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Cedar River at Janesville

Highest listed crest 19.45 ftFlood stage 13.0 ft109 crests since 1905

The Cedar River at Janesville crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 109 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1905 to 2025. The highest, 19.45 ft on June 10, 2008, was major flooding, 6.45 feet above flood stage. 11 other gauges on the Cedar River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 8 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
19.45 ft
June 10, 2008; 53,400 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
13.0 ft
Major flooding from 18.0 ft
Crests at major
1
93rd of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
June 25, 2024
14.36 ft, minor flooding
Location
Bremer County
Near Waverly (5.1 mi), Cedar Falls (8.9 mi), Waterloo (12.2 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 Janesville
Action stage10.028Aug 21, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)13.09Jun 25, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.09Aug 30, 2021Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage18.01Jun 10, 2008Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

109 crests from 1905 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Cedar River at Janesville, 1905 to 2025 05101520ft Flood stage 13.0 ftMajor 18.0 ft May 17, 1905: 3.10 ft, below flood stage; 5,840 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1906: 10.20 ft, action stage; 27,100 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1915: 4.90 ft, below flood stage; 7,220 cubic feet per secondJun 2, 1916: 7.00 ft, below flood stage; 12,100 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1917: 9.80 ft, below flood stage; 21,900 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1918: 5.00 ft, below flood stage; 7,400 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 1919: 4.70 ft, below flood stage; 6,870 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1920: 7.30 ft, below flood stage; 6,190 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1921: 11.50 ft, action stage; 15,300 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1923: 6.20 ft, below flood stage; 4,630 cubic feet per secondAug 22, 1924: 6.00 ft, below flood stage; 4,410 cubic feet per secondJun 15, 1925: 7.70 ft, below flood stage; 6,860 cubic feet per secondMar 22, 1926: 5.60 ft, below flood stage; 4,010 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 1927: 6.20 ft, below flood stage; 4,630 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1929: 16.00 ft, moderate floodingApr 1, 1933: 16.00 ft, moderate flooding; 33,300 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1934: 9.90 ft, below flood stage; 11,200 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1935: 9.10 ft, below flood stage; 9,580 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 1936: 9.80 ft, below flood stage; 11,200 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1937: 11.00 ft, action stage; 12,000 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 1938: 8.80 ft, below flood stage; 8,910 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1939: 9.40 ft, below flood stage; 7,500 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1940: 6.00 ft, below flood stage; 4,410 cubic feet per secondApr 20, 1941: 8.70 ft, below flood stage; 8,890 cubic feet per secondJul 16, 1942: 9.30 ft, below flood stage; 10,100 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1945: 16.20 ft, moderate flooding; 34,300 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 1946: 11.30 ft, action stage; 14,700 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1947: 10.14 ft, action stage; 12,200 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1948: 14.10 ft, minor flooding; 25,100 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1949: 11.40 ft, action stage; 14,000 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1950: 12.70 ft, action stage; 20,200 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1951: 14.05 ft, minor flooding; 25,000 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1952: 10.74 ft, action stage; 14,700 cubic feet per secondAug 6, 1953: 10.80 ft, action stage; 15,000 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1954: 12.08 ft, action stage; 18,400 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1955: 5.16 ft, below flood stage; 4,430 cubic feet per secondApr 5, 1956: 4.46 ft, below flood stage; 3,530 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1957: 3.10 ft, below flood stage; 1,890 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1958: 2.73 ft, below flood stage; 1,100 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1959: 6.78 ft, below flood stage; 6,620 cubic feet per secondMar 30, 1960: 10.46 ft, action stage; 13,200 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1961: 16.33 ft, moderate flooding; 37,000 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1962: 13.86 ft, minor flooding; 24,000 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1963: 9.65 ft, below flood stage; 6,200 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1964: 2.53 ft, below flood stage; 1,240 cubic feet per secondMar 3, 1965: 16.33 ft, moderate floodingApr 7, 1965: 14.33 ft, minor flooding; 29,200 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 