Des Moines River at Fort Dodge
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) 06/15/2025 8:00 AM CDTRecord: 20.3 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 17 ft Moderate Flooding 16 ft Minor Flooding 10.5 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
- 17 - Water reaches the bottom of the railroad trestle approach. Extensive sandbagging also occurs along the river.
- 16 - Water threatens the Phinney Park riverside trail along the west bank.
- 15 - Water affects some residences in Lehigh and may affect Riverside Dr in northern Webster County.
- 14 - Water affects some access roads along the river in Fort Dodge as well as in Lehigh.
- 13 - Water affects residences along the west bank of the river in Lehigh and threatens industries near Phinney Park.
- 12 - Water affects campgrounds in the downstream parks between Fort Dodge and Lehigh.
- 11 - Water affects lowland areas near the river and threatens residences along the river in Fort Dodge.
- 10 - Water affects roads to residences in Fort Dodge along the river and limits access to some subdivisions.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 17.12 ft | on 06-27-2024 |
| 2. | 8.73 ft | on 05-15-2023 |
| 3. | 8.58 ft | on 06-16-2022 |
| 4. | 5.06 ft | on 03-29-2021 |
| 5. | 9.30 ft | on 03-21-2020 |
| 6. | 15.04 ft | on 03-20-2019 |
| 7. | 15.27 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 8. | 14.14 ft | on 09-23-2018 |
| 9. | 14.61 ft | on 03-05-2018 |
| 10. | 9.68 ft | on 05-22-2017 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 17.12 ft | on 06-27-2024 |
| 2. | 8.73 ft | on 05-15-2023 |
| 3. | 8.58 ft | on 06-16-2022 |
| 4. | 5.06 ft | on 03-29-2021 |
| 5. | 9.30 ft | on 03-21-2020 |
| 6. | 15.04 ft | on 03-20-2019 |
| 7. | 15.27 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 8. | 14.14 ft | on 09-23-2018 |
| 9. | 14.61 ft | on 03-05-2018 |
| 10. | 9.68 ft | on 05-22-2017 |
| 11. | 10.21 ft | on 12-18-2016 |
| 12. | 10.99 ft | on 12-16-2015 |
| 13. | 7.75 ft | on 06-13-2015 |
| 14. | 15.31 ft | on 06-19-2014 |
| 15. | 11.92 ft | on 05-28-2013 |
| 16. | 6.42 ft | on 05-28-2012 |
| 17. | 11.20 ft | on 06-27-2011 |
| 18. | 12.25 ft | on 02-19-2011 |
| 19. | 16.83 ft | on 06-27-2010 |
| 20. | 12.06 ft | on 02-11-2009 |
| 21. | 16.39 ft | on 06-08-2008 |
| 22. | 15.17 ft | on 08-22-2007 |
| 23. | 8.85 ft | on 04-07-2006 |
| 24. | 13.27 ft | on 06-26-2005 |
| 25. | 10.71 ft | on 05-24-2004 |
| 26. | 9.78 ft | on 06-27-2003 |
| 27. | 6.32 ft | on 05-12-2002 |
| 28. | 13.19 ft | on 05-04-2001 |
| 29. | 8.04 ft | on 07-12-2000 |
| 30. | 10.36 ft | on 04-23-1999 |
| 31. | 9.03 ft | on 06-26-1998 |
| 32. | 9.02 ft | on 03-13-1997 |
| 33. | 11.02 ft | on 02-21-1997 |
| 34. | 8.76 ft | on 06-21-1996 |
| 35. | 8.89 ft | on 05-30-1995 |
| 36. | 8.75 ft | on 02-24-1995 |
| 37. | 12.17 ft | on 06-25-1994 |
| 38. | 13.65 ft | on 03-05-1994 |
| 39. | 16.47 ft | on 04-01-1993 |
| 40. | 9.27 ft | on 03-10-1992 |
| 41. | 13.90 ft | on 05-18-1991 |
| 42. | 10.49 ft | on 06-19-1990 |
| 43. | 5.86 ft | on 05-25-1989 |
| 44. | 6.31 ft | on 05-09-1988 |
| 45. | 9.40 ft | on 10-13-1986 |
| 46. | 10.14 ft | on 03-20-1986 |
