West Fork Des Moines River at Emmetsburg
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) 06/17/2025 8:15 AM CDTRecord: 15.5 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 15 ft Moderate Flooding 13 ft Minor Flooding 11 ft Action 9 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
- 15.2 - Water affects Iowa 15 approximately 4 miles south of West Bend.
- 14.5 - US 18 is closed. Works Road floods near the cooperative.
- 14 - Sandbagging operations occur for businesses along US 18 on the west side of town in and near the flood plain.
- 13.5 - Water threatens US 18 west of Emmetsburg as well as the Northern Natural Gas distribution plant. Sandbagging operations may occur for the sewer plant and wells.
- 13 - Closure of Iowa 4 is likely. Water threatens some of the airport runways. Water flows into Boggess gravel pits.
- 12.5 - Water affects Osgood Rd.
- 12 - Water reaches sections of Iowa 4 south of Emmetsburg. The road to the rendering plant is closed.
- 11.5 - Water affects southern portions of the airport field including approaches to the primary runway. Water also affects grass airstrips near hangars along the east side of the airfield.
- 11 - Water threatens Iowa 4 in areas near the river overpass as well as the road to the rendering plant. The road to the sanitary landfill area is closed.
- 10 - Water affects the flood plain and threatens the access road to the sanitary landfill area.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 15.47 ft | on 06-24-2024 |
| 2. | 8.17 ft | on 04-22-2023 |
| 3. | 6.51 ft | on 06-16-2022 |
| 4. | 2.70 ft | on 03-29-2021 |
| 5. | 9.03 ft | on 03-11-2020 |
| 6. | 13.44 ft | on 03-25-2019 |
| 7. | 13.26 ft | on 07-10-2018 |
| 8. | 8.57 ft | on 05-22-2017 |
| 9. | 9.77 ft | on 05-02-2016 |
| 10. | 4.47 ft | on 08-20-2015 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 15.47 ft | on 06-24-2024 | |
| 2. | 8.17 ft | on 04-22-2023 | |
| 3. | 6.51 ft | on 06-16-2022 | |
| 4. | 2.70 ft | on 03-29-2021 | |
| 5. | 9.03 ft | on 03-11-2020 | |
| 6. | 13.44 ft | on 03-25-2019 | |
| 7. | 13.26 ft | on 07-10-2018 | |
| 8. | 8.57 ft | on 05-22-2017 | |
| 9. | 9.77 ft | on 05-02-2016 | |
| 10. | 4.47 ft | on 08-20-2015 | |
| 11. | 12.33 ft | on 06-20-2014 | |
| 12. | 7.68 ft | on 06-24-2013 | |
| 13. | 7.40 ft | on 06-05-2012 | |
| 14. | 12.16 ft | on 10-04-2010 | (P) |
| 15. | 12.33 ft | on 09-28-2010 | (P) |
| 16. | 4.64 ft | on 03-24-2009 | (P) |
| 17. | 8.68 ft | on 06-13-2008 | (P) |
| 18. | 11.33 ft | on 03-15-2007 | (P) |
| 19. | 12.44 ft | on 04-09-2006 | |
| 20. | 9.36 ft | on 05-14-2005 | (P) |
| 21. | 10.43 ft | on 09-17-2004 | (P) |
| 22. | 5.16 ft | on 05-21-2003 | (P) |
| 23. | 5.39 ft | on 06-12-2002 | (P) |
| 24. | 12.38 ft | on 04-14-2001 | (P) |
| 25. | 4.88 ft | on 05-19-2000 | (P) |
| 26. | 9.19 ft | on 11-15-1998 | (P) |
| 27. | 9.05 ft | on 05-25-1998 | (P) |
| 28. | 11.25 ft | on 04-07-1997 | (P) |
| 29. | 7.43 ft | on 02-19-1996 | (P) |
| 30. | 10.15 ft | on 05-17-1995 | (P) |
| 31. | 13.80 ft | on 06-30-1993 | |
| 32. | 12.60 ft | on 06-24-1984 | |
| 33. | 12.80 ft | on 07-01-1969 | |
| 34. | 14.75 ft | on 04-12-1969 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 15.47 ft | on 06-24-2024 | |
| 2. | 14.75 ft | on 04-12-1969 | |
| 3. | 13.80 ft | on 06-30-1993 | |
| 4. | 13.44 ft | on 03-25-2019 | |
| 5. | 13.26 ft | on 07-10-2018 | |
| 6. | 12.80 ft | on 07-01-1969 | |
| 7. | 12.60 ft | on 06-24-1984 | |
| 8. | 12.44 ft | on 04-09-2006 | |
| 9. | 12.38 ft | on 04-14-2001 | (P) |
| 10. | 12.33 ft | on 09-28-2010 | (P) |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 15.47 ft | on 06-24-2024 | |
| 2. | 14.75 ft | on 04-12-1969 | |
| 3. | 13.80 ft | on 06-30-1993 | |
| 4. | 13.44 ft | on 03-25-2019 | |
| 5. | 13.26 ft | on 07-10-2018 | |
| 6. | 12.80 ft | on 07-01-1969 | |
| 7. | 12.60 ft | on 06-24-1984 | |
| 8. | 12.44 ft | on 04-09-2006 | |
| 9. | 12.38 ft | on 04-14-2001 | (P) |
| 10. | 12.33 ft | on 09-28-2010 | (P) |
| 11. | 12.33 ft | on 06-20-2014 | |
| 12. | 12.16 ft | on 10-04-2010 | (P) |
| 13. | 11.33 ft | on 03-15-2007 | (P) |
| 14. | 11.25 ft | on 04-07-1997 | (P) |
| 15. | 10.43 ft | on 09-17-2004 | (P) |
| 16. | 10.15 ft | on 05-17-1995 | (P) |
| 17. | 9.77 ft | on 05-02-2016 | |
| 18. | 9.36 ft | on 05-14-2005 | (P) |
| 19. | 9.19 ft | on 11-15-1998 | (P) |
| 20. | 9.05 ft | on 05-25-1998 | (P) |
| 21. | 9.03 ft | on 03-11-2020 | |
| 22. | 8.68 ft | on 06-13-2008 | (P) |
| 23. | 8.57 ft | on 05-22-2017 | |
| 24. | 8.17 ft | on 04-22-2023 | |
| 25. | 7.68 ft | on 06-24-2013 | |
| 26. | 7.43 ft | on 02-19-1996 | (P) |
| 27. | 7.40 ft | on 06-05-2012 | |
| 28. | 6.51 ft | on 06-16-2022 | |
| 29. | 5.39 ft | on 06-12-2002 | (P) |
| 30. | 5.16 ft | on 05-21-2003 | (P) |
| 31. | 4.88 ft | on 05-19-2000 | (P) |
| 32. | 4.64 ft | on 03-24-2009 | (P) |
| 33. | 4.47 ft | on 08-20-2015 | |
| 34. | 2.70 ft | on 03-29-2021 |
Low Water Records
Low Water Records
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 1211.29 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 1209.29 ft |
| minor Flooding | 1207.29 ft |
| action | 1205.29 ft |
| Latest Value | 1198.81 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 1196.29 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.