South Skunk River near Ames US 30, IA
River level and flood forecast · Story County
Normal14.3 ftas of Mon 3 PM
The river is 7.2 ft below flood stage (21.5 ft).
Flow: 1,500 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Oct 4, 9:15 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 24.5 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 23.5 ft |
| Flood stage | 21.5 ft |
| Action stage | 19 ft |
| Record crest (August 11, 2010) | 26.72 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 26.3 ftWater impacts I-35 south of US 30.
- 26 ftWater affects the US 30 bridge over the South Skunk River. Widespread flooding also occurs along Dayton Ave.
- 25.5 ftWidespread flooding of US 30 occurs.
- 25 ftWater affects I-35 south of US 30...US 30 between Dayton Ave and Duff Ave...as well as hotels and industries along Dayton Ave.
- 24 ftWater affects US 30 between Dayton Ave and Duff Ave. Basements also flood in Cambridge. Hotels on SE 16th St have water in their parking lots. Water may also affect SE 16th St.
- 23 ftWater affects the Shady Grove Trailer Park located at 1006 S Dayton Ave as well as the railroad just northeast of Cambridge.
- 21 ftWater affects S 16th St. Water also affects the sports complex along the river south of US 30.
- 20.5 ftWater affects gravel roads just upstream from US 30 as well as agricultural land from Ames downstream to northeast Polk County.
- 20 ftWater affects agricultural land from Ames to Cambridge.
Highest crests on record
- 26.72 ft — August 11, 2010
- 25.57 ft — June 27, 1975
- 25.53 ft — July 9, 1993
- 25.4 ft — June 17, 1990
- 25.13 ft — June 17, 1996
Recent crests: 18.76 ft (July 30, 2025) · 18.12 ft (May 9, 2024) · 19.53 ft (February 27, 2023) · 22.1 ft (June 15, 2022) · 12.46 ft (March 5, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamSouth Skunk River at Colfax, IA
- Ioway Creek at Ames Lincoln Way, IA
- South Skunk River near Ames W Riverside Rd, IA
- Keigley Branch near Story City, IA
- Fourmile Creek near Ankeny NE 86th Ave, IA
- Indian Creek near Mingo, IA
- Mud Lake Drainage Ditch 71 at Jewell, IA
- Des Moines River at Saylorville Tail, IA
- Beaver Creek near Grimes, IA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (AESI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.