Missouri River at St. Charles
Missouri — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in St. Louis County, Missouri on the Missouri River. Live water level data from USGS gauge 06935965, 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
36 ft
Moderate Flood
30 ft
Minor Flood
25 ft
Action Stage
23 ft
Flood stages defined by the National Weather Service. Gage height data from USGS Water Resources.
What Floods at Each Level
42.2 ft
This is the approximate minimum level of protection provided by the Monarch levee protecting Chesterfield Valley. Since this gage is affected by Mississippi River backwater, the actual level of overtopping may be higher.
38 ft
Floor of the gage house.
37 ft
Residences north of St. Charles become cut off near this height.
36 ft
Major flooding begins. The levee at the Highway 370 bridge is overtopped.
35 ft
The levee at the Highway 370 bridge overtops near this height. Missouri State Route F northwest of Defiance along Femme Osage Creek will be closed near this height.
34.5 ft
Missouri Highway 94 near Route H will be closed in both directions near this height.
33 ft
Up to 7 non-Federal levees are overtopped. (USACE)
32.5 ft
The west end of Greens Bottom Road floods. This road connects Pittman Hill Road and Jungs Station Road south of 94.
32 ft
Near this height, Missouri Bottom Road begins flooding between Prouhet Farm Road and Aubuchon Road.
30.7 ft
Near this height, the base of the Lewis and Clark Boat House will begin flooding.
28 ft
Near this height, Aubuchon Road and Charbonier Road begin flooding between Teson Road and Riverwood Estates Boulevard.
27 ft
The Katy Trail begins flooding near this height along Hawning Road, about 2 miles north northeast of the Highway 370 bridge.
25 ft
Downstream near this stage, Missouri Route H at Island Road and agricultural bottomland may begin flooding, depending on Mississippi River flow and backwater.
21 ft
An access road to farmland on Bonhomme Island gets cut off above this height.
Impact statements from the National Weather Service, describing what typically happens at each water level.
Low-Water Impacts
7.0 feet
The City of St. Louis Water Plant at Howard Bend is on alert for potential operational issues with low water.
4.0 - 4.5
The first of two treatment train intakes at the Missouri American Water North plant may need to be shut down as water drops below the top of these intakes.
4.0 feet
The City of St. Louis Water Plant at Howard Bend begins monitoring the potential loss of suction prime on the water pumps.
2.0 - 3.2
The Missouri American Water Central Plant begins monitoring a developing vortex in the intake pool to ensure adequate intake volume.
1.0 feet
The Missouri American Water North Plant may need to shut down the last treatment train as water drops below the top of the these intakes.
0 - 1 ft.
The Missouri American Water Central Plant may need to shut down as water levels fall below the top of these intakes.
-1.0 ft.
At the City of St. Louis Water Plant at Howard Bend, critical shutdown is possible with additional pumps needed to avoid shutdown as water drops below the top of these intakes.
What happens as water levels drop, per the National Weather Service.
7-Day Water Level Chart
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Historic Crests
| Date | Stage | Flow |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 23, 1844 | 40.11 ft | — |
| Jun 23, 1844 | 40.11 ft | — |
| Aug 1, 1993 | 40.04 ft | — |
| Aug 1, 1993 | 40.04 ft | — |
| Oct 6, 1986 | 37.5 ft | — |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
SCLM7
River
Missouri River
County
St. Louis, MO
Coordinates
38.7889°N, 90.4708°W
Get Flood Alerts for Missouri 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 Missouri River at St. Charles?
The Missouri River at St. Charles gauge is maintained by USGS (site 06935965) 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 Missouri River at St. Charles?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Missouri River at St. Charles is 25 feet. Action stage begins at 23 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 30 feet, and major flooding at 36 feet.
How do I get alerts when Missouri River rises?
Download StormCast free on Google Play, go to River Gauges, and add Missouri River at St. Charles 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 Missouri River at St. Charles gauge located?
The gauge is located in St. Louis County, Missouri at coordinates 38.7889°N, 90.4708°W. USGS site number: 06935965. Data is provided by the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service.
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Source & Notes
Data provided by: US Geological Survey, 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.