Des Moines River at Ottumwa
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 5:20 PM CDTRecord: 22.1 ftCATEGORY STAGE 
Major Flooding 19 ft Moderate Flooding 15 ft Minor Flooding 11.5 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
- 25 - The City of Ottumwa is protected by a 25 foot levee.
- 23 - The levee opening at the south end of the Market St bridge may need to be planked and sandbagged.
- 22 - Sandbagging and planking operations may be needed for openings along Vine St.
- 19.5 - Water affects the Market St parking lot. The entrance to the Market St bridge is sandbagged.
- 18.5 - Sewer backup will reach the road surface at Market St and Commercial St.
- 18 - Water affects the Fairport area along the railroad tracks. Sandbagging may be needed at the Vine St diversion chamber. Evacuations may begin at the trailer court.
- 17.5 - Sewer backup in basements occurs at businesses along Main St.
- 17 - Water affects Paris St. The Market St bridge is closed.
- 15 - Flooding occurs in rural areas both upstream and downstream of Ottumwa.
- 12 - Water affects Eldon.
- 11.5 - Water affects the northeast side of Rabbit Run Rd.
- 11 - Bear Creek reaches bankfull.
- 10 - Agricultural flooding occurs along most of the reach between Ottumwa and Eldon.
- 9 - Water affects rural fields primarily downstream of Ottumwa.
Gauge Location
Recent Crests
| 1. | 12.32 ft | on 07-31-2024 |
| 2. | 10.00 ft | on 03-02-2023 |
| 3. | 8.86 ft | on 06-09-2022 |
| 4. | 9.04 ft | on 02-28-2021 |
| 5. | 11.30 ft | on 03-28-2020 |
| 6. | 16.28 ft | on 05-29-2019 |
| 7. | 8.96 ft | on 09-06-2018 |
| 8. | 12.03 ft | on 04-05-2017 |
| 9. | 12.61 ft | on 12-14-2015 |
| 10. | 13.74 ft | on 06-26-2015 |
Recent Crests
| 1. | 12.32 ft | on 07-31-2024 |
| 2. | 10.00 ft | on 03-02-2023 |
| 3. | 8.86 ft | on 06-09-2022 |
| 4. | 9.04 ft | on 02-28-2021 |
| 5. | 11.30 ft | on 03-28-2020 |
| 6. | 16.28 ft | on 05-29-2019 |
| 7. | 8.96 ft | on 09-06-2018 |
| 8. | 12.03 ft | on 04-05-2017 |
| 9. | 12.61 ft | on 12-14-2015 |
| 10. | 13.74 ft | on 06-26-2015 |
| 11. | 12.17 ft | on 09-10-2014 |
| 12. | 15.99 ft | on 04-18-2013 |
| 13. | 10.94 ft | on 04-19-2012 |
| 14. | 14.90 ft | on 06-15-2011 |
| 15. | 20.04 ft | on 08-11-2010 |
| 16. | 10.90 ft | on 04-30-2009 |
| 17. | 11.07 ft | on 03-25-2009 |
| 18. | 20.60 ft | on 06-17-2008 |
| 19. | 11.13 ft | on 08-24-2007 |
| 20. | 7.29 ft | on 05-03-2006 |
| 21. | 8.98 ft | on 04-13-2005 |
| 22. | 8.81 ft | on 06-14-2004 |
| 23. | 8.93 ft | on 03-06-2004 |
| 24. | 8.05 ft | on 05-09-2003 |
| 25. | 8.22 ft | on 05-11-2002 |
| 26. | 11.44 ft | on 05-31-2001 |
