Des Moines River at Des Moines 2nd Ave
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 7:15 AM CDTRecord: 31.6 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 30 ft Moderate Flooding 26 ft Minor Flooding 23 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
- 37.2 - This is the top of the Birdland and Central Place levees at 2nd Ave.
- 33 - Levee closures occur across 2nd Ave.
- 30 - Levee closures occur across Grand Ave...Locust St...Walnut St and Ct Ave in downtown Des Moines.
- 28.5 - Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway is closed from Urbandale Ave to Euclid Ave.
- 27.7 - Water is several feet deep against the Birdland Marina boathouse.
- 26.5 - Euclid Ave is closed from Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to 16th St.
- 26 - Water is across the Polk County Human Services Department parking lot.
- 25.5 - Water affects portions of the Polk County Human Services Department parking lot...on the north side of Euclid Ave and on the west side of the river.
- 25 - The levee is closed across Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway north of Clarkson Ave.
- 24.5 - Levee closures occur across Saylor Rd.
- 23 - Water affects Birdland Park.
- 20.5 - Prospect Rd is closed from Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway to Hickman Rd.
- 20 - Birdland Dr is closed from Saylor Rd to 6th Ave.
- 18.5 - Water affects low-lying sections of the Neal Smith Trail in the Birdland Park area.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 20.55 ft | on 05-23-2024 |
| 2. | 19.88 ft | on 03-01-2023 |
| 3. | 18.23 ft | on 06-17-2022 |
| 4. | 14.41 ft | on 03-27-2021 |
| 5. | 16.40 ft | on 03-23-2021 |
| 6. | 19.37 ft | on 05-28-2020 |
| 7. | 20.49 ft | on 10-12-2019 |
| 8. | 21.61 ft | on 03-22-2019 |
| 9. | 21.20 ft | on 10-12-2018 |
| 10. | 24.00 ft | on 07-01-2018 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 20.55 ft | on 05-23-2024 |
| 2. | 19.88 ft | on 03-01-2023 |
| 3. | 18.23 ft | on 06-17-2022 |
| 4. | 14.41 ft | on 03-27-2021 |
| 5. | 16.40 ft | on 03-23-2021 |
| 6. | 19.37 ft | on 05-28-2020 |
| 7. | 20.49 ft | on 10-12-2019 |
| 8. | 21.61 ft | on 03-22-2019 |
| 9. | 21.20 ft | on 10-12-2018 |
| 10. | 24.00 ft | on 07-01-2018 |
| 11. | 20.29 ft | on 10-01-2016 |
| 12. | 20.30 ft | on 09-30-2016 |
| 13. | 19.78 ft | on 12-23-2015 |
| 14. | 20.55 ft | on 09-01-2015 |
| 15. | 20.47 ft | on 06-26-2015 |
| 16. | 21.67 ft | on 06-27-2014 |
| 17. | 20.12 ft | on 05-29-2013 |
| 18. | 17.26 ft | on 05-07-2012 |
| 19. | 18.63 ft | on 06-20-2011 |
| 20. | 18.64 ft | on 04-26-2011 |
| 21. | 26.08 ft | on 07-02-2010 |
| 22. | 17.70 ft | on 05-30-2009 |
| 23. | 31.57 ft | on 06-13-2008 |
| 24. | 20.72 ft | on 08-25-2007 |
| 25. | 20.47 ft | on 03-21-2007 |
| 26. | 19.33 ft | on 05-03-2006 |
| 27. | 19.32 ft | on 05-02-2006 |
| 28. | 19.84 ft | on 05-18-2005 |
