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 Des Moines River at Des Moines 2nd Ave 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: 30 Moderate Flood Stage: 26 Flood Stage: 23 Action Stage: 19 Low Stage (in feet): -9999 Historic Crests (1) 31.71 ft on 07/11/1993 (2) 31.57 ft on 06/13/2008 (3) 30.16 ft on 06/24/1954 (4) 28.73 ft on 04/10/1965 (5) 27.30 ft on 05/31/1903 (6) 26.50 ft on 06/26/1947 (7) 26.08 ft on 07/02/2010 (8) 25.25 ft on 04/01/1960 (9) 24.80 ft on 06/22/1984 (10) 24.40 ft on 05/23/1944 Show More Historic Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Recent Crests (1) 20.29 ft on 10/01/2016 (2) 20.30 ft on 09/30/2016 (3) 19.78 ft on 12/23/2015 (4) 20.55 ft on 09/01/2015 (5) 20.47 ft on 06/26/2015 (6) 21.67 ft on 06/27/2014 (7) 20.12 ft on 05/29/2013 (8) 17.26 ft on 05/07/2012 (9) 18.64 ft on 06/20/2011 (10) 18.64 ft on 04/26/2011 Show More Recent Crests (P): Preliminary values subject to further review. Low Water Records (1) 12.50 ft on 01/29/1940 (2) 12.66 ft on 02/18/2004 (3) 12.68 ft on 12/05/1999 (4) 12.73 ft on 12/26/2001 (5) 12.73 ft on 01/29/2003 Show More Low Water Records 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
37.2	This is the top of the levee at 2nd Avenue.
33.6	This is the top of the levee at Central Place.
30.2	Water reaches the top of the Court Avenue bridge arches and well the base of the River Walk pedestrian bridge.
30	The levees are closed on the railroad tracks south of Court Avenue.
27.7	Water is several feet deep against the Birdland Marina boathouse.
26.5	Euclid Avenue floods.
26	Water is across the Polk County Human Services Department parking lot.
25.5	Water affects portions of the Polk County Human Services Department parking lot...on the north side of Euclid Avenue and on the west side of the river.
25	Widespread flooding occurs in Riverview and Prospect Parks.
24.5	Levee closures occur across Saylor Road and Guthrie Avenue which is north and East of Birdland Park.
24	Water affects several residences.
23	Birdland Park floods. Water affects many residences around 6th Avenue.
22.4	The Des Moines Rowing Club is threatened.
18.5	Low lying sections of the Neal Smith Trail in Birdland Park flood.

About This Location

Latitude: 41.612291° N, Longitude: 93.619945° W, Horizontal Datum: NAD83/WGS84 River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses NWS stage 0 ft 23 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 29 773.74 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 2nd Ave U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Des Moines 2nd Ave

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