Red River of the North at Grand Forks
Observed Thu, Sep 24, 9:45 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 28.00 ft
- Record crest
- 54.35 ft1997
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 46.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 40.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 28.00 ft |
| Action | 27.00 ft |
- 63.00 ftTop of the flood walls for the city of Grand Forks.
- 60.00 ftTop of the levee constructed by the Corps of Engineers for the city of Grand Forks.
- 57.00 ftMallory Bridge closes. (East Grand Forks)
- 55.00 ftClose Business Highway 2 with earthen closures. (East Grand Forks)
- 54.35 ft**** Record flood level - 22 April 1997...from floodmarks. ****
- 53.50 ftClose Highway 220 with earthen closures. (East Grand Forks)
- 53.00 ftTop of the rails on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Bridge over the Red River.
- 52.60 ftWater on Gateway Drive approach to Kennedy Bridge. (Grand Forks)
- 52.00 ftClose railroad at US Highway 2 and Kennedy Bridge with earthen closures.
- 50.10 ftHill St closure to be assembled. (East Grand Forks)
- 48.50 ftSecond Ave NE at 2nd St NE closure to be constructed. Bygland Road at Murray Bridge closure to be assembled. Murray Bridge closed. (East Grand Forks)
- 47.00 ftHill St railroad closure and 4th St NW road closure to be assembled. (East Grand Forks)
- 46.50 ftTwelfth St NW road closure assembled. Twelfth St NW closed at River Road. (East Grand Forks)
- 46.20 ftWater on Demers Ave at Sorlie Bridge. (Grand Forks)
- 46.00 ftMAJOR FLOOD STAGE.
- 45.00 ftTop of the elevation of the low level levee protecting Riverside Park. (Grand Forks)
- 44.90 ftWater on East Grand Forks approach to the Point Bridge.
- 44.00 ftRiver Road and 17th St NW closure to be assembled. River Road/4th St NW closed from 17th St NW to 5th Ave NW. (East Grand Forks)
- 43.50 ftDemers Ave closure to be assembled and closed at River St Sorlie Bridge closes. Downtown invisible floodwall to be assembled.
- 42.00 ftRoad entering Riverside Park is closed. (Grand Forks)
- 41.50 ftFlood gates on English Coulee are closed, pump station and diversion gates are activated. (Grand Forks)
- 40.00 ftMODERATE FLOOD STAGE. Extensive flooding along the greenway. (Grand Forks) Point Bridge closes due to water on approach and Eagles Point Trail Head/Park closes. (East Grand Forks)
- 38.00 ftFlood gates are closed and storm water pumping stations are activated. (Grand Forks)
- 36.50 ftRiver Heights Trail Head and Park closed. (East Grand Forks)
- 34.00 ftFourth St underpass at Gateway Drive (Hwy 2) closes. (East Grand Forks)
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 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
146 crests on NOAA’s list since 1882.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 22, 1997 | 54.35 ft |
| 2 | April 10, 1897 | 50.20 ft |
| 3 | April 14, 2011 | 49.86 ft |
| 4 | April 1, 2009 | 49.33 ft |
| 5 | April 26, 1979 | 48.81 ft |
| 6 | April 18, 1882 | 48.00 ft |
| 7 | April 6, 2006 | 47.93 ft |
| 8 | April 10, 2020 | 47.70 ft |
| 9 | April 11, 2019 | 46.94 ft |
| 10 | March 20, 2010 | 46.09 ft |
| 11 | April 26, 2022 | 46.07 ft |
| 12 | April 21, 1996 | 45.93 ft |
| 13 | April 11, 1978 | 45.73 ft |
| 14 | April 16, 1969 | 45.69 ft |
| 15 | May 12, 1950 | 45.61 ft |
| 16 | April 4, 1966 | 45.55 ft |
| 17 | April 24, 1893 | 45.50 ft |
| 18 | April 17, 1965 | 44.92 ft |
| 19 | April 14, 2001 | 44.87 ft |
| 20 | April 12, 1989 | 44.37 ft |
| 21 | April 1, 1999 | 44.26 ft |
| 22 | April 23, 1975 | 43.30 ft |
| 23 | July 14, 1975 | 43.08 ft |
| 24 | April 26, 1883 | 42.20 ft |
| 25 | April 16, 1948 | 41.68 ft |
Most recent crests
- April 15, 2026: 27.12 ft
- August 12, 2025: 20.01 ft
- May 29, 2024: 27.34 ft
- April 24, 2023: 40.80 ft
- April 26, 2022: 46.07 ft
- April 14, 2021: 18.36 ft
- April 10, 2020: 47.70 ft
- October 16, 2019: 40.93 ft
- April 11, 2019: 46.94 ft
- April 24, 2018: 35.02 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
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. 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.
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.