Major Flood
14 ft
Current Water Level
Gage Height
Loading...
Streamflow
Loading...
Last Reading
Loading...
FLOOD STAGES
Know the flood categories.
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
Moderate Flood
12.5 ft
Minor Flood
12 ft
Action Stage
10 ft
What Floods at Each Level
19 ft
The bridge on Hwy 71 in Jackson is overtopped.
17.5 ft
The highest levees in Jackson are overtopped causing major flooding of roads, homes, and businesses in Jackson.
15 ft
The low portions of River St begin to flood.
14 ft
Highway 71 will begin flooding, and flooding begins to affect homes and businesses along the non-leveed portions of the river in Jackson. Most of Ashley Park is flooded and the baseball fields are under 3-4 feet of water.
13.5 ft
The lower levees in Jackson are overtopped. Water begins to approach the edge of Highway 71 in Jackson and may approach some structures. Water reaches the bottom of the bridge on W Ashley St.
12.5 ft
The parks and softball fields in Jackson begin to flood.
12 ft
Some township roads may begin flooding and flooding of crop and pasture lands becomes more widespread. Portions of the bike trail in Jackson along the river begin to flood.
10 ft
Flooding of lowland agricultural areas and low-water crossings begins.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
7-Day Water Level Chart
Loading chart data...
Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2024 | 16.04 ft | 13,500 cfs |
| Mar 23, 2019 | 14.08 ft | 9,880 cfs |
| Jul 7, 2018 | 13.92 ft | 9,600 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
JCKM5
River
West Fork Des Moines River
County
Jackson, MN
Coordinates
43.6208°N, 94.9847°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 at Jackson?
The West Fork Des Moines River at Jackson gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05476000) 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 at Jackson?
The NWS-defined flood stage for West Fork Des Moines River at Jackson is 12 feet. Action stage begins at 10 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 12.5 feet, and major flooding at 14 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 at Jackson 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 West Fork Des Moines River at Jackson gauge located?
The gauge is located in Jackson County, Minnesota at coordinates 43.6208°N, 94.9847°W. USGS site number: 05476000. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
More Gauges on West Fork Des Moines River
On This River
Upstream: West Fork Des Moines River above Windom
Downstream: West Fork Des Moines River at Estherville
More Resources
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.