ALERT: Update on status of the nationwide data transmission error that prevents stream gauge data collected at affected locations from being displayed on the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services (AHPS) webpages. The USGS has restored the transmission from all of their gauges or has placed them in a seasonal outage (some Alaska gauges). There are a few USGS gauges that the NWS is not yet receiving the new transmissions and NWS is working to get that data by alternate means. A map of the status of USGS gauges is here. The status map of gauge outages from other agencies is here. The situation has greatly improved and will continue to improve but at a slower pace. The outage maps will now be updated once per week on Thursday. We apologize for the service interruption and hope to have the data restored as soon as possible.

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) Not Available

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Printable Image About this graph Tabular Data (UTC) Tabular Data (CST) Datum: Not Available Metadata

NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. NOTE: Forecasts for the Raccoon River (Central IA) at Des Moines Fleur Dr are issued as needed during times of high water, but are not routinely available.

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Upstream Gauge

Downstream Gauge

Flood Categories (in feet) Major Flood Stage: 25 Moderate Flood Stage: 16 Flood Stage: 12 Action Stage: 8 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 26.80 ft on 07/11/1993 (2) 24.66 ft on 06/13/2008 (3) 21.54 ft on 06/26/2015 (4) 20.45 ft on 06/16/1998 (5) 19.83 ft on 06/13/1947 (6) 19.52 ft on 06/26/1947 (7) 19.45 ft on 05/24/2004 (8) 19.42 ft on 06/17/1990 (9) 19.38 ft on 07/02/1986 (10) 19.30 ft on 07/05/1973 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 12.24 ft on 05/21/2017 (2) 18.09 ft on 12/15/2015 (3) 21.54 ft on 06/26/2015 (4) 14.31 ft on 09/10/2014 (5) 16.44 ft on 06/01/2013 (6) 16.43 ft on 05/31/2013 (7) 7.31 ft on 04/15/2012 (8) 13.17 ft on 06/21/2011 (9) 17.92 ft on 03/18/2010 (10) 14.80 ft on 04/28/2009 Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records (1) 3.90 ft on 01/25/1940 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
31	This is the top of the levee surrounding Des Moines Water Works.
27.7	This is the top of the levee surrounding Valley Gardens.
25	Fleur Drive is closed. George Flagg Parkway is closed at Fleur. Gates are closed near 63rd Street...Southwest 3rd Street...west of the Fleur viaduct and Southwest 30th Street. Gates are closed near Central Academy...under the Fleur viaduct and the railroad tracks at 62nd Street. Levee closures occur near 63rd Street south of Railroad Avenue...George Flagg Parkway at Southwest 28th Street...the access road to Carney Park...three driveways to Principal Park and Southwest 30th Street north of Bell Avenue.
24.5	Water is just below surface of Jackson Street trail bridge upstream of Southwest 3rd Street bridge.
20	An earthen levee may be installed across Southwest 22nd under the Fleur Drive viaduct.
18.5	The maintenance buildings outside of the levee protection at Des Moines Water Works Park flood. Levee gates are closed across George Flagg Parkway at Southwest 18th Street.
18	All the levee gates are closed in Water Works Park.
17.2	Water overtops portions of Fleur Drive.
17	Levee gates are closed west of Southwest 18th Street at George Flagg Parkway...and at the railroad tracks.
16.5	Water begins affecting Fleur Drive. Above this stage...water flows through Water Works Park south of the Water Works Buildings...cutting off a large meander bend in the river and diverting increasing amounts of stream flow away from the main river channel.
16	Southwest 30th Street is closed from George Flagg Parkway to Bell Avenue. George Flagg Parkway is closed from Southwest 30th Street to Southwest 28th Street.
15.5	Water approaches Fleur Drive and affects the Grays Lake trails.
13.5	Water affects the low areas of Water Works Park.
12	George Flagg Parkway is closed from Park Avenue to Southwest 30th Street.
9.5	Water impacts the lowest portions of the Bill Riley Trail.
9	The storm valve is closed at Southwest 28th Street and Garden Road.

About This Location

Latitude: 41.582360° N, Longitude: 93.641811° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 12 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 Not Available Not Available Survey grade GPS equipment, FEMA flood plain maps, newer USGS topographic maps NGVD 29 780.70 ft 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 Des Moines Fleur Dr U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Des Moines Fleur Dr

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

Additional Resources Area Hydrographs NWS Precipitation and River Forecasting AHPS Iframes for Developers Mobile iNWS for emergency management Flood Damage Costs/Fatalities in the US, 1903 - 2014 AHPS Web Brochure 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: 21-Dec-2016 10:37 PM Disclaimer Credits Glossary Privacy Policy About Us Career Opportunities