Rivers in Minnesota

Minnesota River at Granite Falls

Chippewa County, MinnesotaNWS GTEM5USGS 05311150Chanhassen office

Below flood stage
880.03ftStage

Observed Tue, Sep 22, 3:15 AM CDT

Flood stage
885.00 ft
Record crest
899.84 ft1997

Open the live map with the river flood outlook

Flood stages and impacts

CategoryStage
Major flood892.00 ft
Moderate flood889.00 ft
Minor flood885.00 ft
Action883.00 ft
  1. 899.50 ftFlood waters begin to impact the low steel on the Highway 212 bridge.
  2. 897.20 ftWater reaches the low steel of the Walking Bridge (west end).
  3. 890.30 ftFlood waters begin to affect Highway 67 southeast of Granite Falls.
  4. 890.00 ftFlood waters from the diversion begin to affect 11th Ave west of Granite Falls...which cuts off access to the events center.
  5. 889.50 ftFlood waters begin to top the controlling bank at Highway 212.
  6. 889.30 ftWater begins to cover Minnesota Ave. in Rice Park.
  7. 889.10 ftFlood waters begin to flow over Dikes Road and into the natural diversion that starts upstream of Granite Falls...water flows west and south of the city, reentering the river just below highway 212.
  8. 885.00 ftFlood waters begin to reach the alley way along the river at the foot bridge.
  9. 883.50 ftWater begins to reach the deck of the fishing pier just downstream from the Walking Bridge.

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

32 crests on NOAA’s list since 1917.

#DateStage
1April 7, 1997899.84 ft
2April 12, 1969896.54 ft
3April 15, 2001895.84 ft
4April 10, 1952894.64 ft
5June 25, 1919894.24 ft
6April 7, 2011893.55 ft
7March 31, 2019893.52 ft
8March 23, 2010893.12 ft
9April 14, 1965892.64 ft
10April 11, 1951892.44 ft
11April 27, 2001892.14 ft
12April 4, 1917891.84 ft
13June 30, 1953891.64 ft
14April 4, 1943891.44 ft
15July 13, 1920891.34 ft
16March 30, 2009891.24 ft
17March 30, 2009891.24 ft
18April 16, 1947891.24 ft
19April 18, 2023890.54 ft
20July 2, 2011888.89 ft
21June 25, 2014888.13 ft
22May 18, 2022887.30 ft
23April 29, 2018886.54 ft
24June 22, 2012885.97 ft
25June 8, 2024884.96 ft

Most recent crests

  • June 8, 2024: 884.96 ft
  • April 18, 2023: 890.54 ft
  • May 18, 2022: 887.30 ft
  • April 14, 2021: 882.64 ft
  • April 3, 2020: 884.67 ft
  • March 31, 2019: 893.52 ft
  • April 29, 2018: 886.54 ft
  • October 13, 2017: 884.85 ft
  • December 5, 2016: 884.01 ft
  • August 13, 2016: 883.73 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.

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.