Willow Creek (North Central IA) near Cornell, IA
River level and flood forecast · Clay County
Normal81.8 ftas of Mon 2:15 PM
The river is 8.2 ft below flood stage (90 ft).
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 | 96 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 94 ft |
| Flood stage | 90 ft |
| Action stage | 88 ft |
| Record crest (June 27, 2010) | 94.3 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 96 ftHighway 71 begins to flood.
- 94 ftThe higher banks overtop and significant flooding of crop and pasture land begins.
- 90 ftThe lower banks overtop and minor agricultural flooding begins.
Highest crests on record
- 94.3 ft — June 27, 2010
- 94.09 ft — September 20, 2018
- 93.63 ft — June 22, 2024
- 92.84 ft — March 14, 2019
- 91.49 ft — March 22, 1979
Recent crests: 85.27 ft (June 19, 2025) · 93.63 ft (June 22, 2024) · 88.36 ft (February 27, 2023) · 87.29 ft (March 10, 2020) · 92.84 ft (March 14, 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 (CWCI4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.