West Fork Des Moines River above Windom
Minnesota — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Cottonwood County, Minnesota on the West Fork Des Moines River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05475350, 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
21 ft
Minor Flood
19 ft
Action Stage
17 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
30 ft
The bridge at the gage location on Country Club Dr is overtopped and nearby homes are flooded. Portions of County Road 13 begin to flood.
27 ft
Highway 71 in Windom is flooded and significant flooding of homes and businesses will be ongoing. The main levee at the golf course in Windom is overtopped.
25 ft
Water approaches Hwy 71 in Windom as well as the bottom of the railroad bridge. A significant amount of water overtops River Rd and backs up through the Perkins Creek floodplain, flooding nearby homes and outbuildings.
24 ft
Water reaches the bottom beams of the bridge on Country Club Dr.
23 ft
Water begins to approach at least a couple homes and businesses in Windom. Water also approaches River Rd southeast of 15th Ave and at least one private driveway is flooded off of Country Club Dr.
22 ft
Water begins to approach or flood some outbuildings near Valley Ln and also south of 6th St.
21 ft
The lower portions of the road through Island Park are overtopped and water approaches a couple of the gravel parking lots on the east side of Hwy 71 in Windom.
19 ft
Lowland flooding begins along several stretches of the river and Island Park in Windom floods in several areas.
18 ft
The boat launch area off of River Rd begins to flood.
17 ft
The lower parking lot on the south side of Island Park begins to flood.
15 ft
The lower banks at Island Park begin to overflow.
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 24, 2024 | 25.01 ft | 12,700 cfs |
| Jun 24, 2024 | 25.01 ft | 12,700 cfs |
| Apr 10, 1969 | 24.7 ft | — |
| Apr 10, 1969 | 24.7 ft | — |
| Jul 6, 2018 | 23.4 ft | — |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
WDOM5
River
West Fork Des Moines River
County
Cottonwood, MN
Coordinates
43.8903°N, 95.1611°W
Get Flood Alerts for West Fork Des Moines 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 West Fork Des Moines River above Windom?
The West Fork Des Moines River above Windom gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05475350) 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 West Fork Des Moines River above Windom?
The NWS-defined flood stage for West Fork Des Moines River above Windom is 19 feet. Action stage begins at 17 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 21 feet, and major flooding at 25 feet.
How do I get alerts when West Fork Des Moines River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add West Fork Des Moines River above Windom 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 West Fork Des Moines River above Windom gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cottonwood County, Minnesota at coordinates 43.8903°N, 95.1611°W. USGS site number: 05475350. 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.