South Skunk River near Ames W Riverside Rd, IA
River level and flood forecast · Story County
Normal5.6 ftas of Mon 3 PM
The river is 6.9 ft below flood stage (12.5 ft).
Flow: 740 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sat, Oct 3, 1:42 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 16.5 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 16 ft |
| Flood stage | 12.5 ft |
| Action stage | 11 ft |
| Record crest (June 17, 1996) | 20.89 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 16.8 ftWater affects E 13th St with closure likely.
- 14.6 ftWater affects Sargent Metal located at 650 Arrasmith Trl.
- 14.1 ftWater affects residences along Freel Dr south of Lincoln Way.
- 14 ftWater affects E 13th St between Meadow Lane and the bridge over the South Skunk River.
- 13.9 ftWater affects Westech Engineering located at 600 Arrasmith Trl.
- 10.6 ftWater is out of its banks at River Valley Park.
- 9.9 ftWater affects low-lying fields.
Highest crests on record
- 20.89 ft — June 17, 1996
- 19.23 ft — August 16, 1993
- 19.04 ft — August 11, 2010
- 18.9 ft — May 20, 1944
- 18.66 ft — June 10, 1954
Recent crests: 9.36 ft (August 10, 2025) · 8.9 ft (May 9, 2024) · 9.27 ft (February 28, 2023) · 11.26 ft (June 15, 2022) · 4.83 ft (March 5, 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 (AMEI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.