Red River of the North at Grand Forks
Minnesota — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Polk County, Minnesota on the Red River of the North. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05082500, 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
46 ft
Moderate Flood
40 ft
Minor Flood
28 ft
Action Stage
27 ft
19,665 cfs
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
63 ft
Top of the flood walls for the city of Grand Forks.
60 ft
Top of the levee constructed by the Corps of Engineers for the city of Grand Forks.
57 ft
Mallory Bridge closes. (East Grand Forks)
55 ft
Close Business Highway 2 with earthen closures. (East Grand Forks)
54.35 ft
**** Record flood level - 22 April 1997...from floodmarks. ****
53.5 ft
Close Highway 220 with earthen closures. (East Grand Forks)
53 ft
Top of the rails on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Bridge over the Red River.
52.6 ft
Water on Gateway Drive approach to Kennedy Bridge. (Grand Forks)
52 ft
Close railroad at US Highway 2 and Kennedy Bridge with earthen closures.
50.1 ft
Hill St closure to be assembled. (East Grand Forks)
48.5 ft
Second Ave NE at 2nd St NE closure to be constructed. Bygland Road at Murray Bridge closure to be assembled. Murray Bridge closed. (East Grand Forks)
47 ft
Hill St railroad closure and 4th St NW road closure to be assembled. (East Grand Forks)
46.5 ft
Twelfth St NW road closure assembled. Twelfth St NW closed at River Road. (East Grand Forks)
46.2 ft
Water on Demers Ave at Sorlie Bridge. (Grand Forks)
46 ft
MAJOR FLOOD STAGE.
45 ft
Top of the elevation of the low level levee protecting Riverside Park. (Grand Forks)
44.9 ft
Water on East Grand Forks approach to the Point Bridge.
44 ft
River Road and 17th St NW closure to be assembled. River Road/4th St NW closed from 17th St NW to 5th Ave NW. (East Grand Forks)
43.5 ft
Demers Ave closure to be assembled and closed at River St Sorlie Bridge closes. Downtown invisible floodwall to be assembled.
42 ft
Road entering Riverside Park is closed. (Grand Forks)
41.5 ft
Flood gates on English Coulee are closed, pump station and diversion gates are activated. (Grand Forks)
40 ft
MODERATE FLOOD STAGE. Extensive flooding along the greenway. (Grand Forks) Point Bridge closes due to water on approach and Eagles Point Trail Head/Park closes. (East Grand Forks)
38 ft
Flood gates are closed and storm water pumping stations are activated. (Grand Forks)
36.5 ft
River Heights Trail Head and Park closed. (East Grand Forks)
34 ft
Fourth St underpass at Gateway Drive (Hwy 2) closes. (East Grand Forks)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 21, 1997 | 54.35 ft | — |
| Apr 21, 1997 | 54.35 ft | — |
| Apr 9, 1897 | 50.2 ft | 85,000 cfs |
| Apr 9, 1897 | 50.2 ft | 85,000 cfs |
| Apr 13, 2011 | 49.86 ft | 87,500 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
EGFM5
River
Red River of the North
County
Polk, MN
Coordinates
47.9269°N, 97.0289°W
Get Flood Alerts for Red River of the North
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 Red River of the North at Grand Forks?
The Red River of the North at Grand Forks gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05082500) 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 Red River of the North at Grand Forks?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Red River of the North at Grand Forks is 28 feet. Action stage begins at 27 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 40 feet, and major flooding at 46 feet.
How do I get alerts when Red River of the North rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Red River of the North at Grand Forks 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 Red River of the North at Grand Forks gauge located?
The gauge is located in Polk County, Minnesota at coordinates 47.9269°N, 97.0289°W. USGS site number: 05082500. 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.
- Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.