Red River of the North at Fargo
North Dakota — Water Level & Flood Stage
Located in Cass County, North Dakota on the Red River of the North. Live water level data from USGS gauge 05054000, 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
30 ft
Moderate Flood
25 ft
Minor Flood
18 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
40.84 ft
RECORD FLOOD. March 28, 2009 (instantaneous measurement).
40 ft
25th Street S bridge over Rose Coulee closes (Fargo).
39 ft
36th Street S bridge and 40th Avenue S bridge over Drain 27 close (Fargo).
38.5 ft
11th Street N is closed near 28th Avenue N (Moorhead).
38 ft
28th Avenue North is closed at Ditch #41 (Moorhead).
37.5 ft
Oakport Street N is closed near 50th Avenue N (Moorhead).
37 ft
Convent Bridge at 52nd Ave S is closed (Fargo).
36 ft
Placing of sandbags starts if the river is forecast to rise above 38 ft (Fargo).
34 ft
Northern Pacific Ave (Fargo)/Center Ave (Moorhead) bridge clearance.
33 ft
Wall Street Avenue N is closed (Moorhead).
32 ft
Removable floodwalls installed along 2nd Street (Fargo). 1st Avenue N bridge across Red River closed.
31 ft
1st Avenue N underpass is closed (Moorhead).
30 ft
MAJOR FLOOD.
28 ft
Rivershore Drive underpass at I-94 is closed (Moorhead). 12th Avenue N/15th Avenue N bridge over Red River is closed (Fargo/Moorhead).
25 ft
MODERATE FLOOD. City parks and recreation areas along the river begin to flood (Fargo). All storm sewer lift stations are in operation (Fargo).
21 ft
3rd Street underpass is closed (Moorhead).
19 ft
Low-level dam south of Main Ave is closed (Fargo).
18 ft
MINOR FLOOD. Elm St between 14th and 15th Ave N is closed (Fargo). Storm sewer pump stations are beginning to operate (Fargo).
17 ft
ACTION STAGE/FORECAST SERVICE STAGE. Water rises to the edge of the bike path at El Zagal bowl along Elm St N between 14th and 15th Ave (Fargo).
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 27, 2009 | 40.84 ft | 29,500 cfs |
| Mar 27, 2009 | 40.84 ft | 29,500 cfs |
| Apr 17, 1997 | 39.72 ft | — |
| Apr 17, 1997 | 39.72 ft | — |
| Apr 6, 1897 | 39.1 ft | 25,000 cfs |
About This Gauge
USGS Site
NWS LID
FGON8
River
Red River of the North
County
Cass, ND
Coordinates
46.8611°N, 96.7833°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 Fargo?
The Red River of the North at Fargo gauge is maintained by USGS (site 05054000) 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 Fargo?
The NWS-defined flood stage for Red River of the North at Fargo is 18 feet. Action stage begins at 17 feet. Moderate flooding starts at 25 feet, and major flooding at 30 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 Fargo 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 Fargo gauge located?
The gauge is located in Cass County, North Dakota at coordinates 46.8611°N, 96.7833°W. USGS site number: 05054000. 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.