Floyd River at James, IA
River level and flood forecast · Plymouth County
Normal8.8 ftas of Mon 1 PM
The river is 17.2 ft below flood stage (26 ft).
Flow: 288 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 | 34 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 30 ft |
| Flood stage | 26 ft |
| Action stage | 24 ft |
| Record crest (June 23, 2024) | 32.39 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 38 ftThe levees in and around Sioux City downstream of the gage begin to be overtopped. The bridge at the gauge location on CR 70 is overtopped.
- 36 ftFlooding begins to affect the town of James.
- 35.5 ftThe railroad tracks in Sioux City should be closed.
- 34.5 ftApproximately 3700 acres of farm land are flooded.
- 34 ftThe northbound lane of Highway 75 is flooded, and the railroad company begins to shut down operations.
- 32 ftWater approaches the railroad tracks and may overtop them in some locations.
- 31.5 ftThe lowest portions of County Highway C70 begin to flood. Flooding begins to affect the farm levees, and about 3200 acres of farm land are flooded.
- 30 ftOutbuildings near the gauge location may begin to flood.
- 28.5 ftApproximately 2100 acres of farm land are flooded.
- 27.5 ftApproximately 1500 acres of farm land are flooded.
- 26 ftFlooding begins to affect the low lying agricultural lands.
- 24 ftThe lowest banks are overtopped with minor lowland flooding.
- 18 ftThe Floyd River levee gates in Sioux City begin closing.
Highest crests on record
- 32.39 ft — June 23, 2024
- 31.48 ft — March 15, 2019
- 28.85 ft — June 21, 1983
- 28.19 ft — March 23, 1979
- 27.7 ft — September 22, 2018
Recent crests: 17.24 ft (August 1, 2025) · 32.39 ft (June 23, 2024) · 13.73 ft (February 27, 2023) · 9.13 ft (April 10, 2021) · 13.18 ft (December 30, 2019)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (JMEI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.