Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St, IA
River level and flood forecast · Polk County
Normal17.4 ftas of Mon 3:45 PM
The river is 6.6 ft below flood stage (24 ft).
Flow: 14,500 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Wed, Oct 7, 4:50 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 30 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 26 ft |
| Flood stage | 24 ft |
| Action stage | 20 ft |
| Record crest (June 13, 2008) | 35.55 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 37.3 ftThis is the top of the levee on the downstream side of SE 6th St.
- 35 ftWater affects the grass bowl of the Simon Estes Amphitheater.
- 34 ftWater surrounds Principal Park and approaches its entrances.
- 30 ftWater from the Des Moines River causes backwater impacts along portions of Fourmile Creek in the Vandalia Rd and S Pleasant Hill Blvd areas.
- 28.7 ftSimon Estes Amphitheater is inundated up to intersection of the arcing sidewalks.
- 28.5 ftHartford Ave is closed from SE 22nd St to SE 30th Ct.
- 26.3 ftWater affects Arthur St east of Carlisle.
- 25.7 ftWater surrounds the base of Simon Estes Amphitheater.
- 24 ftThe bike trail is closed east of Water St. Water affects portions of other bike trails.
Highest crests on record
- 35.55 ft — June 13, 2008
- 34.29 ft — July 11, 1993
- 32.06 ft — May 31, 1903
- 31.96 ft — June 26, 1947
- 31.24 ft — June 24, 1954
Recent crests: 23.54 ft (July 31, 2025) · 25.22 ft (May 22, 2024) · 21.7 ft (March 1, 2023) · 22.42 ft (June 7, 2022) · 13.54 ft (March 27, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- UpstreamDes Moines River at Des Moines 2nd Ave, IA
- DownstreamDes Moines River near Swan, IA
- Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr, IA
- Fourmile Creek at Des Moines Easton Blvd, IA
- Walnut Creek at Des Moines 63rd St, IA
- Raccoon River at Des Moines IA 28, IA
- Des Moines River at Saylorville Tail, IA
- North River near Norwalk, IA
- Fourmile Creek near Ankeny NE 86th Ave, IA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (DESI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.