Major Flood
17 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
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Streamflow
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Last Reading
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FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
15.5 ft
Minor Flood
12.5 ft
Action Stage
11 ft
What Floods at Each Level
23.22 ft
Water reaches the box culvert on Vinton Street east of the railroad tracks in Palo.
21.1 ft
Water reaches the bridge deck on 1st Street in Palo.
18.5 ft
Water reaches the box culvert on West Main Street in Palo.
17.8 ft
Water reaches Blairs Ferry Road east of 1st Street in Palo.
17 ft
Residences across the eastern part of the city of Palo are affected by flood waters.
16.5 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the bridge deck on Blairs Ferry Road.
15.5 ft
Water reaches residences along Dry Creek in Palo.
15 ft
The walking bridge from East Main Street to 1st Street in Palo is impacted by flood waters. Trails along the river are under water.
14.3 ft
The boat ramp just west of the Blairs Ferry Road bridge is closed.
14 ft
Dry Creek begins to back up into the City of Palo due to high water on the Cedar River.
13.5 ft
Chain Bridge Road accessing the boat ramp is closed.
13 ft
Portions of Linn Drive in Palo are affected by flood waters.
12.5 ft
The Chain Lakes area is affected by flood waters.
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 12, 2008 | 23.22 ft | — |
| Sep 26, 2016 | 18.07 ft | 88,500 cfs |
| May 31, 2013 | 15.67 ft | 68,100 cfs |
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 Palo?
The Cedar River at Palo gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05464420) 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 Palo?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Cedar River at Palo is 12.5 feet. Action stage begins at 11 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 15.5 feet, and major flooding at 17 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 Palo to your watchlist. StormCast will send a push notification to your phone whenever the water level crosses into a new NWS flood category.
Where is the Cedar River at Palo gauge located?
The gauge is located in Linn County, Iowa at coordinates 42.0692°N, 91.7852°W. USGS site number: 05464420. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on Cedar River
On This River
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey
- 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.