moines River At Humboldt, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05476750
933 cfs 4.71 ft · 49°F 1,066 ft Upper Des Moines
Little Sioux River At Correctionville, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06606600
860 cfs 5.86 ft · 49°F 1,106 ft Little Sioux
North Fork Maquoketa River Near Fulton, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05418400
849 cfs 4.83 ft 39°F 70°F 689 ft Maquoketa
Boyer River At Logan, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06609500
847 cfs 5.58 ft · 55°F 1,014 ft Boyer
Rock River Near Rock Valley, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 06483500
777 cfs 6.02 ft · 70°F 1,238 ft Rock
Nodaway River At Clarinda, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 06817000
745 cfs 12.46 ft · 55°F 966 ft West Nodaway
Upper Iowa River At Decorah, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05387500
742 cfs 2.54 ft · 65°F 854 ft Upper Iowa
Big Bear Creek At Ladora, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05453000
680 cfs 14.17 ft · 71°F 771 ft Middle Iowa
Old Mans Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05455100
677 cfs 6.57 ft 46°F 71°F 654 ft Lower Iowa
Cedar Creek Near Bussey, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05489000
634 cfs 6.98 ft · 50°F 696 ft Lower Des Moines
North Raccoon River Near Sac City, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05482300
608 cfs 9.22 ft 75°F 49°F 1,179 ft North Raccoon
Salt Creek Near Elberon, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05452000
603 cfs 9.45 ft · 70°F 802 ft Middle Iowa
Chariton River Near Moulton, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 06904010
568 cfs 21.81 ft · 50°F 847 ft Upper Chariton
Yellow River At Ion, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05389000
565 cfs 7.16 ft · 66°F 681 ft Coon-Yellow
Little Sioux River At Linn Grove, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06605850
519 cfs 6.80 ft · 48°F 1,249 ft Little Sioux
East Fork Des Moines River At Dakota City, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05479000
517 cfs 8.88 ft · 48°F 1,043 ft East Fork Des Moines
White Breast Creek Near Dallas, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05487980
511 cfs 8.46 ft · 51°F 773 ft Lake Red Rock
Upper Iowa River At Bluffton, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05387440
499 cfs 4.05 ft · 65°F 970 ft Upper Iowa
Chariton River Near Rathbun, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06903900
414 cfs 4.41 ft · 50°F 855 ft Upper Chariton
Timber Creek Near Marshalltown, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05451700
405 cfs 6.07 ft · 69°F 862 ft Middle Iowa
Turkey River At Spillville, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05411600
398 cfs 3.47 ft · 64°F 1,067 ft Turkey
Maple River At Mapleton, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06607200
361 cfs 5.37 ft · 53°F 1,114 ft Maple
Clear Creek Near Coralville, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05454300
356 cfs 3.69 ft · 71°F 660 ft Lower Iowa
Fourmile Creek At Des Moines, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05485640
328 cfs 4.90 ft · 51°F 813 ft Lake Red Rock
Little Cedar River Near Ionia, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05458000
317 cfs 4.60 ft · 66°F 1,000 ft Upper Cedar
Winnebago River At Mason City, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05459500
303 cfs 5.39 ft · 68°F 1,101 ft Winnebago
Floyd River At James, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06600500
263 cfs 8.69 ft · 49°F 1,117 ft Floyd
Walnut Creek At Des Moines, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 05484800
261 cfs 4.60 ft · 52°F 808 ft North Raccoon
Soldier River At Pisgah, Ia
17 hours ago · USGS 06608500
231 cfs 3.49 ft · 49°F 1,047 ft Blackbird-Soldier
Fourmile Creek Near Ankeny, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05485605
228 cfs 3.54 ft · 51°F 911 ft Lake Red Rock
Walnut Creek Near Hartwick, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05452200
211 cfs 3.85 ft · 70°F 806 ft Middle Iowa
Clear Creek Near Oxford, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05454220
208 cfs 4.85 ft · 71°F 722 ft Lower Iowa
Monona-Harrison Ditch Near Turin, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06602400
204 cfs 4.93 ft · 49°F 1,021 ft Monona-Harrison Ditch
Big Creek Near Mt. Pleasant, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 05473450
187 cfs 5.19 ft · 74°F 672 ft Skunk
Ocheyedan River Near Spencer, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 06605000
184 cfs 3.08 ft · 47°F 1,317 ft Little Sioux
Rock River Below Tom Creek At Rock Rapids, Ia
13 hours ago · USGS 06483290
164 cfs 7.64 ft · 69°F 1,316 ft Rock
Richland Creek Near Haven, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05451900
162 cfs 12.53 ft · 70°F 817 ft Middle Iowa
Iowa River Near Rowan, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05449500
161 cfs 4.52 ft · 69°F 1,187 ft Upper Iowa
English Creek Near Knoxville, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 05488200
148 cfs 10.50 ft · 51°F 749 ft Lower Des Moines
East Fork 102 River At Bedford, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 06819185
124 cfs 11.68 ft · 51°F 1,084 ft One Hundred And Two
Floyd River At Alton, Ia
16 hours ago · USGS 06600100
113 cfs 6.03 ft · 48°F 1,289 ft Floyd
South Fork Chariton River Near Promise City, Ia
15 hours ago · USGS 06903700
112 cfs 4.09 ft · 50°F 922 ft Upper Chariton
Rapid Creek Near Iowa City, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05454000
88 cfs 4.94 ft · 71°F 688 ft Lower Iowa
Bloody Run Creek Near Marquette, Ia
14 hours ago · USGS 05389400
44 cfs 4.35 ft · 65°F 634 ft Coon-Yellow
Flow report FAQ

About Iowa streamflow

What are river levels like in Iowa right now?

As of October 4, 2026, Iowa rivers are running at 1110% of normal across 116 USGS streamgauges, and the Mississippi River At Clinton is reporting the highest discharge at 60,100 cfs. The full sortable gauge table is below.

Which Iowa river is running highest right now?

As of October 4, 2026, the highest discharge in Iowa is 60,100 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.