| 47. | 7.92 ft | on 04-27-1985 |
| 48. | 15.60 ft | on 06-19-1984 |
| 49. | 12.42 ft | on 07-03-1983 |
| 50. | 8.69 ft | on 07-10-1982 |
| 51. | 10.51 ft | on 02-23-1982 |
| 52. | 9.98 ft | on 06-24-1981 |
| 53. | 9.98 ft | on 06-15-1980 |
| 54. | 13.35 ft | on 08-25-1979 |
| 55. | 8.63 ft | on 07-08-1978 |
| 56. | 6.07 ft | on 05-04-1977 |
| 57. | 5.63 ft | on 03-15-1976 |
| 58. | 9.71 ft | on 04-29-1975 |
| 59. | 8.16 ft | on 06-23-1974 |
| 60. | 9.99 ft | on 03-14-1973 |
| 61. | 8.12 ft | on 08-06-1972 |
| 62. | 9.90 ft | on 03-15-1971 |
| 63. | 10.89 ft | on 02-19-1971 |
| 64. | 9.43 ft | on 05-14-1970 |
| 65. | 13.49 ft | on 04-15-1969 |
| 66. | 5.82 ft | on 06-29-1968 |
| 67. | 10.13 ft | on 06-16-1967 |
| 68. | 6.99 ft | on 04-01-1966 |
| 69. | 18.45 ft | on 04-08-1965 |
| 70. | 9.33 ft | on 07-31-1964 |
| 71. | 7.66 ft | on 07-09-1963 |
| 72. | 14.00 ft | on 04-01-1962 |
| 73. | 13.49 ft | on 03-28-1961 |
| 74. | 11.94 ft | on 03-29-1960 |
| 75. | 9.83 ft | on 05-22-1959 |
| 76. | 8.63 ft | on 07-14-1958 |
| 77. | 6.08 ft | on 05-30-1957 |
| 78. | 5.63 ft | on 03-28-1956 |
| 79. | 6.96 ft | on 04-26-1955 |
| 80. | 19.94 ft | on 06-21-1954 |
| 81. | 7.80 ft | on 06-13-1953 |
| 82. | 9.41 ft | on 04-02-1952 |
| 83. | 12.79 ft | on 04-08-1951 |
| 84. | 7.36 ft | on 03-08-1950 |
| 85. | 9.08 ft | on 03-06-1949 |
| 86. | 10.55 ft | on 02-27-1948 |
| 87. | 20.28 ft | on 06-23-1947 |
| 88. | 9.11 ft | on 04-22-1927 |
| 89. | 5.69 ft | on 09-21-1926 |
| 90. | 8.26 ft | on 03-09-1925 |
| 91. | 5.18 ft | on 04-05-1924 |
| 92. | 7.04 ft | on 03-25-1923 |
| 93. | 8.16 ft | on 04-13-1922 |
| 94. | 7.86 ft | on 05-28-1921 |
| 95. | 12.04 ft | on 07-09-1920 |
| 96. | 9.86 ft | on 06-24-1919 |
| 97. | 10.76 ft | on 06-04-1918 |
| 98. | 13.56 ft | on 03-22-1917 |
| 99. | 10.86 ft | on 03-29-1916 |
| 100. | 14.66 ft | on 05-30-1915 |
| 101. | 8.06 ft | on 06-20-1914 |
| 102. | 8.56 ft | on 03-26-1906 |
| 103. | 7.66 ft | on 05-17-1905 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 20.28 ft | on 06-23-1947 |
| 2. | 19.94 ft | on 06-21-1954 |
| 3. | 18.45 ft | on 04-08-1965 |
| 4. | 17.12 ft | on 06-27-2024 |
| 5. | 16.83 ft | on 06-27-2010 |
| 6. | 16.47 ft | on 04-01-1993 |
| 7. | 16.39 ft | on 06-08-2008 |
| 8. | 15.60 ft | on 06-19-1984 |
| 9. | 15.31 ft | on 06-19-2014 |
| 10. | 15.27 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 20.28 ft | on 06-23-1947 |
| 2. | 19.94 ft | on 06-21-1954 |
| 3. | 18.45 ft | on 04-08-1965 |
| 4. | 17.12 ft | on 06-27-2024 |
| 5. | 16.83 ft | on 06-27-2010 |
| 6. | 16.47 ft | on 04-01-1993 |
| 7. | 16.39 ft | on 06-08-2008 |
| 8. | 15.60 ft | on 06-19-1984 |
| 9. | 15.31 ft | on 06-19-2014 |
| 10. | 15.27 ft | on 03-14-2019 |
| 11. | 15.17 ft | on 08-22-2007 |
| 12. | 15.04 ft | on 03-20-2019 |
| 13. | 14.66 ft | on 05-30-1915 |
| 14. | 14.61 ft | on 03-05-2018 |
| 15. | 14.14 ft | on 09-23-2018 |
| 16. | 14.00 ft | on 04-01-1962 |
| 17. | 13.90 ft | on 05-18-1991 |
| 18. | 13.65 ft | on 03-05-1994 |
| 19. | 13.56 ft | on 03-22-1917 |
| 20. | 13.49 ft | on 04-15-1969 |
| 21. | 13.49 ft | on 03-28-1961 |
| 22. | 13.35 ft | on 08-25-1979 |