1965: 12.05 ft, action stage; 18,800 cubic feet per secondJun 12, 1967: 7.57 ft, below flood stage; 7,690 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1968: 12.79 ft, action stage; 21,700 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1969: 13.74 ft, minor flooding; 23,500 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1970: 4.85 ft, below flood stage; 3,400 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1971: 9.59 ft, below flood stage; 11,400 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 1972: 5.42 ft, below flood stage; 5,060 cubic feet per secondApr 18, 1973: 11.67 ft, action stage; 16,500 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1974: 9.33 ft, below flood stage; 10,800 cubic feet per secondApr 30, 1975: 9.90 ft, below flood stage; 12,000 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1976: 8.58 ft, below flood stage; 9,260 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 1977: 3.30 ft, below flood stage; 2,460 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1978: 8.90 ft, below flood stage; 9,740 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1979: 11.24 ft, action stage; 15,700 cubic feet per secondAug 12, 1980: 11.14 ft, action stage; 14,900 cubic feet per secondJul 19, 1981: 7.13 ft, below flood stage; 7,050 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1982: 8.69 ft, below flood stage; 9,640 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1983: 10.28 ft, action stage; 12,800 cubic feet per secondJun 20, 1984: 9.96 ft, below flood stage; 12,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 1985: 7.20 ft, below flood stageMar 21, 1986: 11.03 ft, action stage; 15,100 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 1986: 10.18 ft, action stage; 12,600 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1988: 4.15 ft, below flood stage; 3,080 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1989: 7.89 ft, below flood stageMar 27, 1989: 4.71 ft, below flood stage; 4,170 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 1990: 10.30 ft, action stage; 12,800 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1991: 10.98 ft, action stage; 14,500 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1992: 8.31 ft, below flood stage; 8,830 cubic feet per secondAug 18, 1993: 15.74 ft, moderate flooding; 35,000 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 1994: 6.29 ft, below flood stage; 5,690 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1995: 5.16 ft, below flood stage; 4,450 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1996: 4.88 ft, below flood stage; 4,250 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1997: 9.99 ft, below flood stageMar 25, 1997: 9.52 ft, below flood stage; 11,000 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1998: 8.83 ft, below flood stage; 10,700 cubic feet per secondJul 22, 1999: 17.15 ft, moderate flooding; 42,200 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 2000: 11.91 ft, action stage; 17,000 cubic feet per secondApr 14, 2001: 13.30 ft, minor flooding; 21,700 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2002: 3.48 ft, below flood stage; 2,590 cubic feet per secondMay 15, 2003: 6.41 ft, below flood stage; 6,640 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 2004: 13.40 ft, minor flooding; 25,000 cubic feet per secondFeb 17, 2005: 8.37 ft, below flood stage; 7,370 cubic feet per secondApr 10, 2006: 8.27 ft, below flood stage; 10,600 cubic feet per secondMar 24, 2007: 8.75 ft, below flood stage; 10,500 cubic feet per secondJun 10, 2008: 19.45 ft, major flooding; 53,400 cubic feet per secondFeb 14, 2009: 5.79 ft, below flood stage; 5,710 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 2010: 11.76 ft, action stage; 18,600 cubic feet per secondMar 25, 2011: 11.34 ft, action stage; 17,500 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2012: 4.70 ft, below flood stage; 4,310 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2013: 14.62 ft, minor flooding; 32,300 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2014: 12.42 ft, action stage; 20,400 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2015: 9.89 ft, below flood stage; 13,900 cubic feet per secondSep 24, 2016: 16.27 ft, moderate flooding; 35,400 cubic feet per secondOct 29, 2016: 9.24 ft, below flood stage; 12,500 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 2018: 12.14 ft, action stage; 18,400 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2019: 12.40 ft, action stage; 20,400 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 2020: 8.89 ft, below flood stage; 11,800 cubic feet per secondAug 30, 2021: 15.11 ft, moderate flooding; 29,800 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2022: 6.11 ft, below flood stage; 6,760 cubic feet per secondMay 17, 2023: 8.57 ft, below flood stage; 11,100 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2024: 14.36 ft, minor flooding; 26,500 cubic feet per secondAug 21, 2025: 10.26 ft, action stage Highest, 19.45 ft, Jun 10, 2008 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Cedar River at Janesville 1900s: 0 1910s: 0 1920s: 1 1930s: 1 1940s: 2 1950s: 1 1960s: 5 5 1970s: 0 1980s: 0 1990s: 2 2000s: 3 2010s: 2 2020s: 2 1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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

