Rivers in Iowa
South Skunk River near Ames US 30
Below flood stage
14.73ftStage
Observed Wed, Sep 23, 10:00 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 21.50 ft
- Record crest
- 26.72 ft2010
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 24.50 ft |
| Moderate flood | 23.50 ft |
| Minor flood | 21.50 ft |
| Action | 19.00 ft |
- 26.30 ftWater impacts I-35 south of US 30.
- 26.00 ftWater affects the US 30 bridge over the South Skunk River. Widespread flooding also occurs along Dayton Ave.
- 25.50 ftWidespread flooding of US 30 occurs.
- 25.00 ftWater affects I-35 south of US 30...US 30 between Dayton Ave and Duff Ave...as well as hotels and industries along Dayton Ave.
- 24.00 ftWater affects US 30 between Dayton Ave and Duff Ave. Basements also flood in Cambridge. Hotels on SE 16th St have water in their parking lots. Water may also affect SE 16th St.
- 23.00 ftWater affects the Shady Grove Trailer Park located at 1006 S Dayton Ave as well as the railroad just northeast of Cambridge.
- 21.00 ftWater affects S 16th St. Water also affects the sports complex along the river south of US 30.
- 20.50 ftWater affects gravel roads just upstream from US 30 as well as agricultural land from Ames downstream to northeast Polk County.
- 20.00 ftWater affects agricultural land from Ames to Cambridge.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | Under 5% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.
Crest history
66 crests on NOAA’s list since 1944.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 11, 2010 | 26.72 ft |
| 2 | June 27, 1975 | 25.57 ft |
| 3 | July 9, 1993 | 25.53 ft |
| 4 | June 17, 1990 | 25.40 ft |
| 5 | June 17, 1996 | 25.13 ft |
| 6 | May 30, 2008 | 24.70 ft |
| 7 | August 30, 2015 | 23.98 ft |
| 8 | July 1, 2014 | 23.79 ft |
| 9 | March 19, 1979 | 23.68 ft |
| 10 | March 30, 1960 | 23.20 ft |
| 11 | April 26, 2007 | 23.20 ft |
| 12 | June 23, 1974 | 23.19 ft |
| 13 | March 14, 2019 | 23.09 ft |
| 14 | May 19, 1944 | 23.00 ft |
| 15 | December 15, 2015 | 22.84 ft |
| 16 | July 4, 1958 | 22.82 ft |
| 17 | June 15, 1998 | 22.81 ft |
| 18 | June 15, 2018 | 22.77 ft |
| 19 | February 20, 1971 | 22.67 ft |
| 20 | April 6, 1965 | 22.59 ft |
| 21 | May 28, 2013 | 22.55 ft |
| 22 | August 16, 1977 | 22.43 ft |
| 23 | February 2, 1973 | 22.43 ft |
| 24 | August 28, 1954 | 22.36 ft |
| 25 | March 20, 1969 | 22.15 ft |
Most recent crests
- July 30, 2025: 18.76 ft
- May 9, 2024: 18.12 ft
- February 27, 2023: 19.53 ft
- June 15, 2022: 22.10 ft
- March 5, 2021: 12.46 ft
- May 27, 2020: 17.89 ft
- March 14, 2019: 23.09 ft
- June 15, 2018: 22.77 ft
- May 1, 2017: 16.95 ft
- January 21, 2017: 18.19 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamSouth Skunk River at IFC--Ames E 13th St
- DownstreamSouth Skunk River at Colfax
- Ioway Creek at IFC--Ames S Duff Ave
- Ioway Creek at Ames Lincoln Way
- Ioway Creek at IFC--Ames Stange Rd
- South Skunk River at Ames W Riverside Rd
- South Skunk River at Ames McFarland Park
- Ioway Creek at Ames Cameron School Rd
- Onion Creek
What this means
Forecasts by the North Central River Forecast Center. Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
Sources
Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service. Streamflow and the daily record from the U.S. Geological Survey.