Rivers in Iowa
Chariton River near Chariton
Below flood stage
10.27ftStage
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 12:45 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 19.50 ft
- Record crest
- 29.32 ft1992
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 29.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 26.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 19.50 ft |
| Action | 16.00 ft |
- 29.30 ftSeveral US...State and most county highways are closed.
- 28.00 ftWater approaches the top guardrail of the Hwy S43 bridge.
- 25.00 ftWater approaches the road surface of the Hwy S43 bridge.
- 23.00 ftErosion damage may occur along Hwy S43.
- 22.50 ftWater affects the approaches to the Hwy S43 bridge.
- 22.00 ftWater approaches the underside of the Hwy S43 bridge.
- 21.00 ftWater affects the low portions of Hwy S43.
- 19.80 ftWate affects 450th St.
- 18.00 ftWater affects about 18000 acres.
- 16.00 ftWater affects about 5000 acres.
- 15.00 ftWater affects nearby lowland areas.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 7% |
| Moderate flooding | Under 5% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 26, 2026.
Crest history
66 crests on NOAA’s list since 1947.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 15, 1992 | 29.32 ft |
| 2 | July 4, 1981 | 23.14 ft |
| 3 | March 1, 1960 | 23.00 ft |
| 4 | July 5, 1993 | 22.60 ft |
| 5 | June 5, 1947 | 21.65 ft |
| 6 | April 18, 2013 | 20.98 ft |
| 7 | June 2, 1980 | 20.84 ft |
| 8 | June 25, 2015 | 20.79 ft |
| 9 | October 9, 1982 | 20.74 ft |
| 10 | June 14, 1976 | 20.35 ft |
| 11 | July 28, 2008 | 20.33 ft |
| 12 | July 20, 2010 | 20.23 ft |
| 13 | October 12, 1973 | 20.20 ft |
| 14 | August 8, 1970 | 20.15 ft |
| 15 | October 9, 2018 | 19.98 ft |
| 16 | April 23, 1968 | 19.90 ft |
| 17 | May 29, 2019 | 19.89 ft |
| 18 | July 16, 1982 | 19.85 ft |
| 19 | September 21, 1978 | 19.79 ft |
| 20 | August 26, 1987 | 19.62 ft |
| 21 | June 21, 1967 | 19.53 ft |
| 22 | May 8, 2007 | 19.28 ft |
| 23 | April 19, 1991 | 19.07 ft |
| 24 | May 17, 1986 | 19.04 ft |
| 25 | July 31, 1985 | 19.01 ft |
Most recent crests
- July 21, 2025: 18.60 ft
- May 3, 2024: 17.63 ft
- February 27, 2023: 12.94 ft
- November 11, 2021: 17.68 ft
- July 15, 2021: 18.10 ft
- May 15, 2020: 17.86 ft
- May 29, 2019: 19.89 ft
- October 9, 2018: 19.98 ft
- September 6, 2018: 15.27 ft
- April 6, 2017: 18.10 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.