South Skunk River near Ames US 30
No watches, warnings or advisories are in effect for this area.
Future / Actual / Minor
OWP 2.0 WWA Modal Title
01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC through 01/11/2021, 10:04 PM UTC
Sender
Sent
- Warning: no valid ratings curve available. Transformations to and from FEET/CFS/KCFS will not happen.
Traces and Thresholds Click to turn on/off display
Observed (OBS) 06/09/2025 8:00 PM CDTRecord: 26.7 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 24.5 ft Moderate Flooding 23.5 ft Minor Flooding 21.5 ft Action 19 ft Reliability of the Forecast:
NOTE: Forecasts are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.
National Water Model Hydrograph
Official NWS streamflow forecasts are produced by NWS hydrologic forecasters for river gauge locations using hydrologic models which are calibrated to that location. This process considers additional guidance and information, including local expertise and experience, to produce the best forecast possible. The NWM output provides supplemental guidance to NWS forecasters and should not be considered an official NWS river forecast.
Flood Impacts
- 26.3 - Water impacts I-35 south of US 30.
- 26 - Water affects the US 30 bridge over the South Skunk River. Widespread flooding also occurs along Dayton Ave.
- 25.5 - Widespread flooding of US 30 occurs.
- 25 - Water affects I-35 south of US 30...US 30 between Dayton Ave and Duff Ave...as well as hotels and industries along Dayton Ave.
- 24 - Water affects US 30 between Dayton Ave and Duff Ave. Basements also flood in Cambridge. Hotels on SE 16th St have water in their parking lots. Water may also affect SE 16th St.
- 23 - Water affects the Shady Grove Trailer Park located at 1006 S Dayton Ave as well as the railroad just northeast of Cambridge.
- 21 - Water affects S 16th St. Water also affects the sports complex along the river south of US 30.
- 20.5 - Water affects gravel roads just upstream from US 30 as well as agricultural land from Ames downstream to northeast Polk County.
- 20 - Water affects agricultural land from Ames to Cambridge.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 18.12 ft | on 05-09-2024 |
| 2. | 19.53 ft | on 02-27-2023 |
| 3. | 22.10 ft | on 06-15-2022 |
| 4. | 12.46 ft | on 03-05-2021 |
| 5. | 17.89 ft | on 05-27-2020 |
| 6. | 23.09 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 7. | 22.77 ft | on 06-15-2018 |
| 8. | 16.95 ft | on 05-01-2017 |
| 9. | 18.19 ft | on 01-21-2017 |
| 10. | 22.84 ft | on 12-15-2015 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 18.12 ft | on 05-09-2024 |
| 2. | 19.53 ft | on 02-27-2023 |
| 3. | 22.10 ft | on 06-15-2022 |
| 4. | 12.46 ft | on 03-05-2021 |
| 5. | 17.89 ft | on 05-27-2020 |
| 6. | 23.09 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 7. | 22.77 ft | on 06-15-2018 |
| 8. | 16.95 ft | on 05-01-2017 |
| 9. | 18.19 ft | on 01-21-2017 |
| 10. | 22.84 ft | on 12-15-2015 |
| 11. | 23.98 ft | on 08-30-2015 |
| 12. | 23.79 ft | on 07-01-2014 |
| 13. | 22.55 ft | on 05-28-2013 |
| 14. | 12.60 ft | on 04-14-2012 |
| 15. | 15.88 ft | on 04-27-2011 |
| 16. | 26.72 ft | on 08-11-2010 |
| 17. | 19.97 ft | on 03-09-2009 |
| 18. | 24.70 ft | on 05-30-2008 |
| 19. | 23.20 ft | on 04-26-2007 |
| 20. | 19.10 ft | on 09-12-2006 |
| 21. | 17.29 ft | on 05-13-2005 |
| 22. | 19.90 ft | on 05-25-2004 |
| 23. | 19.98 ft | on 07-09-2003 |
| 24. | 17.12 ft | on 05-12-2002 |
| 25. | 16.94 ft | on 03-21-2001 |
| 26. | 14.10 ft | on 06-14-2000 |
| 27. | 21.16 ft | on 06-11-1999 |
| 28. | 22.81 ft | on 06-15-1998 |
| 29. | 19.46 ft | on 02-19-1997 |
| 30. | 25.13 ft | on 06-17-1996 |
| 31. | 18.36 ft | on 05-10-1995 |
| 32. | 19.96 ft | on 06-24-1994 |
| 33. | 25.53 ft | on 07-09-1993 |
| 34. | 17.96 ft | on 07-16-1992 |
| 35. | 25.40 ft | on 06-17-1990 |
| 36. | 23.68 ft | on 03-19-1979 |
| 37. | 19.97 ft | on 09-14-1978 |
| 38. | 20.08 ft | on 04-18-1978 |
| 39. | 22.43 ft | on 08-16-1977 |
| 40. | 22.14 ft | on 06-14-1976 |
| 41. | 25.57 ft | on 06-27-1975 |
