Rivers in Iowa
West Fork Des Moines River at Estherville
Below flood stage
2.49ftStage
Observed Thu, Sep 24, 4:45 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 10.00 ft
- Record crest
- 17.94 ft2024
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 14.50 ft |
| Moderate flood | 13.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 10.00 ft |
| Action | 6.00 ft |
- 21.50 ftAn electrical box near the NE corner of Woodys may need to be sandbagged.
- 20.00 ftAn electrical box at West Central Ave/IA 9 near the NE corner of the intersection with W 1st St N may need to be sandbagged.
- 19.00 ftElectrical boxes south of vacant lot at 31 W 1st St S may need to be sandbagged.
- 18.00 ftThe Power Plant may need to sandbag the west banks.
- 17.50 ftWater affects IA 9 just west of the river. IA 9 is closed to thru traffic. The Power Plant may monitor sandbagging operations on the west banks by the power plant. The parking lot west of the VFW is completely flooded. Residents at 39 W 1st St S may need to sandbag. Water overtops St. James Ave/Co Rd A34 by the bridge in Wallingford.
- 17.00 ftThe intersection of W 1st St S and W 1st Ave S is closed. Valley Dr may need to be closed. Evacuation orders may be needed for the residents in and near Valley Dr. Water overtops Co Rd N26 north of Tom and Jerry’s Bridge. Residents at 502, 503 and 608 on W 1st St S as well as residents at 206 in Valley Dr may need to sandbag their properties. An electrical box on the west side at 105 W 1st Ave N may need to be sandbagged.
- 16.50 ftRoad closure are expanded from Valley Dr to W 1st Ave S on W 1st St S. On W 1st St N the road closure is expanded north of Woodys parking lot to the residence at 221. Water begins affecting the parking lot west of the VFW. Water affects a residence driveway at 1660 375th Ave. An electrical box may need to be sandbagged at the southwest corner of W 1st St and W 2nd Ave S. Electrical boxes at 115 W 1st St may need to be sandbagged.
- 16.00 ftResidents at 215 W 1st St N may need to sandbag their properties. Water affects Valley Dr. Residents may need to be notified of the road possibly being closed due to water over the road. Co Rd A33 (River View Bridge) is closed. The Power Plant may start monitoring the basement for floodwater.
- 15.50 ftRoad closures expand south of W 1st Ave N intersection to the residence at 215 W 1st St N. Road closures also expand to the residence south of 109 to north of Valley Dr. Residents 122 and 222 on W 1st St N may need sandbag their properties.
- 15.00 ftAn electrical box on the south property line of 303 W 1st St S may need to be sandbagged.
- 14.50 ftWater affects residences along W 1st St north and south of IA 9 as well as along Valley Dr.
- 14.00 ftThe Estherville wastewater treatment plant may possibly start bypassing water on W 1st St S.
- 13.50 ftBackwater from the river causes School Creek to flood Valley Dr. Road closures are expanded on W 1st St N from 109 to 209. Water begins affecting Burr Oak Rd South of Wallingford.
- 12.50 ftWater affects W 1st St north and south of IA 9. W 1st St S is closed from the residence at 303 to just south of Valley Dr. W 1st St N is closed from the residence at 121 to 201 which will also cause the intersection of W 2nd Ave N and W 1st St N to be closed.
- 12.00 ftWater affects the low areas of W 1st St south of IA 9 as well as residences on Valley Dr along School Creek.
- 11.00 ftWater inundates Mike Mickelson Park south of IA 9.
- 10.00 ftExtensive lowland flooding occurs particularly over the parkland areas near the river.
- 7.00 ftWater affects Mike Mickelson Park south of IA 9 as well as North Riverside Park north of IA 9. Backwater from the river causes School Creek to affect the low areas of Valley Dr.
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
54 crests on NOAA’s list since 1952.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 24, 2024 | 17.94 ft |
| 2 | April 12, 1969 | 17.68 ft |
| 3 | April 10, 1965 | 15.61 ft |
| 4 | June 8, 1953 | 15.53 ft |
| 5 | June 30, 1993 | 15.38 ft |
| 6 | March 25, 2019 | 15.24 ft |
| 7 | July 9, 2018 | 14.89 ft |
| 8 | April 14, 1984 | 14.30 ft |
| 9 | July 6, 1983 | 12.66 ft |
| 10 | April 6, 1962 | 12.22 ft |
| 11 | March 25, 1961 | 12.03 ft |
| 12 | April 6, 1952 | 11.82 ft |
| 13 | September 28, 1986 | 11.27 ft |
| 14 | June 11, 1991 | 11.11 ft |
| 15 | August 27, 1979 | 10.99 ft |
| 16 | April 5, 1960 | 10.79 ft |
| 17 | March 9, 2020 | 10.78 ft |
| 18 | April 1, 1971 | 10.54 ft |
| 19 | March 6, 1994 | 10.10 ft |
| 20 | June 1, 1959 | 10.04 ft |
| 21 | June 19, 1994 | 9.95 ft |
| 22 | November 9, 1979 | 9.21 ft |
| 23 | April 21, 2023 | 9.04 ft |
| 24 | April 30, 1985 | 8.77 ft |
| 25 | March 7, 1992 | 8.59 ft |
Most recent crests
- July 5, 2025: 5.31 ft
- June 24, 2024: 17.94 ft
- April 21, 2023: 9.04 ft
- June 15, 2022: 7.84 ft
- April 13, 2021: 3.80 ft
- March 9, 2020: 10.78 ft
- March 25, 2019: 15.24 ft
- July 9, 2018: 14.89 ft
- May 23, 2017: 8.01 ft
- June 19, 1994: 9.95 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
- UpstreamWest Fork Des Moines River at Jackson
- DownstreamWest Fork Des Moines River at Emmetsburg
- East Okoboji Lake at Spirit Lake
- East Okoboji Lake at East/West Okoboji Lake Channel
- Spirit Lake at Orleans
- Milford Creek at Lower Gar Lake Outlet
- Loon Creek at Orleans
- West Okoboji Lake at Milford
- Little Sioux River at Milford
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.