Rivers in Iowa
Iowa River near Tama Hwy E49
Below flood stage
5.95ftStage
Observed Sun, Sep 27, 11:00 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 12.50 ft
- Record crest
- 15.20 ft2013
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 14.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 13.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 12.50 ft |
| Action | 11.00 ft |
- 15.00 ftWater affects Hwy E49 at Battleground Rd.
- 14.90 ftWater affects Hwy E49 where it crosses the Iowa River.
- 14.30 ftWater affects US 63 south of Tama near 340th St.
- 14.20 ftWater affects Hwy E66 at Hwy V18 south of Chelsea.
- 14.10 ftWater is on the edge of the road at Hwy E49 where it crosses the Iowa River.
- 14.00 ftWater affects Hwy E49 between D Ave and E Ave.
- 13.70 ftWater affects portions of Battleground Rd and Meskwaki Rd.
- 13.60 ftWater may cover US 30 east of Le Grand.
- 13.40 ftWater affects portions of 340th St at H Ave.
- 13.30 ftWater affects 360th St near the intersection with S Ave...or 1 1/4 miles west of Chelsea. The City of Chelsea is inaccessible from the south. Hwy E49 is down to one lane near the Iowa River in the Chelsea area.
- 13.00 ftWater may affect the outside lanes of portions of US 30. Water also affects several county roads.
- 12.80 ftWater affects portions of C Ave and D Ave from US 30 to the south.
- 12.50 ftBackwater from the Iowa River covers portions of Business 30 and S Prospect Dr in Toledo.
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
13 crests on NOAA’s list since 2012.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 28, 2013 | 15.20 ft |
| 2 | July 3, 2014 | 15.08 ft |
| 3 | December 16, 2015 | 14.08 ft |
| 4 | March 16, 2019 | 13.95 ft |
| 5 | May 24, 2024 | 13.69 ft |
| 6 | August 1, 2025 | 13.63 ft |
| 7 | September 1, 2015 | 13.39 ft |
| 8 | October 1, 2016 | 13.11 ft |
| 9 | September 5, 2018 | 13.04 ft |
| 10 | June 25, 2020 | 12.53 ft |
| 11 | March 1, 2023 | 11.03 ft |
| 12 | May 4, 2012 | 6.56 ft |
| 13 | March 8, 2021 | 5.82 ft |
Most recent crests
- August 1, 2025: 13.63 ft
- May 24, 2024: 13.69 ft
- March 1, 2023: 11.03 ft
- March 8, 2021: 5.82 ft
- June 25, 2020: 12.53 ft
- March 16, 2019: 13.95 ft
- September 5, 2018: 13.04 ft
- October 1, 2016: 13.11 ft
- December 16, 2015: 14.08 ft
- September 1, 2015: 13.39 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.
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.