| 29. | 20.06 ft | on 05-31-2004 |
| 30. | 19.57 ft | on 05-12-2003 |
| 31. | 18.05 ft | on 08-16-2002 |
| 32. | 20.41 ft | on 04-17-2001 |
| 33. | 18.20 ft | on 07-13-2000 |
| 34. | 19.49 ft | on 04-20-1999 |
| 35. | 19.59 ft | on 04-10-1998 |
| 36. | 18.76 ft | on 03-15-1997 |
| 37. | 22.55 ft | on 03-31-1961 |
| 38. | 25.25 ft | on 04-01-1960 |
| 39. | 19.72 ft | on 06-03-1959 |
| 40. | 16.83 ft | on 07-17-1958 |
| 41. | 17.15 ft | on 06-17-1957 |
| 42. | 13.44 ft | on 05-30-1956 |
| 43. | 16.02 ft | on 10-15-1954 |
| 44. | 30.16 ft | on 06-24-1954 |
| 45. | 17.90 ft | on 06-12-1953 |
| 46. | 20.20 ft | on 04-03-1952 |
| 47. | 23.80 ft | on 03-31-1951 |
| 48. | 17.73 ft | on 03-09-1950 |
| 49. | 19.43 ft | on 03-08-1949 |
| 50. | 21.21 ft | on 03-19-1948 |
| 51. | 26.50 ft | on 06-26-1947 |
| 52. | 19.78 ft | on 05-29-1946 |
| 53. | 20.46 ft | on 06-04-1945 |
| 54. | 24.40 ft | on 05-23-1944 |
| 55. | 19.02 ft | on 02-24-1943 |
| 56. | 17.10 ft | on 11-10-1941 |
| 57. | 3.43 ft | on 06-16-1941 |
| 58. | 3.10 ft | on 08-28-1940 |
| 59. | 4.70 ft | on 03-16-1939 |
| 60. | 14.80 ft | on 09-20-1938 |
| 61. | 13.30 ft | on 03-07-1937 |
| 62. | 11.33 ft | on 03-13-1936 |
| 63. | 13.37 ft | on 07-03-1935 |
| 64. | 4.50 ft | on 04-07-1934 |
| 65. | 16.20 ft | on 04-04-1933 |
| 66. | 14.72 ft | on 03-05-1932 |
| 67. | 3.60 ft | on 09-28-1931 |
| 68. | 6.00 ft | on 06-16-1930 |
| 69. | 16.20 ft | on 03-18-1929 |
| 70. | 5.80 ft | on 08-27-1928 |
| 71. | 8.50 ft | on 02-07-1927 |
| 72. | 13.20 ft | on 09-21-1926 |
| 73. | 5.41 ft | on 06-18-1925 |
| 74. | 8.10 ft | on 03-31-1924 |
| 75. | 8.30 ft | on 03-28-1923 |
| 76. | 9.70 ft | on 04-13-1922 |
| 77. | 8.60 ft | on 02-18-1921 |
| 78. | 13.70 ft | on 07-12-1920 |
| 79. | 11.30 ft | on 04-25-1919 |
| 80. | 16.60 ft | on 06-07-1918 |
| 81. | 16.30 ft | on 06-10-1917 |
| 82. | 10.20 ft | on 03-28-1916 |
| 83. | 16.10 ft | on 06-01-1915 |
| 84. | 13.00 ft | on 03-30-1906 |
| 85. | 27.40 ft | on 05-31-1903 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 31.57 ft | on 06-13-2008 |
| 2. | 30.16 ft | on 06-24-1954 |
| 3. | 27.40 ft | on 05-31-1903 |
| 4. | 26.50 ft | on 06-26-1947 |
| 5. | 26.08 ft | on 07-02-2010 |
| 6. | 25.25 ft | on 04-01-1960 |
| 7. | 24.40 ft | on 05-23-1944 |
| 8. | 24.00 ft | on 07-01-2018 |
| 9. | 23.80 ft | on 03-31-1951 |
| 10. | 22.55 ft | on 03-31-1961 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 31.57 ft | on 06-13-2008 |
| 2. | 30.16 ft | on 06-24-1954 |
| 3. | 27.40 ft | on 05-31-1903 |
| 4. | 26.50 ft | on 06-26-1947 |
| 5. | 26.08 ft | on 07-02-2010 |
| 6. | 25.25 ft | on 04-01-1960 |
| 7. | 24.40 ft | on 05-23-1944 |
| 8. | 24.00 ft | on 07-01-2018 |
| 9. | 23.80 ft | on 03-31-1951 |
| 10. | 22.55 ft | on 03-31-1961 |
| 11. | 21.67 ft | on 06-27-2014 |
| 12. | 21.61 ft | on 03-22-2019 |
| 13. | 21.21 ft | on 03-19-1948 |
| 14. | 21.20 ft | on 10-12-2018 |
| 15. | 20.72 ft | on 08-25-2007 |
| 16. | 20.55 ft | on 09-01-2015 |
| 17. | 20.55 ft | on 05-23-2024 |
| 18. | 20.49 ft | on 10-12-2019 |
| 19. | 20.47 ft | on 06-26-2015 |
| 20. | 20.47 ft | on 03-21-2007 |
| 21. | 20.46 ft | on 06-04-1945 |
| 22. | 20.41 ft | on 04-17-2001 |
| 23. | 20.30 ft | on 09-30-2016 |
| 24. | 20.29 ft | on 10-01-2016 |
| 25. | 20.20 ft | on 04-03-1952 |
| 26. | 20.12 ft | on 05-29-2013 |
| 27. | 20.06 ft | on 05-31-2004 |
| 28. | 19.88 ft | on 03-01-2023 |
| 29. | 19.84 ft | on 05-18-2005 |
| 30. | 19.78 ft | on 12-23-2015 |
| 31. | 19.78 ft | on 05-29-1946 |
| 32. | 19.72 ft | on 06-03-1959 |
| 33. | 19.59 ft | on 04-10-1998 |
| 34. | 19.57 ft | on 05-12-2003 |
| 35. | 19.49 ft | on 04-20-1999 |
| 36. | 19.43 ft | on 03-08-1949 |
| 37. | 19.37 ft | on 05-28-2020 |
| 38. | 19.33 ft | on 05-03-2006 |
| 39. | 19.32 ft | on 05-02-2006 |
| 40. | 19.02 ft | on 02-24-1943 |
| 41. | 18.76 ft | on 03-15-1997 |
| 42. | 18.64 ft | on 04-26-2011 |
| 43. | 18.63 ft | on 06-20-2011 |
| 44. | 18.23 ft | on 06-17-2022 |
| 45. | 18.20 ft | on 07-13-2000 |
| 46. | 18.05 ft | on 08-16-2002 |
| 47. | 17.90 ft | on 06-12-1953 |
| 48. | 17.73 ft | on 03-09-1950 |
| 49. | 17.70 ft | on 05-30-2009 |
| 50. | 17.26 ft | on 05-07-2012 |
| 51. | 17.15 ft | on 06-17-1957 |
| 52. | 17.10 ft | on 11-10-1941 |
| 53. | 16.83 ft | on 07-17-1958 |
| 54. | 16.60 ft | on 06-07-1918 |
| 55. | 16.40 ft | on 03-23-2021 |
| 56. | 16.30 ft | on 06-10-1917 |
| 57. | 16.20 ft | on 03-18-1929 |
| 58. | 16.20 ft | on 04-04-1933 |
| 59. | 16.10 ft | on 06-01-1915 |
| 60. | 16.02 ft | on 10-15-1954 |
| 61. | 14.80 ft | on 09-20-1938 |
| 62. | 14.72 ft | on 03-05-1932 |
| 63. | 14.41 ft | on 03-27-2021 |
| 64. | 13.70 ft | on 07-12-1920 |
| 65. | 13.44 ft | on 05-30-1956 |
| 66. | 13.37 ft | on 07-03-1935 |
| 67. | 13.30 ft | on 03-07-1937 |
| 68. | 13.20 ft | on 09-21-1926 |
| 69. | 13.00 ft | on 03-30-1906 |
| 70. | 11.33 ft | on 03-13-1936 |
| 71. | 11.30 ft | on 04-25-1919 |
| 72. | 10.20 ft | on 03-28-1916 |
| 73. | 9.70 ft | on 04-13-1922 |
| 74. | 8.60 ft | on 02-18-1921 |
| 75. | 8.50 ft | on 02-07-1927 |
| 76. | 8.30 ft | on 03-28-1923 |
| 77. | 8.10 ft | on 03-31-1924 |
| 78. | 6.00 ft | on 06-16-1930 |
| 79. | 5.80 ft | on 08-27-1928 |
| 80. | 5.41 ft | on 06-18-1925 |
| 81. | 4.70 ft | on 03-16-1939 |
| 82. | 4.50 ft | on 04-07-1934 |
| 83. | 3.60 ft | on 09-28-1931 |
| 84. | 3.43 ft | on 06-16-1941 |
| 85. | 3.10 ft | on 08-28-1940 |
Low Water Records
Low Water Records
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 803.26 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 799.26 ft |
| minor Flooding | 796.26 ft |
| action | 792.26 ft |
| Latest Value | 790.04 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 773.26 ft |
Gauge Photos
No Images Found
Unique Local Info
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.