Cedar River at Charles City
Iowa — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Floyd County, Iowa on the Cedar River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05457700, updated every 15 minutes.
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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Flood Stages
Major Flood
18 ft
Moderate Flood
15 ft
Minor Flood
12 ft
Action Stage
9 ft
5,987.3 cfs
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
22.5 ft
East of 700 Riverside Drive is under water. The public parking lot south of City Hall begins to flood.
21.5 ft
Clark Street at Brantingham Street begins to flood. The Gilbert Street lift station wet well requires sandbagging. Fire Department, City Shed, and Park Department are all evacuated.
21 ft
Highway 218 and Brantinham at South Grand Avenue begins to flood.
20 ft
Clark Street at Leland Street and Court Street at South Illinois Street begins to flood.
19.5 ft
Riverside Drive at North Iowa and Joslin streets begins to flood. Gilbert Street begins to flood with sandbagging required.
19 ft
Brackett Street and Riverside Drive at North Johnson street are flooded. The Lions Field cottages are threatened and Highway 18 begins to flood.
18 ft
Fourth Street at South Grand Avenue begins to flood. East Riverside Drive at Brantingham Streets are closed. Sandbag efforts begin along Gilbert Street.
17.5 ft
Riverside Drive at St. Marys Street begins to flood.
17 ft
Residences south of Riverside Drive may be flooded.
15 ft
Leland Avenue and Park Drive at 19th Avenue begins to flood.
14 ft
Bracket Street begins to flood and is closed.
12 ft
Barricading of streets begins, and the intersection of Riverside and North Illinois Streets may be flooded. Cable pedestrian bridge is closed.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 9, 2008 | 25.33 ft | 34,600 cfs |
| Jun 9, 2008 | 25.33 ft | 34,600 cfs |
| Jul 21, 1999 | 22.81 ft | 31,200 cfs |
| Jul 21, 1999 | 22.81 ft | 31,200 cfs |
| Mar 1, 1965 | 21.64 ft | — |
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Cedar River
StormCast monitors this gauge and sends a push notification to your phone when the water level crosses into a new flood category — even at 3 AM.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current water level of Cedar River at Charles City?
The Cedar River at Charles City gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05457700) and reports water levels every 15 minutes. Visit this page to see the latest reading updated live, or download StormCast to get push alerts when levels rise.
What is flood stage for Cedar River at Charles City?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Cedar River at Charles City is 12 feet. Action stage begins at 9 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 15 feet, and major flooding at 18 feet.
How do I get alerts when Cedar River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Cedar River at Charles City to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category — even when your screen is off.
Where is the Cedar River at Charles City gauge located?
The gauge is located in Floyd County, Iowa at coordinates 43.0622°N, 92.6739°W. USGS site number: 05457700. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.