Rivers in Michigan

Grand River at Lowell

Kent County, MichiganNWS LWLM4Grand Rapids office

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood20.00 ft
Moderate flood18.00 ft
Minor flood15.00 ft
Action10.00 ft
  1. 24.00 ftExpect major flooding of businesses and residences in the Lowell area. Railroad embankment on south bank overtopped.
  2. 20.00 ftExpect major flooding of businesses and residences in the Lowell area and high water affects the business district.
  3. 18.00 ftExpect moderate flooding of commercial buildings.
  4. 16.00 ftLowell fairgrounds flooded, low sections of Bowes Road, Division, Front Street, and Jackson flooded in the city of Lowell.
  5. 15.00 ftExpect minor flooding of commercial buildings.
  6. 10.00 ftRiver is bankfull. Expect flooding of low lying areas adjacent to the banks, including the south side of the ring road at the former fairgrounds on the south side of Lowell.
  7. 8.00 ftWater reaches the top of the boat launch at the former fairgrounds on the south side of Lowell.

Flood outlook

Chance of flooding, September to November

CategoryChance
Minor floodingUnder 5%
Moderate floodingUnder 5%
Major floodingUnder 5%

The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 28, 2026.

Crest history

31 crests on NOAA’s list since 1938.

#DateStage
1April 21, 201319.02 ft
2March 22, 194819.00 ft
3April 8, 194718.50 ft
4February 24, 201818.20 ft
5March 19, 194217.80 ft
6April 2, 196017.38 ft
7March 7, 197617.26 ft
8May 21, 202017.23 ft
9May 26, 200417.17 ft
10October 3, 198616.85 ft
11March 18, 194316.80 ft
12March 19, 198216.40 ft
13April 6, 195016.40 ft
14May 12, 195616.12 ft
15February 15, 193816.10 ft
16October 4, 198115.90 ft
17February 24, 199715.80 ft
18December 30, 200815.75 ft
19April 9, 201715.55 ft
20March 9, 194615.50 ft
21April 14, 201315.39 ft
22April 8, 198515.10 ft
23April 30, 200915.02 ft
24May 21, 200014.86 ft
25April 25, 199914.00 ft

Most recent crests

  • February 18, 2022: 10.14 ft
  • June 30, 2021: 13.25 ft
  • May 21, 2020: 17.23 ft
  • March 18, 2019: 13.80 ft
  • February 24, 2018: 18.20 ft
  • April 9, 2017: 15.55 ft
  • April 21, 2013: 19.02 ft
  • April 14, 2013: 15.39 ft
  • April 10, 2010: 10.35 ft
  • April 30, 2009: 15.02 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. Stage may be affected by ice during winter months.

Sources

Stage, flood stages, impacts and crest history from NOAA’s National Water Prediction Service.