| 23. | 13.27 ft | on 06-26-2005 |
| 24. | 13.19 ft | on 05-04-2001 |
| 25. | 12.79 ft | on 04-08-1951 |
| 26. | 12.42 ft | on 07-03-1983 |
| 27. | 12.25 ft | on 02-19-2011 |
| 28. | 12.17 ft | on 06-25-1994 |
| 29. | 12.06 ft | on 02-11-2009 |
| 30. | 12.04 ft | on 07-09-1920 |
| 31. | 11.94 ft | on 03-29-1960 |
| 32. | 11.92 ft | on 05-28-2013 |
| 33. | 11.20 ft | on 06-27-2011 |
| 34. | 11.02 ft | on 02-21-1997 |
| 35. | 10.99 ft | on 12-16-2015 |
| 36. | 10.89 ft | on 02-19-1971 |
| 37. | 10.86 ft | on 03-29-1916 |
| 38. | 10.76 ft | on 06-04-1918 |
| 39. | 10.71 ft | on 05-24-2004 |
| 40. | 10.55 ft | on 02-27-1948 |
| 41. | 10.51 ft | on 02-23-1982 |
| 42. | 10.49 ft | on 06-19-1990 |
| 43. | 10.36 ft | on 04-23-1999 |
| 44. | 10.21 ft | on 12-18-2016 |
| 45. | 10.14 ft | on 03-20-1986 |
| 46. | 10.13 ft | on 06-16-1967 |
| 47. | 9.99 ft | on 03-14-1973 |
| 48. | 9.98 ft | on 06-24-1981 |
| 49. | 9.98 ft | on 06-15-1980 |
| 50. | 9.90 ft | on 03-15-1971 |
| 51. | 9.86 ft | on 06-24-1919 |
| 52. | 9.83 ft | on 05-22-1959 |
| 53. | 9.78 ft | on 06-27-2003 |
| 54. | 9.71 ft | on 04-29-1975 |
| 55. | 9.68 ft | on 05-22-2017 |
| 56. | 9.43 ft | on 05-14-1970 |
| 57. | 9.41 ft | on 04-02-1952 |
| 58. | 9.40 ft | on 10-13-1986 |
| 59. | 9.33 ft | on 07-31-1964 |
| 60. | 9.30 ft | on 03-21-2020 |
| 61. | 9.27 ft | on 03-10-1992 |
| 62. | 9.11 ft | on 04-22-1927 |
| 63. | 9.08 ft | on 03-06-1949 |
| 64. | 9.03 ft | on 06-26-1998 |
| 65. | 9.02 ft | on 03-13-1997 |
| 66. | 8.89 ft | on 05-30-1995 |
| 67. | 8.85 ft | on 04-07-2006 |
| 68. | 8.76 ft | on 06-21-1996 |
| 69. | 8.75 ft | on 02-24-1995 |
| 70. | 8.73 ft | on 05-15-2023 |
| 71. | 8.69 ft | on 07-10-1982 |
| 72. | 8.63 ft | on 07-08-1978 |
| 73. | 8.63 ft | on 07-14-1958 |
| 74. | 8.58 ft | on 06-16-2022 |
| 75. | 8.56 ft | on 03-26-1906 |
| 76. | 8.26 ft | on 03-09-1925 |
| 77. | 8.16 ft | on 04-13-1922 |
| 78. | 8.16 ft | on 06-23-1974 |
| 79. | 8.12 ft | on 08-06-1972 |
| 80. | 8.06 ft | on 06-20-1914 |
| 81. | 8.04 ft | on 07-12-2000 |
| 82. | 7.92 ft | on 04-27-1985 |
| 83. | 7.86 ft | on 05-28-1921 |
| 84. | 7.80 ft | on 06-13-1953 |
| 85. | 7.75 ft | on 06-13-2015 |
| 86. | 7.66 ft | on 05-17-1905 |
| 87. | 7.66 ft | on 07-09-1963 |
| 88. | 7.36 ft | on 03-08-1950 |
| 89. | 7.04 ft | on 03-25-1923 |
| 90. | 6.99 ft | on 04-01-1966 |
| 91. | 6.96 ft | on 04-26-1955 |
| 92. | 6.42 ft | on 05-28-2012 |
| 93. | 6.32 ft | on 05-12-2002 |
| 94. | 6.31 ft | on 05-09-1988 |
| 95. | 6.08 ft | on 05-30-1957 |
| 96. | 6.07 ft | on 05-04-1977 |
| 97. | 5.86 ft | on 05-25-1989 |
| 98. | 5.82 ft | on 06-29-1968 |
| 99. | 5.69 ft | on 09-21-1926 |
| 100. | 5.63 ft | on 03-15-1976 |
| 101. | 5.63 ft | on 03-28-1956 |
| 102. | 5.18 ft | on 04-05-1924 |
| 103. | 5.06 ft | on 03-29-2021 |
Low Water Records
Low Water Records
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 |
|---|---|
| major Flooding | 986.19 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 985.19 ft |
| minor Flooding | 979.69 ft |
| action | 978.19 ft |
| Latest Value | 974.82 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 969.19 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.