Major Flood
26 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
24.5 ft
Minor Flood
23.5 ft
Action Stage
21 ft
What Floods at Each Level
29 ft
Serious flood damage occurs at the University of Iowa campus.
27 ft
Flood protection becomes necessary at the University of Iowa. Water affects several industrial businesses and warehouses along Commercial Drive.
26.5 ft
Normandy Drive residences are evacuated.
26 ft
Idylwild Road in Iowa City is affected. Areas of the University of Iowa campus are inundated with flood waters. Approaches to county road bridges along the river are flooded. Streets and parking lots along Commercial Drive are affected.
24.5 ft
Taft Speedway closes. Normandy Drive is affected by flood waters.
23.5 ft
Stevens Drive is inundated by flood waters. Sidewalks near Iowa Memorial Union on the University of Iowa campus are inundated. Izaak Walton Road and Sand Road are both flooded. Flood waters impact properties off Taft Speedway in Iowa City.
21 ft
Crandic Park off of Rocky Shore Drive is flooded. Lower City Park floods and closes as water is over the roadway and trails.
19 ft
Portions of trails in Lower City Park are closed due to flood waters.
17.5 ft
Some low lying trails along the river become inundated and are closed to pedestrian use.
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 14, 2008 | 31.53 ft | 41,100 cfs |
| Aug 9, 1993 | 28.52 ft | 28,200 cfs |
| Jul 12, 2014 | 25.15 ft | 19,900 cfs |
Flood Inundation Map
NOAA has mapped what areas flood at different water levels for this gauge. View the interactive flood inundation map →
About This Gauge
Get Flood Alerts for Iowa 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 Iowa River at Iowa City?
The Iowa River at Iowa City gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05454500) 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 Iowa River at Iowa City?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Iowa River at Iowa City is 23.5 feet. Action stage begins at 21 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 24.5 feet, and major flooding at 26 feet.
How do I get alerts when Iowa River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Iowa River at Iowa City 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 Iowa River at Iowa City gauge located?
The gauge is located in Johnson County, Iowa at coordinates 41.6567°N, 91.5410°W. USGS site number: 05454500. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Geological Survey, Observations courtesy of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- 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.