Rivers in Iowa
South Fork Chariton River near Promise City
Below flood stage
4.32ftStage
Observed Sat, Sep 26, 11:45 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 25.00 ft
- Record crest
- 34.84 ft1992
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 31.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 28.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 25.00 ft |
| Action | 22.00 ft |
- 34.80 ftSeveral area roads are closed.
- 30.00 ftWater reaches the top of the guardrail of the 200th St bridge.
- 28.00 ftWater reaches the road surface of 200th St bridge.
- 26.00 ftThe south approach to the 200th St bridge overflows.
- 24.00 ftWater threatens the south approach to the 200th St bridge and nears the underside of the bridge itself.
- 22.00 ftWidespread agricultural flooding occurs.
- 20.00 ftWater affects agricultural land in close proximity to the river.
- 18.00 ftWater flows into nearby agricultural fields.
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 23, 2026.
Crest history
66 crests on NOAA’s list since 1965.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 15, 1992 | 34.84 ft |
| 2 | July 4, 1981 | 29.95 ft |
| 3 | August 24, 2007 | 28.41 ft |
| 4 | April 18, 2013 | 27.22 ft |
| 5 | July 25, 2008 | 25.78 ft |
| 6 | September 21, 1965 | 25.50 ft |
| 7 | July 20, 2010 | 25.46 ft |
| 8 | July 5, 1993 | 25.09 ft |
| 9 | July 29, 2015 | 24.00 ft |
| 10 | August 27, 2009 | 23.84 ft |
| 11 | June 3, 1980 | 22.92 ft |
| 12 | May 29, 2019 | 22.60 ft |
| 13 | July 16, 1982 | 22.32 ft |
| 14 | May 27, 1996 | 22.29 ft |
| 15 | April 10, 1978 | 21.92 ft |
| 16 | April 25, 2010 | 21.89 ft |
| 17 | June 4, 2014 | 21.57 ft |
| 18 | May 11, 2002 | 21.50 ft |
| 19 | August 8, 1970 | 21.32 ft |
| 20 | May 26, 2011 | 21.23 ft |
| 21 | December 14, 2015 | 21.12 ft |
| 22 | May 3, 2024 | 21.01 ft |
| 23 | October 9, 1970 | 20.98 ft |
| 24 | April 23, 1968 | 20.96 ft |
| 25 | May 17, 1986 | 20.95 ft |
Most recent crests
- July 20, 2025: 20.75 ft
- May 3, 2024: 21.01 ft
- February 27, 2023: 11.60 ft
- November 11, 2021: 19.13 ft
- March 27, 2021: 13.87 ft
- April 18, 2020: 12.86 ft
- May 29, 2019: 22.60 ft
- September 6, 2018: 17.58 ft
- April 5, 2017: 18.35 ft
- December 14, 2015: 21.12 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.
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.