Cedar River at Palo, IA
River level and flood forecast · Linn County
The river is 6.2 ft below flood stage (12.5 ft).
Flow: 7,570 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Tue, Oct 6, 8:09 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
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An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Cedar River at Palo to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 17 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15.5 ft |
| Flood stage | 12.5 ft |
| Action stage | 11 ft |
| Record crest (June 13, 2008) | 23.22 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 23.22 ftWater reaches the box culvert on Vinton Street east of the railroad tracks in Palo.
- 21.1 ftWater reaches the bridge deck on 1st Street in Palo.
- 18.5 ftWater reaches the box culvert on West Main Street in Palo.
- 17.8 ftWater reaches Blairs Ferry Road east of 1st Street in Palo.
- 17 ftResidences across the eastern part of the city of Palo are affected by flood waters.
- 16.5 ftWater reaches the bottom of the bridge deck on Blairs Ferry Road.
- 15.5 ftWater reaches residences along Dry Creek in Palo.
- 15 ftThe walking bridge from East Main Street to 1st Street in Palo is impacted by flood waters. Trails along the river are under water.
- 14.3 ftThe boat ramp just west of the Blairs Ferry Road bridge is closed.
- 14 ftDry Creek begins to back up into the City of Palo due to high water on the Cedar River.
- 13.5 ftChain Bridge Road accessing the boat ramp is closed.
- 13 ftPortions of Linn Drive in Palo are affected by flood waters.
- 12.5 ftThe Chain Lakes area is affected by flood waters.
Highest crests on record
- 23.22 ft — June 13, 2008
- 18.07 ft — September 27, 2016
- 15.67 ft — June 1, 2013
- 15.3 ft — March 19, 2019
- 15 ft — June 24, 2014
Recent crests: 13.56 ft (June 28, 2024) · 13.86 ft (June 25, 2020) · 15.3 ft (March 19, 2019) · 11.35 ft (January 25, 2017) · 18.07 ft (September 27, 2016)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (PLOI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.