Web Portal Changes: The Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) hosted at https://water.weather.gov will be replaced by the National Water Prediction Service (NWPS), with a target of Spring 2024. Existing AHPS content and features will be preserved and expanded within NWPS. The NWS is now accepting feedback on NWPS. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information.

Experimental National Water Center Products: Flood Inundation Mapping services are now available for 10% of the U.S. population. Please visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for more information. The National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, Flood Hazard Outlook, and real-time geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model forecasts, continue to be accessible via the URL above, as described in the StoryMap here.

DID YOU KNOW... Please try our new TEST hydrograph page link at: https://preview.water.noaa.gov/gauges/abcde - Just replace “abcde” with your local hydrograph five character ID found in the lower left corner of the hydrograph.  In late March of 2024, the base URL path will become water.noaa.gov.  Feedback can be provided HERE

Weather Forecast Office Des Moines, IA

North Central River Forecast Center

Hydrograph

River at a Glance

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Probability Information Weekly Chance of Exceeding Levels Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period Short-term Probabilistic Guidance (Experimental)

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Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (CST) Datum: NAVD88 Metadata

NOTE: Forecasts for the Ioway Creek at Ames Lincoln Way are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available. More information on datums is available at www.ngs.noaa.gov/faq.shtml

Default Hydrograph Scale to Flood Categories   Return to Area Map

Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 15.5 Moderate Flood Stage: 14 Flood Stage: 10 Action Stage: 8 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 18.54 ft on 07/09/1993 (2) 18.13 ft on 08/11/2010 (3) 15.97 ft on 06/17/1990 (4) 15.85 ft on 05/30/2008 (5) 15.29 ft on 06/17/1996 (6) 14.50 ft on 06/04/1918 (7) 14.00 ft on 06/27/1975 (8) 12.97 ft on 06/13/1984 (9) 12.19 ft on 06/15/2018 (10) 11.81 ft on 03/19/1979 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 8.69 ft on 06/15/2022 (2) 0.00 ft on 03/04/2021 (3) 2.93 ft on 03/03/2021 (4) 5.44 ft on 05/27/2020 (5) 10.68 ft on 03/14/2019 (6) 12.19 ft on 06/15/2018 (7) 5.09 ft on 05/01/2017 (8) 6.67 ft on 01/19/2017 (9) 10.36 ft on 12/15/2015 (10) 10.69 ft on 08/29/2015 Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records Currently none available. For more information on your flood risk go to www.floodsmart.gov. Show FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers not showing? Why aren't the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers showing on the ESRI Map? Possible reasons: There are no FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers for the location which you are viewing on ESRI Maps. The FEMA Web Mapping Service (WMS) is down. Note: Your zoom level may have changed. ESRI's zoom levels must be between 14 and 16 to show National Flood Hazard layers.

Zoom Level:14 Legend FEMA Layer Gauge Location Disclaimer Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates provided to the NWS by the gauge owner.

Flood Impacts & Photos

If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our Webmaster
18.5	Water reaches the perimeter fence at Furman Aquatic Center...located at 1635 13th Street.
17.3	Stange Road is overtopped north of Ioway Creek. The Meadow Lane trailer park floods.
17.1	Water affects the Iowa State Lied Recreation Center.
16.4	Water affects the Maple...Willow and Larch dormitories on the Iowa State University campus.
15.8	Water covers Lincoln Way and University Avenue. Water also reaches the top of the curb in front the Target store...located at 320 South Duff Avenue.
15.5	Water affects Lincoln Way west of the bridge over Ioway Creek.
15.1	Water affects the Scheman Building and Hilton Coliseum. South Duff Avenue is closed between Ioway Creek and South 3rd Street.
14.5	Water reaches the CyRide building...located at the northeast corner of 1700 University Boulevard.
14.4	Water covers South Duff Avenue. Water also affects the Timbercreek Apartments...located at 610 Ioway Creek Drive.
13.8	Water affects the Tall Timber Apartments...located at 644 Ioway Creek Drive.
13.5	Water covers 6th Street near Brookside Park.
13.3	Water covers the road at 6th Street through the railroad underpass...in the Brookside Park area.
13.2	Water is in the parking lots of apartments along South 5th Street.
13	Water affects the South 4th Street bridge.
12	Water is in the parking lots of apartments along Stonehaven Drive. The Veenker Golf Course Shed is threatened.
10.4	Water affects lowlands around South 4th Street.
9.7	West 190th Street is flooded where it crosses Ioway Creek...west of the intersection with 510th Street...or 2 1/2 miles southwest of Gilbert.
9	Water primarily affects low lying areas near the stream.

About This Location

Latitude: 42.022556° N, Longitude: 93.630500° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 10 ft Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps Vertical Datum Elevation (gauge height = 0) Elevation (gauge height = flood stage) Elevation information source NAVD88 881.00 ft Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, NGVD29 benchmarks MSL Not Available Not Available Older USGS topographic maps, MSL benchmarks Other Not Available Not Available   Current/Historical Observations: Corps of Engineers (COE) Info for Ames Lincoln Way U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Ames Lincoln Way

Additional Information

How low could the river get? USGS 7-Day Streamflow Duration Hydrograph for this location: USGS Cumulative Streamflow Hydrograph for this location:

Resources

Hydrologic Resources Text Products Past Precipitation Forecast Precipitation River Forecast Centers River Stage Summary Hourly River Stages NWS AHPS Inundation Mapping Locations AHPS Webpage FAQs

Additional Resources Area Hydrographs NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting AHPS Iframes for Developers Mobile iNWS for emergency management US Geological Survey (map of sites) US Geological Survey (table of sites) US Army Corps of Engineers Iowa Flood Center (stream sensors) NWS River Forecast Point Monitor NWS Des Moines Hydro Briefing Snow Information

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. NWS Information National Weather Service Des Moines Weather Forecast Office 9607 NW Beaver Dr. Des Moines, IA 50131 (515) 270-2614 Ask Questions/Webmaster Page last modified: 2-Nov-2020 7:29 PM Disclaimer Credits Glossary Privacy Policy About Us Career Opportunities