Wapsipinicon River at Independence, IA

The last 7 days and the forecast

NWS forecast issued Sat, Oct 3, 9:03 AM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.

Flood stages

What floods at each level

From the National Weather Service, highest first.

• 22 ftWater affects Iowa Highway 150 from the cemetery to Three Elms Park Road in Independence. Water also floods most residences and businesses from the river to 2nd Avenue NE.
• 21.8 ftWater affects 1st Street from 2nd Avenue E to 3rd Avenue W including the river bridge surface.
• 21.5 ftWater reaches the bottom of the 2nd Street S bridge deck and reaches the alleyway on the east bank between 1st Street and 2nd Street S.
• 21.3 ftWater reaches the bottom of the railroad bridge on the north end of Independence.
• 21.1 ftWater affects the fronts of businesses on 1st Street in Independence.
• 21 ftWater affects residences on the south side of 2nd Street S and also reaches the bottom 1st Street bridge deck. Water reaches the guardrails of the Iowa Highway 150 bridge and floods much of the cemetery.
• 20 ftWater affects most residences, businesses, and parks in Independence. Flooding also occurs in Fairbank, Littleton, and Central City. Water also floods farmland and a few residences in Quasqueton.
• 19 ftWater affects the backs of businesses on 1st Street in Independence.
• 18 ftWater affects 1st Street and reaches the bottom of the Iowa Highway 150 bridge deck.
• 16 ftWater affects many residences, businesses, and parks in Independence and Littleton.
• 15 ftWater affects the cemetery on the south side of Independence. In Littleton, water affects residences along Water, State, and Benton Streets, and cabins west of the river.
• 14 ftWater affects residences and streets in low-lying areas of Independence and Littleton.
• 12 ftWater affects low-lying streets in Independence.

Highest crests on record

1. 22.35 ft — May 18, 1999
2. 21.11 ft — July 18, 1968
3. 20.3 ft — August 26, 1990
4. 19.29 ft — September 25, 2016
5. 18.86 ft — June 11, 2008

Recent crests: 14.77 ft (September 1, 2021) · 12.01 ft (June 10, 2020) · 13.37 ft (March 15, 2019) · 16.86 ft (September 5, 2018) · 15.43 ft (July 23, 2017)

Up and down the river, and nearby

• DownstreamWapsipinicon River at Anamosa Shaw Rd, IA
• Little Wapsipinicon River near Oran, IA
• Cedar River at Vinton, IA
• Cedar River at Waterloo, IA
• Maquoketa River at Manchester Hwy 20, IA
• Wolf Creek near Dysart, IA
• Cedar River at Palo, IA
• Cedar River at Cedar Falls, IA
• Black Hawk Creek at Hudson, IA