Walnut Creek at Des Moines 63rd St, IA
River level and flood forecast · Polk County
Normal4.0 ftas of Mon 2:46 PM
The river is 10.0 ft below flood stage (14 ft).
Flow: 113 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Tue, Sep 15, 10:11 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 17 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 15 ft |
| Flood stage | 14 ft |
| Action stage | 10 ft |
| Record crest (June 30, 2018) | 19.08 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 25.4 ftThis is the top of the West Des Moines levee.
- 25 ftThis is the top of the floodwall on the east side of 63rd St.
- 23.9 ftWater reaches the road surface of 63rd St.
- 18.5 ftWater affects 73rd St near I-235. Water reaches the underside of the 63rd St bridge and affects businesses just east of the railroad tracks on Grand Ave.
- 17.7 ftWater reaches the base of the railroad bridge upstream of 63rd St.
- 17.5 ftThe 63rd St overhead gates are closed.
- 16.5 ftThe Grand Ave overhead gates are closed.
- 16 ftWater affects Grand Ave in Des Moines...some nearby residences and Colby Park in Windsor Heights.
- 14 ftN Valley Dr is closed. Water affects Hoak Rd between Center St as well as the levee affecting several businesses.
- 13 ftWalnut Hill Dr is closed. Lowland flooding occurs along the east river bank downstream of 63rd St.
Highest crests on record
- 19.08 ft — June 30, 2018
- 18.69 ft — June 25, 2015
- 18.59 ft — August 9, 2010
- 18.32 ft — May 10, 1986
- 18 ft — June 16, 1990
Recent crests: 11.88 ft (June 25, 2025) · 12.69 ft (July 31, 2024) · 7.9 ft (February 27, 2023) · 8.98 ft (October 24, 2021) · 7.75 ft (July 31, 2021)
Up and down the river, and nearby
- DownstreamRaccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr, IA
- Raccoon River at Des Moines IA 28, IA
- Des Moines River at Des Moines 2nd Ave, IA
- Des Moines River at Des Moines SE 6th St, IA
- Raccoon River near West Des Moines, IA
- Des Moines River at Saylorville Tail, IA
- Beaver Creek near Grimes, IA
- Fourmile Creek at Des Moines Easton Blvd, IA
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (DOSI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.