Chariton River near Chariton, IA
River level and flood forecast · Lucas County
Normal4.9 ftas of Mon 3:45 PM
The river is 14.6 ft below flood stage (19.5 ft).
Flow: 17 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sat, Oct 3, 3:52 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 29 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 26 ft |
| Flood stage | 19.5 ft |
| Action stage | 16 ft |
| Record crest (September 15, 1992) | 29.32 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 29.3 ftSeveral US...State and most county highways are closed.
- 28 ftWater approaches the top guardrail of the Hwy S43 bridge.
- 25 ftWater approaches the road surface of the Hwy S43 bridge.
- 23 ftErosion damage may occur along Hwy S43.
- 22.5 ftWater affects the approaches to the Hwy S43 bridge.
- 22 ftWater approaches the underside of the Hwy S43 bridge.
- 21 ftWater affects the low portions of Hwy S43.
- 19.8 ftWate affects 450th St.
- 18 ftWater affects about 18000 acres.
- 16 ftWater affects about 5000 acres.
- 15 ftWater affects nearby lowland areas.
Highest crests on record
- 29.32 ft — September 15, 1992
- 23.14 ft — July 4, 1981
- 23 ft — March 1, 1960
- 22.6 ft — July 5, 1993
- 21.65 ft — June 5, 1947
Recent crests: 18.6 ft (July 21, 2025) · 17.63 ft (May 3, 2024) · 12.94 ft (February 27, 2023) · 17.68 ft (November 11, 2021) · 18.1 ft (July 15, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (CHTI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.