Major Flood
19 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
16 ft
Minor Flood
13 ft
Action Stage
11 ft
What Floods at Each Level
28 ft
Water reaches as far as Greene St on the west side of the river and the bridge on Hwy 9 in Rock Rapids is in danger of being overtopped.
27 ft
Significant flooding will be ongoing in Rock Rapids and water reaches as far Pearl St on the east side of the river and Tama St on the west side. Hwy 75 south of Rock Rapids may also become impassable.
26 ft
Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on Hwy 9.
22 ft
The race track in Rock Rapids begins to flood as does N Boone St if water backs up Moon Creek
19 ft
The highest banks on the right side of the river will be overtopped with water beginning to encroach into the edges of Rock Rapids structures nearest the river.
16 ft
The higher banks on the left side become overtopped and more significant agriculture flooding begins.
15 ft
Much of the campground at Island Park in Rock Rapids is flooded.
13 ft
The lower banks become overtopped, including the lower lying areas of the Island Park Campground
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 21, 2024 | 28.65 ft | 44,000 cfs |
| Jun 16, 2014 | 26.98 ft | 33,800 cfs |
| Sep 24, 2010 | 22.25 ft | 18,200 cfs |
About This Gauge
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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 Rock River at Rock Rapids?
The Rock River at Rock Rapids gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06483290) 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 Rock River at Rock Rapids?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Rock River at Rock Rapids is 13 feet. Action stage begins at 11 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 16 feet, and major flooding at 19 feet.
How do I get alerts when Rock River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Rock River at Rock Rapids 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 Rock River at Rock Rapids gauge located?
The gauge is located in Lyon County, Iowa at coordinates 43.4231°N, 96.1647°W. USGS site number: 06483290. 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 48 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 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time.
- Gauge reading may be affected by ice.