Red Cedar River at East Lansing, MI
River level and flood forecast · Ingham County
The river is 3.6 ft below flood stage (7 ft).
Flow: 75 cubic feet per second (USGS).
The last 7 days and the forecast
NWS forecast issued Sun, Dec 31, 7 PM. Forecasts change as rain falls and as upstream water arrives.
Get flood alerts for this river
An email when the National Weather Service forecasts Red Cedar River at East Lansing to flood, when it floods, and when it's over.
Flood stages
| Major flood stage | 13 ft |
| Moderate flood stage | 10 ft |
| Flood stage | 7 ft |
| Action stage | 6 ft |
| Record crest (March 24, 1904) | 13.4 ft |
What floods at each level
From the National Weather Service, highest first.
- 13 ftExpect major widespread flooding of homes and businesses in area around the mouth of the Red Cedar along Sprint, Hazel, Elm, South, Clear, River, Cedar, and Beech Streets. Apartments flooded on South Washington and East Main Street. Kellogg Center, Armstrong Hall, Bailey Hall, Van Hoosen Hall, Chapel, Emmons Hall, and University Village impacted by high water.
- 12 ftExpect moderate flooding of Jenison Fieldhouse, Intramural Sports Circle, Demonstration Hall on the Michigan State University campus. University Village begins to be impacted by flood waters.
- 11.5 ftExpect moderate widespread flooding of homes and businesses in the Kalamazoo and Clippert Street, South Street, and Cedar and Beech Street areas of Lansing.
- 10.5 ftExpect moderate flooding of homes and businesses in the Cedar and Beech Streets area, South Street, and 1.5 miles downstream of gage site.
- 10 ftJenison Fieldhouse, Intramural Sports Circle, Demonstration Hall on the Michigan State University campus impacted by flood water.
- 9 ftJenison Fieldhouse and Intramural Sports Circle on the Michigan State University begin to get impacted by flood water.
- 8.5 ftMinor flooding of farmland, Michigan State University athletic fields, and secondary roads.
- 8 ftThe Potter Park Zoo parking lot in Lansing begins to flood.
- 7 ftExpect minor flooding of low lying areas, adjacent parks, and farmland.
- 6.5 ftWater begins to encroach on some Michigan State University athletic fields.
- 6 ftRiver reaches bankfull and low lying areas flood.
Highest crests on record
- 13.4 ft — March 24, 1904
- 11.95 ft — April 20, 1975
- 11.58 ft — April 7, 1947
- 10.7 ft — March 15, 1918
- 10.47 ft — March 20, 1948
Recent crests: 6.99 ft (January 28, 2024) · 8.05 ft (April 6, 2023) · 6.62 ft (February 19, 2022) · 7.18 ft (August 13, 2021) · 8.99 ft (May 20, 2020)
Up and down the river, and nearby
Not an official source. River levels, forecasts, flood stages and impacts are from the National Weather Service (ELNM4); flow from the U.S. Geological Survey. Readings are provisional. In a flood, follow your local officials and the NWS at weather.gov.