| 27. | 11.42 ft | on 03-15-2001 |
| 28. | 12.07 ft | on 06-24-2000 |
| 29. | 11.68 ft | on 04-28-1999 |
| 30. | 13.40 ft | on 07-06-1998 |
| 31. | 11.02 ft | on 05-08-1997 |
| 32. | 11.84 ft | on 05-27-1996 |
| 33. | 11.45 ft | on 05-08-1995 |
| 34. | 10.03 ft | on 03-09-1994 |
| 35. | 11.95 ft | on 10-01-1993 |
| 36. | 22.15 ft | on 07-12-1993 |
| 37. | 11.75 ft | on 04-20-1992 |
| 38. | 13.07 ft | on 04-19-1991 |
| 39. | 11.26 ft | on 05-25-1990 |
| 40. | 6.39 ft | on 09-10-1989 |
| 41. | 5.76 ft | on 12-25-1987 |
| 42. | 10.96 ft | on 04-18-1987 |
| 43. | 12.30 ft | on 05-17-1986 |
| 44. | 9.79 ft | on 02-26-1985 |
| 45. | 14.64 ft | on 06-27-1984 |
| 46. | 12.72 ft | on 04-02-1983 |
| 47. | 14.46 ft | on 07-17-1982 |
| 48. | 9.53 ft | on 07-04-1981 |
| 49. | 9.98 ft | on 06-15-1980 |
| 50. | 11.34 ft | on 04-20-1979 |
| 51. | 9.62 ft | on 05-13-1978 |
| 52. | 6.72 ft | on 09-02-1977 |
| 53. | 13.26 ft | on 04-24-1976 |
| 54. | 9.13 ft | on 03-22-1975 |
| 55. | 10.33 ft | on 06-09-1974 |
| 56. | 10.41 ft | on 05-19-1974 |
| 57. | 11.45 ft | on 05-02-1973 |
| 58. | 8.70 ft | on 05-08-1972 |
| 59. | 13.12 ft | on 02-25-1971 |
| 60. | 8.64 ft | on 05-16-1970 |
| 61. | 11.63 ft | on 04-17-1969 |
| 62. | 8.28 ft | on 04-24-1968 |
| 63. | 14.87 ft | on 06-17-1967 |
| 64. | 11.65 ft | on 06-16-1966 |
| 65. | 18.33 ft | on 04-11-1965 |
| 66. | 9.91 ft | on 06-24-1964 |
| 67. | 9.39 ft | on 05-01-1963 |
| 68. | 15.24 ft | on 04-06-1962 |
| 69. | 14.47 ft | on 02-19-1961 |
| 70. | 18.26 ft | on 04-01-1960 |
| 71. | 12.89 ft | on 06-01-1959 |
| 72. | 11.63 ft | on 07-04-1958 |
| 73. | 8.86 ft | on 06-18-1957 |
| 74. | 5.16 ft | on 08-09-1956 |
| 75. | 6.56 ft | on 07-12-1955 |
| 76. | 17.66 ft | on 06-28-1954 |
| 77. | 11.28 ft | on 06-14-1953 |
| 78. | 14.15 ft | on 06-23-1952 |
| 79. | 15.92 ft | on 04-04-1951 |
| 80. | 12.45 ft | on 05-11-1950 |
| 81. | 11.61 ft | on 03-10-1949 |
| 82. | 15.51 ft | on 03-23-1948 |
| 83. | 20.97 ft | on 06-07-1947 |
| 84. | 15.11 ft | on 01-08-1946 |
| 85. | 14.21 ft | on 04-18-1945 |
| 86. | 18.27 ft | on 05-24-1944 |
| 87. | 11.47 ft | on 05-17-1943 |
| 88. | 10.73 ft | on 11-03-1941 |
| 89. | 9.10 ft | on 06-11-1941 |
| 90. | 6.34 ft | on 08-17-1940 |
| 91. | 13.24 ft | on 03-14-1939 |
| 92. | 9.59 ft | on 09-24-1938 |
| 93. | 15.54 ft | on 03-06-1937 |
| 94. | 10.27 ft | on 03-05-1936 |
| 95. | 16.22 ft | on 06-28-1935 |
| 96. | 5.16 ft | on 04-10-1934 |
| 97. | 14.68 ft | on 04-08-1933 |
| 98. | 14.99 ft | on 11-26-1931 |
| 99. | 8.09 ft | on 06-23-1931 |
| 100. | 11.43 ft | on 06-16-1930 |
| 101. | 15.33 ft | on 03-17-1929 |
