James River near Forestburg
Observed Sat, Sep 26, 9:15 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 12.00 ft
- Record crest
- 20.61 ft1997
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 18.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 14.50 ft |
| Minor flood | 12.00 ft |
| Action | 10.00 ft |
- 20.00 ft405th Ave is flooded and thus most river crossings are impassible resulting in significant travel disruptions.
- 19.00 ftPortions of Hwy 34 begin to flood and the bridge on 407th at the gauge is overtopped.
- 18.00 ftCounty Road 21 in northern Davison County will be flooded and water may begin to impact the gauge house.
- 16.00 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gauge on 407th and the road north of the bridge may be flooded.
- 14.50 ftMany of the county roads in the area are impassible including 407th, 240th, 241st and 243rd and some roads are under water for as much as 1/2 mile.
- 13.00 ft241st St begins to flood where it crosses the river.
- 12.00 ftSignificant portions of the floodplain begin to flood and a couple county or township roads may begin to flood.
- 10.00 ftThe lowest banks begin to flood
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 24% |
| Moderate flooding | 9% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued September 23, 2026.
Crest history
78 crests on NOAA’s list since 1920.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 6, 1997 | 20.61 ft |
| 2 | March 25, 2011 | 20.27 ft |
| 3 | March 25, 2010 | 19.14 ft |
| 4 | May 8, 2007 | 18.93 ft |
| 5 | April 10, 2001 | 18.84 ft |
| 6 | March 29, 1920 | 18.00 ft |
| 7 | March 24, 1922 | 18.00 ft |
| 8 | April 25, 2019 | 17.37 ft |
| 9 | April 22, 1995 | 17.26 ft |
| 10 | April 9, 1969 | 17.16 ft |
| 11 | March 31, 1962 | 16.40 ft |
| 12 | April 2, 1960 | 16.27 ft |
| 13 | May 14, 2009 | 16.03 ft |
| 14 | May 13, 1986 | 15.76 ft |
| 15 | June 25, 1984 | 15.75 ft |
| 16 | March 24, 1994 | 15.73 ft |
| 17 | April 16, 1952 | 15.46 ft |
| 18 | March 12, 2020 | 15.45 ft |
| 19 | April 26, 2023 | 15.37 ft |
| 20 | April 2, 1978 | 15.24 ft |
| 21 | May 30, 1950 | 15.06 ft |
| 22 | May 22, 1999 | 14.75 ft |
| 23 | March 29, 1987 | 14.59 ft |
| 24 | May 24, 1998 | 14.53 ft |
| 25 | August 4, 1993 | 14.13 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 26, 2025: 12.28 ft
- June 25, 2024: 12.08 ft
- April 26, 2023: 15.37 ft
- June 13, 2022: 13.98 ft
- April 13, 2021: 6.95 ft
- March 12, 2020: 15.45 ft
- April 25, 2019: 17.37 ft
- April 24, 2018: 12.70 ft
- March 25, 2017: 8.56 ft
- April 30, 2016: 7.41 ft
Nearby
Upstream, downstream and the gauges around this one.
What this means
Forecasts by the Missouri Basin 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 48 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 24 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. Gauge reading may be affected by ice.
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.