Upper Iowa River at Decorah
Observed Mon, Sep 21, 10:45 PM CDT
- Flood stage
- 12.00 ft
- Record crest
- 17.90 ft2008
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 14.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 13.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 12.00 ft |
| Action | 9.00 ft |
- 19.50 ftWater may begin to overtop the protective levee.
- 17.50 ftCollege Drive bridge is closed.
- 17.00 ftExterior lanes along College Drive Bridge are closed. Homes along Riverview Drive north of 5th Street begin to inundate.
- 16.50 ftPole Line Road is closed as well as Highway 52 at Pole Line Road. Downstream community of Freeport begins evacuating.
- 16.00 ftValley View Drive is closed.
- 15.00 ftSandbagging operations begin in Freeport. Pulpit Rock Campground are evacuated. Homes along Valley View Drive south are evacuated. Homes along Riverview Drive north of 5th Street are threatened.
- 14.50 ftNorthern road to Freeport is closed.
- 14.00 ftMajor flooding may occur outside the areas protected by the levee. Ice Cave Road is closed.
- 13.00 ftResidential flooding on the west side of town is possible. Street and storm sewer flooding on the east side of town south of the levee can cause basement flooding if flood stage is exceeded for an extended period of time.
- 12.00 ftResidential areas are threatened on the west edge of Decorah just before the levee protecting the town begins. City begins to initiate sandbagging operations. Luther College Dike Road is closed.
- 10.00 ftCity begins to set up pumping operations in high risk areas across town.
- 9.00 ftAgricultural flooding occurs outside of the town of Decorah.
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
70 crests on NOAA’s list since 1951.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | June 9, 2008 | 17.90 ft |
| 2 | August 17, 1993 | 14.35 ft |
| 3 | August 24, 2016 | 13.68 ft |
| 4 | March 27, 1961 | 13.08 ft |
| 5 | June 1, 2000 | 12.31 ft |
| 6 | June 10, 2018 | 11.87 ft |
| 7 | June 23, 2013 | 11.67 ft |
| 8 | June 30, 1969 | 11.35 ft |
| 9 | March 30, 1962 | 11.32 ft |
| 10 | March 12, 1976 | 10.75 ft |
| 11 | June 28, 1998 | 10.64 ft |
| 12 | September 25, 1972 | 10.47 ft |
| 13 | June 12, 1967 | 10.46 ft |
| 14 | June 21, 1954 | 10.12 ft |
| 15 | April 8, 2001 | 10.06 ft |
| 16 | September 30, 1965 | 9.98 ft |
| 17 | August 25, 1990 | 9.89 ft |
| 18 | June 17, 1978 | 9.83 ft |
| 19 | June 10, 1974 | 9.82 ft |
| 20 | February 8, 1966 | 9.65 ft |
| 21 | August 3, 1953 | 9.58 ft |
| 22 | August 22, 2007 | 9.53 ft |
| 23 | October 13, 1986 | 9.50 ft |
| 24 | April 1, 1971 | 9.47 ft |
| 25 | March 15, 2019 | 9.44 ft |
Most recent crests
- February 27, 2023: 5.36 ft
- July 24, 2022: 5.09 ft
- August 30, 2021: 9.30 ft
- June 10, 2020: 7.46 ft
- March 15, 2019: 9.44 ft
- June 10, 2018: 11.87 ft
- February 22, 2017: 7.60 ft
- August 24, 2016: 13.68 ft
- June 22, 2015: 8.66 ft
- March 28, 2014: 6.12 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. 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. 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.
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.