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Cedar River at Cedar Bluff

Highest listed crest 24.70 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft7 crests since 2013

The Cedar River at Cedar Bluff crested above flood stage 6 times among the 7 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2013 to 2020. The highest, 24.70 ft on September 28, 2016, was moderate flooding, 8.70 feet above flood stage. 14 other gauges on the Cedar River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 1 at its own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
24.70 ft
September 28, 2016; 81,200 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 26.0 ft
Crests at major
0
6 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
June 26, 2020
19.00 ft, minor flooding
Location
Cedar County
Near Iowa City (14.4 mi)

Flood stages

The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.

Flood categories, Cedar River at Cedar Bluff
Action stage12.01Jun 29, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.01Jun 26, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage20.05Mar 19, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage26.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

7 crests from 2013 to 2020. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Cedar River at Cedar Bluff, 2013 to 2020 1015202530ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 26.0 ft Jun 2, 2013: 21.99 ft, moderate flooding; 66,900 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2014: 20.83 ft, moderate flooding; 58,800 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 2015: 13.64 ft, action stage; 23,600 cubic feet per secondSep 28, 2016: 24.70 ft, moderate flooding; 81,200 cubic feet per secondSep 26, 2018: 21.38 ft, moderate flooding; 60,100 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 2019: 21.47 ft, moderate flooding; 61,900 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2020: 19.00 ft, minor flooding; 48,200 cubic feet per second Highest, 24.70 ft, Sep 28, 2016 20152020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Cedar River at Cedar Bluff 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 1 2010s2020s
  1. These are the crests the local National Weather Service office lists for the gauge: the highest on record and recent crests. Lesser floods between them may be missing, so counts by decade are a floor.
  2. Categories use today's flood stages. Levees, dams and channel changes since a crest can make old and new stages not directly comparable.

Highest crests

Highest listed crests, Cedar River at Cedar Bluff
1Sep 28, 201624.70+8.70Moderate81,200
2Jun 2, 201321.99+5.99Moderate66,900
3Mar 19, 201921.47+5.47Moderate61,900
4Sep 26, 201821.38+5.38Moderate60,100
5Jul 2, 201420.83+4.83Moderate58,800
6Jun 26, 202019.00+3.00Minor48,200
7Jun 29, 201513.64−2.36Action23,600

The worst floods along the Cedar River

For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Cedar River that crested above flood stage within a week.

September 28, 2016: 24.70 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Cedar FallsIA · Sep 24, 2016 · 98.90 ft · Major
  • WaterlooIA · Sep 24, 2016 · 22.95 ft · Major
  • Cedar RapidsIA · Sep 27, 2016 · 21.97 ft · Major
  • VintonIA · Sep 26, 2016 · 21.80 ft · Major
  • Charles CityIA · Sep 24, 2016 · 21.00 ft · Major
  • PaloIA · Sep 27, 2016 · 18.07 ft · Major
  • ConesvilleIA · Sep 29, 2016 · 18.06 ft · Major
  • LansingMN · Sep 22, 2016 · 20.33 ft · Moderate
  • AustinMN · Sep 23, 2016 · 19.80 ft · Moderate
  • JanesvilleIA · Sep 24, 2016 · 16.27 ft · Moderate

June 2, 2013: 21.99 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Cedar RapidsIA · Jun 2, 2013 · 18.23 ft · Major
  • ConesvilleIA · Jun 3, 2013 · 16.90 ft · Major
  • Cedar FallsIA · May 31, 2013 · 93.85 ft · Moderate
  • VintonIA · Jun 1, 2013 · 18.59 ft · Moderate
  • PaloIA · Jun 1, 2013 · 15.67 ft · Moderate
  • WaterlooIA · May 31, 2013 · 18.59 ft · Minor

March 19, 2019: 21.47 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Cedar FallsIA · Mar 17, 2019 · 95.05 ft · Major
  • Cedar RapidsIA · Mar 19, 2019 · 18.32 ft · Major
  • ConesvilleIA · Mar 20, 2019 · 16.31 ft · Moderate
  • Charles CityIA · Mar 16, 2019 · 15.79 ft · Moderate
  • WaterlooIA · Mar 17, 2019 · 18.83 ft · Minor
  • LansingMN · Mar 16, 2019 · 18.65 ft · Minor
  • VintonIA · Mar 17, 2019 · 17.72 ft · Minor
  • PaloIA · Mar 19, 2019 · 15.30 ft · Minor
  • AustinMN · Mar 16, 2019 · 13.38 ft · Minor

Gauges on the Cedar River

Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.

Flood gauges on the Cedar River
AustinMN15.025.00 ft, Sep 16, 20047
Cedar Bluff this gaugeIA16.024.70 ft, Sep 28, 20160
Cedar FallsIA89.0102.10 ft, Jun 10, 20087
Cedar RapidsIA12.031.12 ft, Jun 13, 200827
Charles CityIA12.025.33 ft, Jun 9, 200816
JanesvilleIA13.019.45 ft, Jun 10, 20081
PaloIA12.523.22 ft, Jun 13, 20082
VintonIA15.024.70 ft, Jun 12, 20084
WaterlooIA13.027.01 ft, Jun 11, 20084
WaverlyIA12.019.33 ft, Jun 10, 20081
AustinMN10.023.26 ft, Sep 16, 20040
ConesvilleIA13.023.40 ft, Jun 15, 200812
LansingMN18.022.98 ft, Sep 15, 20041
Otranto (IFC)IA1,141.01,148.60 ft, Sep 23, 20160
St. Ansgar (IFC)IA1,104.01,109.48 ft, Jun 23, 20240

Cedar County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Iowa

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CEBI4, retrieved October 30, 2026. Stages in feet on the gauge's own datum, not elevation. Crests are as the National Weather Service lists them; preliminary values may be revised.