Cedar River at Charles City, IA

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Tue, Sep 22, 9:50 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 22.5 ftEast of 700 Riverside Drive is under water. The public parking lot south of City Hall begins to flood.
• 21.5 ftClark Street at Brantingham Street begins to flood. The Gilbert Street lift station wet well requires sandbagging. Fire Department, City Shed, and Park Department are all evacuated.
• 21 ftHighway 218 and Brantinham at South Grand Avenue begins to flood.
• 20 ftClark Street at Leland Street and Court Street at South Illinois Street begins to flood.
• 19.5 ftRiverside Drive at North Iowa and Joslin streets begins to flood. Gilbert Street begins to flood with sandbagging required.
• 19 ftBrackett Street and Riverside Drive at North Johnson street are flooded. The Lions Field cottages are threatened and Highway 18 begins to flood.
• 18 ftFourth Street at South Grand Avenue begins to flood. East Riverside Drive at Brantingham Streets are closed. Sandbag efforts begin along Gilbert Street.
• 17.5 ftRiverside Drive at St. Marys Street begins to flood.
• 17 ftResidences south of Riverside Drive may be flooded.
• 15 ftLeland Avenue and Park Drive at 19th Avenue begins to flood.
• 14 ftBracket Street begins to flood and is closed.
• 12 ftBarricading of streets begins, and the intersection of Riverside and North Illinois Streets may be flooded. Cable pedestrian bridge is closed.

Highest crests on record

1. 25.33 ft — June 9, 2008
2. 22.81 ft — July 21, 1999
3. 21.64 ft — March 2, 1965
4. 21.6 ft — March 27, 1961
5. 21.57 ft — June 24, 2024

Recent crests: 17.54 ft (July 10, 2026) · 13.48 ft (August 20, 2025) · 21.57 ft (June 24, 2024) · 11.44 ft (February 28, 2023) · 9.24 ft (April 14, 2022)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• Little Cedar River near Ionia, IA
• Shell Rock River at Shell Rock, IA
• Cedar River at Waverly, IA
• Wapsipinicon River near Tripoli, IA
• Winnebago River at Mason City, IA
• Deer Creek near Carpenter, IA
• Spring Creek near Mason City US 65, IA
• Cedar River at Janesville, IA