StormCast — Weather & Emergency Alerts

Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr
Iowa — Water Level & Flood Stage

Located in Polk County, Iowa on the Raccoon River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05484900, 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

25 ft

Moderate Flood

16 ft

Minor Flood

12 ft

Action Stage

8 ft

Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.

What Floods at Each Level

31 ft

This is the top of the levee surrounding Des Moines Water Works.

27.7 ft

This is the top of the levee surrounding Valley Gardens.

22 ft

The levee is closed across SW 22nd St under the Fleur Dr viaduct. Levee closures also occur across three driveways into Principal Park.

21 ft

The levee is closed across 63rd St.

18.5 ft

Water affects the maintenance buildings outside of the levee protection at Des Moines Water Works Park.

18 ft

All the levee gates are closed in Water Works Park.

17.2 ft

Water affects portions of Fleur Dr.

17 ft

The levee is closed across George Flagg Parkway just west of Fleur Dr. Levee gates are closed west of SW 18th St at George Flagg Parkway and at the railroad tracks.

16.5 ft

Water begins affecting Fleur Dr. Above this stage...water flows through Water Works Park south of the Water Works Buildings...cutting off a large meander bend in the river and diverting increasing amounts of stream flow away from the main river channel.

15.5 ft

Water approaches Fleur Dr and affects the Grays Lake trails.

13.5 ft

Water affects the low areas of Water Works Park.

13.3 ft

SW 30th St is closed from George Flagg Parkway to Bell Ave. George Flagg Parkway is closed from SW 30th St to SW 28th St.

11.3 ft

George Flagg Parkway is closed from Park Ave to SW 30th St.

9.5 ft

Water impacts the lowest portions of the Bill Riley Trl.

Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.

7-Day Water Level Chart

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View Official NWS Hydrograph →

Historic Crests

Date Stage Flow
Jul 10, 199326.8 ft67,900 cfs
Jul 10, 199326.8 ft67,900 cfs
Jun 12, 200824.66 ft56,300 cfs
Jun 12, 200824.66 ft56,300 cfs
Jun 25, 201521.54 ft52,200 cfs

About This Gauge

USGS Site

05484900

NWS LID

DEMI4

River

Raccoon River

County

Polk, IA

Coordinates

41.5815°N, 93.6427°W

Get Flood Alerts for Raccoon 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current water level of Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr?

The Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05484900) 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 Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr?

The NWS-defined flood stage for Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr is 12 feet. Action stage begins at 8 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 16 feet, and major flooding at 25 feet.

How do I get alerts when Raccoon River rises?

Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr 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 Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr gauge located?

The gauge is located in Polk County, Iowa at coordinates 41.5815°N, 93.6427°W. USGS site number: 05484900. 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