East Fork Des Moines River near Algona, IA
River level and flood forecast · Kossuth County
Normal7.6 ftas of Mon 2 PM
The river is 9.4 ft below flood stage (17 ft).
Flow: 137 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 6 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 22 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 18 ft |
| Flood stage | 17 ft |
| Action stage | 13 ft |
| Record crest (April 1, 1993) | 22.65 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 22 ftWater affects the shopping center parking lot and approaches the buildings. Water also affects US 169 near and north of Saint Joseph. Water may also threaten many bridges over the Des Moines River in the area with washouts. Many roads across Kossuth County may be closed.
- 20.5 ftWater affects US 169 near mile marker 187 in the Livermore area.
- 20 ftWater affects portions of US 18. Water enters the parking lot of the shopping center north of US 18 and west of the river.
- 19 ftWater affects US 169 south of Algona. US 169 near Saint Joseph will be cut off. Water also threatens sections of US 18 east of US 169.
- 18 ftWater threatens US 169 near Saint Joseph and may affect it south of Algona.
- 16.89 ftWater threatens US 169 south of Algona and affects some rural roads.
- 16.8 ftWater covers 170th St east of the Foster bridge in Humboldt County.
- 16.5 ftWater affects the lowest portions of Northpark Dr and Norwood Dr in Algona.
- 16.4 ftWater covers the entire north side of Montana Ave and nearby agricultural land east of the road in Humboldt County. Water also covers 100th St east and west of the Devine bridge.
- 16 ftWidespread agricultural flooding occurs.
- 15.5 ftWater affects portions of Montana Ave in Humboldt County. Water also affects portions of 110th St between Oak St and Ohio St east of the Devine bridge.
- 15 ftWater covers portions of Montana Ave in Humboldt County.
- 14 ftWater affects portions of Montana Ave between Michigan Ave and 100th St north of the bridge in Humboldt County. Water also affects low-lying agricultural land along the river.
Highest crests on record
- 22.65 ft — April 1, 1993
- 22.18 ft — August 23, 1979
- 20.7 ft — June 23, 2024
- 19.31 ft — June 26, 2018
- 19.16 ft — September 22, 2018
Recent crests: 16.88 ft (August 1, 2025) · 20.7 ft (June 23, 2024) · 14.71 ft (May 17, 2023) · 12.35 ft (May 3, 2022) · 9.35 ft (September 5, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- Pilot Creek near Rolfe, IA
- West Main Drainage Ditch 1 and 2 near Britt, IA
- West Fork Des Moines River at Emmetsburg, IA
- East Fork Des Moines River at Dakota City, IA
- West Fork Des Moines River at Humboldt, IA
- Boone River near Goldfield, IA
- White Fox Creek at Clarion, IA
- West Fork Des Moines River at Estherville, IA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (AGNI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.