| 102. | 10.43 ft | on 02-08-1928 |
| 103. | 13.83 ft | on 04-21-1927 |
| 104. | 13.33 ft | on 09-25-1926 |
| 105. | 7.83 ft | on 06-16-1925 |
| 106. | 13.63 ft | on 06-28-1924 |
| 107. | 11.13 ft | on 03-27-1923 |
| 108. | 11.33 ft | on 05-27-1922 |
| 109. | 13.03 ft | on 09-17-1921 |
| 110. | 13.23 ft | on 03-26-1920 |
| 111. | 15.23 ft | on 05-07-1919 |
| 112. | 14.83 ft | on 06-10-1918 |
| 113. | 17.63 ft | on 06-10-1917 |
| 114. | 20.23 ft | on 05-31-1903 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 22.15 ft | on 07-12-1993 |
| 2. | 20.97 ft | on 06-07-1947 |
| 3. | 20.60 ft | on 06-17-2008 |
| 4. | 20.23 ft | on 05-31-1903 |
| 5. | 20.04 ft | on 08-11-2010 |
| 6. | 18.33 ft | on 04-11-1965 |
| 7. | 18.27 ft | on 05-24-1944 |
| 8. | 18.26 ft | on 04-01-1960 |
| 9. | 17.66 ft | on 06-28-1954 |
| 10. | 17.63 ft | on 06-10-1917 |
Historic Crests
| 1. | 22.15 ft | on 07-12-1993 |
| 2. | 20.97 ft | on 06-07-1947 |
| 3. | 20.60 ft | on 06-17-2008 |
| 4. | 20.23 ft | on 05-31-1903 |
| 5. | 20.04 ft | on 08-11-2010 |
| 6. | 18.33 ft | on 04-11-1965 |
| 7. | 18.27 ft | on 05-24-1944 |
| 8. | 18.26 ft | on 04-01-1960 |
| 9. | 17.66 ft | on 06-28-1954 |
| 10. | 17.63 ft | on 06-10-1917 |
| 11. | 16.28 ft | on 05-29-2019 |
| 12. | 16.22 ft | on 06-28-1935 |
| 13. | 15.99 ft | on 04-18-2013 |
| 14. | 15.92 ft | on 04-04-1951 |
| 15. | 15.54 ft | on 03-06-1937 |
| 16. | 15.51 ft | on 03-23-1948 |
| 17. | 15.33 ft | on 03-17-1929 |
| 18. | 15.24 ft | on 04-06-1962 |
| 19. | 15.23 ft | on 05-07-1919 |
| 20. | 15.11 ft | on 01-08-1946 |
| 21. | 14.99 ft | on 11-26-1931 |
| 22. | 14.90 ft | on 06-15-2011 |
| 23. | 14.87 ft | on 06-17-1967 |
| 24. | 14.83 ft | on 06-10-1918 |
| 25. | 14.68 ft | on 04-08-1933 |
| 26. | 14.64 ft | on 06-27-1984 |
| 27. | 14.47 ft | on 02-19-1961 |
| 28. | 14.46 ft | on 07-17-1982 |
| 29. | 14.21 ft | on 04-18-1945 |
| 30. | 14.15 ft | on 06-23-1952 |
| 31. | 13.83 ft | on 04-21-1927 |
| 32. | 13.74 ft | on 06-26-2015 |
| 33. | 13.63 ft | on 06-28-1924 |
| 34. | 13.40 ft | on 07-06-1998 |
| 35. | 13.33 ft | on 09-25-1926 |
| 36. | 13.26 ft | on 04-24-1976 |
| 37. | 13.24 ft | on 03-14-1939 |
| 38. | 13.23 ft | on 03-26-1920 |
| 39. | 13.12 ft | on 02-25-1971 |
| 40. | 13.07 ft | on 04-19-1991 |
| 41. | 13.03 ft | on 09-17-1921 |
| 42. | 12.89 ft | on 06-01-1959 |
| 43. | 12.72 ft | on 04-02-1983 |
| 44. | 12.61 ft | on 12-14-2015 |
| 45. | 12.45 ft | on 05-11-1950 |
| 46. | 12.32 ft | on 07-31-2024 |
| 47. | 12.30 ft | on 05-17-1986 |
| 48. | 12.17 ft | on 09-10-2014 |
| 49. | 12.07 ft | on 06-24-2000 |
| 50. | 12.03 ft | on 04-05-2017 |