| 42. | 23.19 ft | on 06-23-1974 |
| 43. | 21.94 ft | on 04-16-1973 |
| 44. | 22.43 ft | on 02-02-1973 |
| 45. | 18.05 ft | on 08-02-1972 |
| 46. | 22.67 ft | on 02-20-1971 |
| 47. | 20.35 ft | on 05-13-1970 |
| 48. | 22.15 ft | on 03-20-1969 |
| 49. | 22.07 ft | on 06-25-1968 |
| 50. | 19.90 ft | on 06-08-1967 |
| 51. | 21.45 ft | on 06-12-1966 |
| 52. | 22.59 ft | on 04-06-1965 |
| 53. | 19.80 ft | on 06-23-1964 |
| 54. | 20.20 ft | on 05-12-1963 |
| 55. | 21.87 ft | on 07-15-1962 |
| 56. | 18.27 ft | on 09-30-1961 |
| 57. | 23.20 ft | on 03-30-1960 |
| 58. | 20.57 ft | on 05-31-1959 |
| 59. | 22.82 ft | on 07-04-1958 |
| 60. | 21.58 ft | on 06-16-1957 |
| 61. | 13.05 ft | on 05-13-1956 |
| 62. | 16.81 ft | on 10-14-1954 |
| 63. | 22.36 ft | on 08-28-1954 |
| 64. | 15.47 ft | on 05-01-1953 |
| 65. | 23.00 ft | on 05-19-1944 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 26.72 ft | on 08-11-2010 |
| 2. | 25.57 ft | on 06-27-1975 |
| 3. | 25.53 ft | on 07-09-1993 |
| 4. | 25.40 ft | on 06-17-1990 |
| 5. | 25.13 ft | on 06-17-1996 |
| 6. | 24.70 ft | on 05-30-2008 |
| 7. | 23.98 ft | on 08-30-2015 |
| 8. | 23.79 ft | on 07-01-2014 |
| 9. | 23.68 ft | on 03-19-1979 |
| 10. | 23.20 ft | on 04-26-2007 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 26.72 ft | on 08-11-2010 |
| 2. | 25.57 ft | on 06-27-1975 |
| 3. | 25.53 ft | on 07-09-1993 |
| 4. | 25.40 ft | on 06-17-1990 |
| 5. | 25.13 ft | on 06-17-1996 |
| 6. | 24.70 ft | on 05-30-2008 |
| 7. | 23.98 ft | on 08-30-2015 |
| 8. | 23.79 ft | on 07-01-2014 |
| 9. | 23.68 ft | on 03-19-1979 |
| 10. | 23.20 ft | on 04-26-2007 |
| 11. | 23.20 ft | on 03-30-1960 |
| 12. | 23.19 ft | on 06-23-1974 |
| 13. | 23.09 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 14. | 23.00 ft | on 05-19-1944 |
| 15. | 22.84 ft | on 12-15-2015 |
| 16. | 22.82 ft | on 07-04-1958 |
| 17. | 22.81 ft | on 06-15-1998 |
| 18. | 22.77 ft | on 06-15-2018 |
| 19. | 22.67 ft | on 02-20-1971 |
| 20. | 22.59 ft | on 04-06-1965 |
| 21. | 22.55 ft | on 05-28-2013 |
| 22. | 22.43 ft | on 02-02-1973 |
| 23. | 22.43 ft | on 08-16-1977 |
| 24. | 22.36 ft | on 08-28-1954 |
| 25. | 22.15 ft | on 03-20-1969 |
| 26. | 22.14 ft | on 06-14-1976 |
| 27. | 22.10 ft | on 06-15-2022 |
| 28. | 22.07 ft | on 06-25-1968 |
| 29. | 21.94 ft | on 04-16-1973 |
| 30. | 21.87 ft | on 07-15-1962 |
| 31. | 21.58 ft | on 06-16-1957 |
| 32. | 21.45 ft | on 06-12-1966 |
| 33. | 21.16 ft | on 06-11-1999 |
| 34. | 20.57 ft | on 05-31-1959 |
| 35. | 20.35 ft | on 05-13-1970 |
| 36. | 20.20 ft | on 05-12-1963 |
| 37. | 20.08 ft | on 04-18-1978 |
| 38. | 19.98 ft | on 07-09-2003 |
| 39. | 19.97 ft | on 03-09-2009 |
| 40. | 19.97 ft | on 09-14-1978 |
| 41. | 19.96 ft | on 06-24-1994 |
| 42. | 19.90 ft | on 06-08-1967 |
| 43. | 19.90 ft | on 05-25-2004 |
| 44. | 19.80 ft | on 06-23-1964 |
| 45. | 19.53 ft | on 02-27-2023 |
| 46. | 19.46 ft | on 02-19-1997 |
| 47. | 19.10 ft | on 09-12-2006 |
| 48. | 18.36 ft | on 05-10-1995 |
| 49. | 18.27 ft | on 09-30-1961 |
| 50. | 18.19 ft | on 01-21-2017 |
| 51. | 18.12 ft | on 05-09-2024 |
| 52. | 18.05 ft | on 08-02-1972 |
| 53. | 17.96 ft | on 07-16-1992 |
| 54. | 17.89 ft | on 05-27-2020 |
| 55. | 17.29 ft | on 05-13-2005 |
| 56. | 17.12 ft | on 05-12-2002 |
| 57. | 16.95 ft | on 05-01-2017 |
| 58. | 16.94 ft | on 03-21-2001 |
| 59. | 16.81 ft | on 10-14-1954 |
| 60. | 15.88 ft | on 04-27-2011 |
| 61. | 15.47 ft | on 05-01-1953 |
| 62. | 14.10 ft | on 06-14-2000 |
| 63. | 13.05 ft | on 05-13-1956 |
| 64. | 12.60 ft | on 04-14-2012 |
| 65. | 12.46 ft | on 03-05-2021 |
Low Water Records
Low Water Records
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 882.36 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 881.36 ft |
| minor Flooding | 879.36 ft |
| action | 876.86 ft |
| Latest Value | 869.18 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 857.86 ft |
Gauge Photos
No Images Found
Collaborative Agencies
The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. For details, please click here.