The 50 highest of 109 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Cedar River at Janesville
1Jun 10, 200819.45+6.45Major53,400
2Jul 22, 199917.15+4.15Moderate42,200
3Mar 28, 196116.33+3.33Moderate37,000
4Mar 3, 196516.33+3.33Moderate—
5Sep 24, 201616.27+3.27Moderate35,400
6Mar 17, 194516.20+3.20Moderate34,300
7Mar 16, 192916.00+3.00Moderate—
8Apr 1, 193316.00+3.00Moderate33,300
9Aug 18, 199315.74+2.74Moderate35,000
10Aug 30, 202115.11+2.11Moderate29,800
11May 22, 201314.62+1.62Minor32,300
12Jun 25, 202414.36+1.36Minor26,500
13Apr 7, 196514.33+1.33Minor29,200
14Mar 1, 194814.10+1.10Minor25,100
15Apr 9, 195114.05+1.05Minor25,000
16Mar 31, 196213.86+0.86Minor24,000
17Jul 1, 196913.74+0.74Minor23,500
18Sep 18, 200413.40+0.40Minor25,000
19Apr 14, 200113.30+0.30Minor21,700
20Jul 17, 196812.79−0.21Action21,700
21Mar 28, 195012.70−0.30Action20,200
22Jun 21, 201412.42−0.58Action20,400
23Mar 18, 201912.40−0.60Action20,400
24Sep 23, 201812.14−0.86Action18,400
25Jun 22, 195412.08−0.92Action18,400
26Oct 1, 196512.05−0.95Action18,800
27Jul 13, 200011.91−1.09Action17,000
28Mar 14, 201011.76−1.24Action18,600
29Apr 18, 197311.67−1.33Action16,500
30May 29, 192111.50−1.50Action15,300
31Mar 7, 194911.40−1.60Action14,000
32Mar 25, 201111.34−1.66Action17,500
33Sep 9, 194611.30−1.70Action14,700
34Apr 2, 197911.24−1.76Action15,700
35Aug 12, 198011.14−1.86Action14,900
36Mar 21, 198611.03−1.97Action15,100
37Mar 8, 193711.00−2.00Action12,000
38May 20, 199110.98−2.02Action14,500
39Aug 6, 195310.80−2.20Action15,000
40Apr 2, 195210.74−2.26Action14,700
41Mar 30, 196010.46−2.54Action13,200
42Jul 30, 199010.30−2.70Action12,800
43Mar 8, 198310.28−2.72Action12,800
44Aug 21, 202510.26−2.74Action—
45Mar 27, 190610.20−2.80Action27,100
46Oct 15, 198610.18−2.82Action12,600
47Jun 13, 194710.14−2.86Action12,200
48Mar 14, 19979.99−3.01Below flood stage—
49Jun 20, 19849.96−3.04Below flood stage12,100
50Apr 6, 19349.90−3.10Below flood stage11,200

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.

June 10, 2008: 19.45 ft here, major flooding

  • Cedar FallsIA · Jun 10, 2008 · 102.10 ft · Major · its highest
  • Cedar RapidsIA · Jun 13, 2008 · 31.12 ft · Major · its highest
  • WaterlooIA · Jun 11, 2008 · 27.01 ft · Major · its highest
  • Charles CityIA · Jun 9, 2008 · 25.33 ft · