Raccoon River at Des Moines IA 28
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) 06/25/2025 5:15 PM CDTOfficial Forecast (FCST) 06/25/2025 10:31 AM CDTRecord: 41.3 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 40 ft Moderate Flooding 38 ft Minor Flooding 36 ft Action 34 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
- 46.2 - This is the top of the West Des Moines levee.
- 43 - This is the top of the Des Moines levee at Iowa 28 and 63rd St.
- 42 - Water is over I-35.
- 41.3 - Water is at the shoulder of the southbound I-35 exit to Iowa 5.
- 41 - The levee is closed at Jordan Creek and Iowa 28.
- 40.5 - Water affects Grand Ave near Raccoon River Regional Park.
- 40 - Iowa 28 is closed north of the river. Water affects the berm on the west side of Raccoon River Park...affecting the park and surrounding area.
- 39 - Water affects businesses...Commerce Dr and Raccoon River Dr from S 88th St to Grand Ave.
- 38 - Water affects primary roads in several locations.
- 36 - Water affects Blue Heron Lake at Raccoon River Park.
- 35.5 - Water affects Walnut Woods Dr as well as Walnut Woods State Park.
- 30 - The City of West Des Moines operates the levee system including pumps.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 31.92 ft | on 05-22-2024 |
| 2. | 28.39 ft | on 02-28-2023 |
| 3. | 31.02 ft | on 06-07-2022 |
| 4. | 22.44 ft | on 03-26-2021 |
| 5. | 29.95 ft | on 10-12-2019 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 31.92 ft | on 05-22-2024 |
| 2. | 28.39 ft | on 02-28-2023 |
| 3. | 31.02 ft | on 06-07-2022 |
| 4. | 22.44 ft | on 03-26-2021 |
| 5. | 29.95 ft | on 10-12-2019 |
| 6. | 37.43 ft | on 03-15-2019 |
| 7. | 34.04 ft | on 06-25-2018 |
| 8. | 32.09 ft | on 05-21-2017 |
| 9. | 37.43 ft | on 12-15-2015 |
| 10. | 40.37 ft | on 06-26-2015 |
| 11. | 34.51 ft | on 09-01-2014 |
| 12. | 36.25 ft | on 06-01-2013 |
| 13. | 27.85 ft | on 05-07-2012 |
| 14. | 27.79 ft | on 04-15-2012 |
| 15. | 33.01 ft | on 06-21-2011 |
| 16. | 36.97 ft | on 06-28-2010 |
| 17. | 35.78 ft | on 04-28-2009 |
| 18. | 41.31 ft | on 06-13-2008 |
| 19. | 37.94 ft | on 04-26-2007 |
| 20. | 27.99 ft | on 05-03-2006 |
| 21. | 35.35 ft | on 05-13-2005 |
| 22. | 38.22 ft | on 05-24-2004 |
| 23. | 35.19 ft | on 05-09-2003 |
| 24. | 28.55 ft | on 06-13-2002 |
| 25. | 33.23 ft | on 05-07-2001 |
| 26. | 27.52 ft | on 07-06-2000 |
| 27. | 35.87 ft | on 05-22-1999 |
| 28. | 39.46 ft | on 06-16-1998 |
| 29. | 37.52 ft | on 02-19-1997 |
| 30. | 33.12 ft | on 06-22-1996 |
| 31. | 31.00 ft | on 05-29-1995 |
| 32. | 32.82 ft | on 02-19-1994 |
| 33. | 40.77 ft | on 07-11-1993 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 41.31 ft | on 06-13-2008 |
| 2. | 40.77 ft | on 07-11-1993 |
| 3. | 40.37 ft | on 06-26-2015 |
| 4. | 39.46 ft | on 06-16-1998 |
| 5. | 38.22 ft | on 05-24-2004 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 41.31 ft | on 06-13-2008 |
| 2. | 40.77 ft | on 07-11-1993 |
| 3. | 40.37 ft | on 06-26-2015 |
| 4. | 39.46 ft | on 06-16-1998 |
| 5. | 38.22 ft | on 05-24-2004 |
| 6. | 37.94 ft | on 04-26-2007 |
| 7. | 37.52 ft | on 02-19-1997 |
| 8. | 37.43 ft | on 03-15-2019 |
| 9. | 37.43 ft | on 12-15-2015 |
| 10. | 36.97 ft | on 06-28-2010 |
| 11. | 36.25 ft | on 06-01-2013 |
| 12. | 35.87 ft | on 05-22-1999 |
| 13. | 35.78 ft | on 04-28-2009 |
| 14. | 35.35 ft | on 05-13-2005 |
| 15. | 35.19 ft | on 05-09-2003 |
| 16. | 34.51 ft | on 09-01-2014 |
| 17. | 34.04 ft | on 06-25-2018 |
| 18. | 33.23 ft | on 05-07-2001 |
| 19. | 33.12 ft | on 06-22-1996 |
| 20. | 33.01 ft | on 06-21-2011 |
| 21. | 32.82 ft | on 02-19-1994 |
| 22. | 32.09 ft | on 05-21-2017 |
| 23. | 31.92 ft | on 05-22-2024 |
| 24. | 31.02 ft | on 06-07-2022 |
| 25. | 31.00 ft | on 05-29-1995 |
| 26. | 29.95 ft | on 10-12-2019 |
| 27. | 28.55 ft | on 06-13-2002 |
| 28. | 28.39 ft | on 02-28-2023 |
| 29. | 27.99 ft | on 05-03-2006 |
| 30. | 27.85 ft | on 05-07-2012 |
| 31. | 27.79 ft | on 04-15-2012 |
| 32. | 27.52 ft | on 07-06-2000 |
| 33. | 22.44 ft | on 03-26-2021 |
Low Water Records
Low Water Records
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 813.72 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 811.72 ft |
| minor Flooding | 809.72 ft |
| action | 807.72 ft |
| Latest Value | 801.79 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 773.72 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.