James River near Columbia
Observed Tue, Sep 22, 2:00 AM CDT
- Flood stage
- 13.00 ft
- Record crest
- 19.81 ft2011
Flood stages and impacts
| Category | Stage |
|---|---|
| Major flood | 18.00 ft |
| Moderate flood | 16.00 ft |
| Minor flood | 13.00 ft |
| Action | 12.00 ft |
- 23.00 ftWater begins to enter the south end of Columbia near the ballfield.
- 21.00 ftThe bridge on 127th/Tacoma Park Rd is overtopped.
- 20.00 ftThe bridge at the gauge location on 396th/Brown County 16 is overtopped.
- 19.50 ft396th/Brown County 16 and Hamlin Garland Memorial Hwy/Brown County 11 both begin to flood, as does 400th Avenue, 123rd Street, Dakota Ave, Larson Road and Tacoma Loop are flooded. The river reaches the top of the levee at the old location of Columbia Park.
- 18.50 ftThe water reaches the bottom of the bridge at the gauging location on 396th/Brown County 16.
- 18.00 ft127th/Tacoma Park Rd begins to flood, as does 117th St between 395th and 400th Ave.
- 17.00 ftWater reaches the base of the levee at the old location of Columbia Park.
- 15.00 ftWater begins to approach several structures in the Tacoma Park area. Significant amounts of agricultural land are flooded.
- 13.00 ftFlooding of the lower lying agricultural areas begins.
Flood outlook
Chance of flooding, September to November
| Category | Chance |
|---|---|
| Minor flooding | 15% |
| Moderate flooding | 9% |
| Major flooding | Under 5% |
The three-month chances are the River Forecast Centers’ long-range flood outlook, issued August 26, 2026.
Crest history
40 crests on NOAA’s list since 1982.
| # | Date | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | July 16, 2011 | 19.81 ft |
| 2 | April 24, 2009 | 19.73 ft |
| 3 | April 18, 1997 | 19.08 ft |
| 4 | April 2, 2010 | 19.05 ft |
| 5 | April 21, 2019 | 18.96 ft |
| 6 | November 12, 2019 | 18.75 ft |
| 7 | May 31, 2022 | 18.57 ft |
| 8 | May 14, 2023 | 18.03 ft |
| 9 | April 23, 2001 | 17.83 ft |
| 10 | May 31, 1999 | 17.10 ft |
| 11 | May 22, 1995 | 16.95 ft |
| 12 | April 30, 1996 | 16.89 ft |
| 13 | April 18, 1982 | 16.30 ft |
| 14 | April 11, 1987 | 15.58 ft |
| 15 | April 26, 1994 | 15.57 ft |
| 16 | July 10, 2013 | 15.39 ft |
| 17 | August 19, 1993 | 15.27 ft |
| 18 | April 24, 2018 | 15.22 ft |
| 19 | May 19, 1986 | 15.08 ft |
| 20 | April 16, 1984 | 14.75 ft |
| 21 | April 15, 1998 | 14.41 ft |
| 22 | September 4, 2025 | 14.33 ft |
| 23 | April 6, 1983 | 14.12 ft |
| 24 | June 17, 2015 | 13.97 ft |
| 25 | April 18, 1989 | 13.38 ft |
Most recent crests
- September 4, 2025: 14.33 ft
- May 14, 2023: 18.03 ft
- May 31, 2022: 18.57 ft
- March 8, 2021: 8.06 ft
- November 12, 2019: 18.75 ft
- April 21, 2019: 18.96 ft
- April 24, 2018: 15.22 ft
- March 21, 2017: 12.90 ft
- September 23, 2016: 8.04 ft
- June 17, 2015: 13.97 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. 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. Gauge reading 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.