Iowa River Flow Today
As of October 4, 2026 at 4:00 AM, the Iowa River is flowing at 46,100 cfs at Wapello, IA. 8 of 8 USGS gauges reported in the last 3 days; flows range from 161 to 46,100 cfs. ❤ Favorite
Iowa River map
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Iowa River conditions today
Where the river is running versus normal, what’s rising or dropping, and what it means for a trip — built from the live USGS readings below.
At Wapello, the Iowa River is running 46,100 cfs. Along the river, 1 of 1 reporting gauges are above normal (the typical gauge is at 221% of normal).
In the last 24 hours the river is dropping at Marshalltown (-22%) and Rowan (-17%).
Flood watch: Marshalltown is at action stage (17.91 ft); Marengo is at minor flood stage (15.49 ft); Lone Tree is at minor flood stage (16.03 ft). Check NWS before heading out.
High water on the Iowa River
Iowa River At Marshalltown is at 17.91 ft — action stage (flood stage 19.0 ft).
Iowa River At Marengo is at 15.49 ft — minor flood stage (flood stage 15.0 ft).
Iowa River Near Lone Tree is at 16.03 ft — minor flood stage (flood stage 16.0 ft).
Iowa River At Wapello is at 22.60 ft — minor flood stage (flood stage 21.0 ft).
How the Iowa River compares to normal
Every reporting gauge from the top of the river to the bottom: bar length is today’s flow, colour is percent of normal for the date.
Flow along the river, upstream to downstream
- Rowan1,187 ft 161 cfs221%
- Marshalltown853 ft 9,070 cfs
- Belle Plaine748 ft 7,560 cfs
- Marengo729 ft 7,970 cfs
- Coralville669 ft 8,210 cfs
- Iowa City643 ft 8,760 cfs
- Lone Tree601 ft 17,400 cfs
- Wapello554 ft 46,100 cfs
Bar length uses a square-root scale so small headwater flows stay visible next to big downstream ones. Colour: <50% 50–90 90–110 110–150 150%+ of normal.
Where every gauge sits
One dot per Iowa River streamgauge, placed by its own percent of normal. The line is the typical gauge (221%).
Iowa River flow report
| Streamgage | Streamflow | % of normal | 24h | Gage height | To flood stage | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Iowa River Near Rowan IA
Oct 4, 4:00 AM · USGS 05449500 |
161 cfs | 221% | -17% | 4.52 ft | 8.0 ft below | 1,187 ft |
|
Iowa River At Marshalltown IA
Oct 4, 5:00 AM · USGS 05451500 |
9,070 cfs | · | -22% | 17.91 ft | Action | 853 ft |
|
Iowa River Near Belle Plaine IA
Oct 4, 5:00 AM · USGS 05452500 |
7,560 cfs | · | +6% | 15.56 ft | · | 748 ft |
|
Iowa River At Marengo IA
Oct 4, 5:00 AM · USGS 05453100 |
7,970 cfs | · | 0% | 15.49 ft | Flooding | 729 ft |
|
Iowa River Below Coralville Dam Near Coralville IA
Oct 4, 5:00 AM · USGS 05453520 |
8,210 cfs | · | -14% | 54.79 ft | · | 669 ft |
|
Iowa River At Iowa City IA
Oct 4, 4:00 AM · USGS 05454500 |
8,760 cfs | · | -13% | 17.71 ft | 5.8 ft below | 643 ft |
|
Iowa River Near Lone Tree IA
Oct 4, 4:00 AM · USGS 05455700 |
17,400 cfs | · | -8% | 16.03 ft | Flooding | 601 ft |
|
Iowa River At Wapello IA
Oct 4, 4:00 AM · USGS 05465500 |
46,100 cfs | · | +1% | 22.60 ft | Flooding | 554 ft |
USGS provisional data. Readings are in each gauge’s local time; gauges silent for more than 3 days are marked “Last reported”. Tap any gauge for its hydrograph, forecast and history.
Dams & reservoirs on the Iowa River
Releases from these dams shape the flow downstream. Tap one for its daily level and history.
Iowa River streamflow over time
Daily total flow across every monitored gauge on the river.
Maximum streamflow by year
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River and runs about 329 miles across the state of Iowa. It has been an essential part of Iowa's history, being used for transportation of goods, power generation, and irrigation. The river's hydrology has been significantly impacted by agricultural practices, with high levels of sediment and nutrient runoff leading to water quality issues. Several dams and reservoirs have been constructed along the river to control flooding and provide recreational opportunities, including the Coralville Reservoir and Dam, Lake Red Rock, and the Iowa City Reservoir. These reservoirs provide water for irrigation and recreation, including boating, fishing, and camping. The Iowa River remains an important part of Iowa's landscape and economy, with efforts being made to improve water quality and preserve its ecological health.
About the Iowa River
How is the Iowa River flowing right now?
As of October 4, 2026, the Iowa River is flowing at 46,100 cfs at Wapello, IA. Across its 8 USGS gauges, current flows range from 161 to 46,100 cfs. Every gauge’s live reading is in the table above.
Is the Iowa River running high or low?
The typical gauge on the Iowa River is at 221% of normal for the date. Above 100% means higher than the historical average for this calendar day; below 100% means lower. The profile above shows which reaches are high or low.
What is flood stage on the Iowa River?
The National Weather Service sets flood stages for Rowan (12.5 ft), Marshalltown (19.0 ft), Marengo (15.0 ft), Iowa City (23.5 ft), Lone Tree (16.0 ft), Wapello (21.0 ft). The table shows how far each gauge is below its flood stage right now.
Where does the data come from?
Discharge and gage height are from the USGS National Water Information System; flood stages from the National Weather Service. The history chart sums every monitored gauge on the river.
Can I get alerts for a gauge?
Yes — open any gauge from the table, favorite it in the Snoflo app and set a flow threshold.