Major Flood
14 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
13 ft
Minor Flood
12 ft
Action Stage
9 ft
What Floods at Each Level
19.5 ft
Water may begin to overtop the protective levee.
17.5 ft
College Drive bridge is closed.
17 ft
Exterior lanes along College Drive Bridge are closed. Homes along Riverview Drive north of 5th Street begin to inundate.
16.5 ft
Pole Line Road is closed as well as Highway 52 at Pole Line Road. Downstream community of Freeport begins evacuating.
16 ft
Valley View Drive is closed.
15 ft
Sandbagging operations begin in Freeport. Pulpit Rock Campground are evacuated. Homes along Valley View Drive south are evacuated. Homes along Riverview Drive north of 5th Street are threatened.
14.5 ft
Northern road to Freeport is closed.
14 ft
Major flooding may occur outside the areas protected by the levee. Ice Cave Road is closed.
13 ft
Residential flooding on the west side of town is possible. Street and storm sewer flooding on the east side of town south of the levee can cause basement flooding if flood stage is exceeded for an extended period of time.
12 ft
Residential areas are threatened on the west edge of Decorah just before the levee protecting the town begins. City begins to initiate sandbagging operations. Luther College Dike Road is closed.
10 ft
City begins to set up pumping operations in high risk areas across town.
9 ft
Agricultural flooding occurs outside of the town of Decorah.
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 | 17.9 ft | 34,100 cfs |
| Aug 16, 1993 | 14.35 ft | 20,500 cfs |
| Aug 24, 2016 | 13.68 ft | 19,800 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
DEHI4
River
Upper Iowa River
County
Winneshiek, IA
Coordinates
43.3049°N, 91.7955°W
Get Flood Alerts for Upper 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 Upper Iowa River at Decorah?
The Upper Iowa River at Decorah gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05387500) 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 Upper Iowa River at Decorah?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Upper Iowa River at Decorah is 12 feet. Action stage begins at 9 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 13 feet, and major flooding at 14 feet.
How do I get alerts when Upper Iowa River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Upper Iowa River at Decorah 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 Upper Iowa River at Decorah gauge located?
The gauge is located in Winneshiek County, Iowa at coordinates 43.3049°N, 91.7955°W. USGS site number: 05387500. 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.