Rivers in Iowa
West Fork Des Moines River at Emmetsburg
Below flood stage
1.51ftStage
Observed Sun, Sep 27, 6:15 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 11.00 ft
- Record crest
- 15.47 ft2024
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 15.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 13.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 11.00 ft |
| Action | 9.00 ft |
- 15.20 ftWater affects Iowa 15 approximately 4 miles south of West Bend.
- 14.50 ftUS 18 is closed. Works Road floods near the cooperative.
- 14.00 ftSandbagging operations occur for businesses along US 18 on the west side of town in and near the flood plain.
- 13.50 ftWater threatens US 18 west of Emmetsburg as well as the Northern Natural Gas distribution plant. Sandbagging operations may occur for the sewer plant and wells.
- 13.00 ftClosure of Iowa 4 is likely. Water threatens some of the airport runways. Water flows into Boggess gravel pits.
- 12.50 ftWater affects Osgood Rd.
- 12.00 ftWater reaches sections of Iowa 4 south of Emmetsburg. The road to the rendering plant is closed.
- 11.50 ftWater affects southern portions of the airport field including approaches to the primary runway. Water also affects grass airstrips near hangars along the east side of the airfield.
- 11.00 ftWater threatens Iowa 4 in areas near the river overpass as well as the road to the rendering plant. The road to the sanitary landfill area is closed.
- 10.00 ftWater affects the flood plain and threatens the access road to the sanitary landfill area.
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 September 25, 2026.
Crest history
35 crests on NOAA’s list since 1969.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 24, 2024 | 15.47 ft |
| 2 | April 12, 1969 | 14.75 ft |
| 3 | June 30, 1993 | 13.80 ft |
| 4 | March 25, 2019 | 13.44 ft |
| 5 | July 10, 2018 | 13.26 ft |
| 6 | July 1, 1969 | 12.80 ft |
| 7 | June 24, 1984 | 12.60 ft |
| 8 | April 9, 2006 | 12.44 ft |
| 9 | April 14, 2001 | 12.38 ft |
| 10 | September 28, 2010 | 12.33 ft |
| 11 | June 20, 2014 | 12.33 ft |
| 12 | October 4, 2010 | 12.16 ft |
| 13 | March 15, 2007 | 11.33 ft |
| 14 | April 7, 1997 | 11.25 ft |
| 15 | September 17, 2004 | 10.43 ft |
| 16 | May 17, 1995 | 10.15 ft |
| 17 | May 2, 2016 | 9.77 ft |
| 18 | May 14, 2005 | 9.36 ft |
| 19 | November 15, 1998 | 9.19 ft |
| 20 | May 25, 1998 | 9.05 ft |
| 21 | March 11, 2020 | 9.03 ft |
| 22 | June 13, 2008 | 8.68 ft |
| 23 | May 22, 2017 | 8.57 ft |
| 24 | April 22, 2023 | 8.17 ft |
| 25 | June 24, 2013 | 7.68 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 19, 2025: 5.42 ft
- June 24, 2024: 15.47 ft
- April 22, 2023: 8.17 ft
- June 16, 2022: 6.51 ft
- March 29, 2021: 2.70 ft
- March 11, 2020: 9.03 ft
- March 25, 2019: 13.44 ft
- July 10, 2018: 13.26 ft
- May 22, 2017: 8.57 ft
- May 2, 2016: 9.77 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamWest Fork Des Moines River at Estherville
- DownstreamWest Fork Des Moines River at Humboldt
- Little Sioux River at Spencer
- East Fork Des Moines River at Algona
- Little Sioux River at Spencer / Highway 18
- Willow Creek (North Central IA) at Cornell
- Pilot Creek at Rolfe
- Ocheyedan River at Spencer
- Milford Creek at Lower Gar Lake Outlet
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.