| 51. | 11.95 ft | on 10-01-1993 |
| 52. | 11.84 ft | on 05-27-1996 |
| 53. | 11.75 ft | on 04-20-1992 |
| 54. | 11.68 ft | on 04-28-1999 |
| 55. | 11.65 ft | on 06-16-1966 |
| 56. | 11.63 ft | on 07-04-1958 |
| 57. | 11.63 ft | on 04-17-1969 |
| 58. | 11.61 ft | on 03-10-1949 |
| 59. | 11.47 ft | on 05-17-1943 |
| 60. | 11.45 ft | on 05-08-1995 |
| 61. | 11.45 ft | on 05-02-1973 |
| 62. | 11.44 ft | on 05-31-2001 |
| 63. | 11.43 ft | on 06-16-1930 |
| 64. | 11.42 ft | on 03-15-2001 |
| 65. | 11.34 ft | on 04-20-1979 |
| 66. | 11.33 ft | on 05-27-1922 |
| 67. | 11.30 ft | on 03-28-2020 |
| 68. | 11.28 ft | on 06-14-1953 |
| 69. | 11.26 ft | on 05-25-1990 |
| 70. | 11.13 ft | on 03-27-1923 |
| 71. | 11.13 ft | on 08-24-2007 |
| 72. | 11.07 ft | on 03-25-2009 |
| 73. | 11.02 ft | on 05-08-1997 |
| 74. | 10.96 ft | on 04-18-1987 |
| 75. | 10.94 ft | on 04-19-2012 |
| 76. | 10.90 ft | on 04-30-2009 |
| 77. | 10.73 ft | on 11-03-1941 |
| 78. | 10.43 ft | on 02-08-1928 |
| 79. | 10.41 ft | on 05-19-1974 |
| 80. | 10.33 ft | on 06-09-1974 |
| 81. | 10.27 ft | on 03-05-1936 |
| 82. | 10.03 ft | on 03-09-1994 |
| 83. | 10.00 ft | on 03-02-2023 |
| 84. | 9.98 ft | on 06-15-1980 |
| 85. | 9.91 ft | on 06-24-1964 |
| 86. | 9.79 ft | on 02-26-1985 |
| 87. | 9.62 ft | on 05-13-1978 |
| 88. | 9.59 ft | on 09-24-1938 |
| 89. | 9.53 ft | on 07-04-1981 |
| 90. | 9.39 ft | on 05-01-1963 |
| 91. | 9.13 ft | on 03-22-1975 |
| 92. | 9.10 ft | on 06-11-1941 |
| 93. | 9.04 ft | on 02-28-2021 |
| 94. | 8.98 ft | on 04-13-2005 |
| 95. | 8.96 ft | on 09-06-2018 |
| 96. | 8.93 ft | on 03-06-2004 |
| 97. | 8.86 ft | on 06-18-1957 |
| 98. | 8.86 ft | on 06-09-2022 |
| 99. | 8.81 ft | on 06-14-2004 |
| 100. | 8.70 ft | on 05-08-1972 |
| 101. | 8.64 ft | on 05-16-1970 |
| 102. | 8.28 ft | on 04-24-1968 |
| 103. | 8.22 ft | on 05-11-2002 |
| 104. | 8.09 ft | on 06-23-1931 |
| 105. | 8.05 ft | on 05-09-2003 |
| 106. | 7.83 ft | on 06-16-1925 |
| 107. | 7.29 ft | on 05-03-2006 |
| 108. | 6.72 ft | on 09-02-1977 |
| 109. | 6.56 ft | on 07-12-1955 |
| 110. | 6.39 ft | on 09-10-1989 |
| 111. | 6.34 ft | on 08-17-1940 |
| 112. | 5.76 ft | on 12-25-1987 |
| 113. | 5.16 ft | on 04-10-1934 |
| 114. | 5.16 ft | on 08-09-1956 |
Low Water Records
Low Water Records
Vertical Datum Table
| type | NAVD88 | NGVD29 |
|---|---|---|
| major Flooding | 640.59 ft | 641.00 ft |
| moderate Flooding | 636.59 ft | 637.00 ft |
| minor Flooding | 633.09 ft | 633.50 ft |
| action | 630.59 ft | 631.00 ft |
| Latest Value | 625.98 ft | 626.39 ft |
| Gauge Zero | 621.59 ft | 622.00 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.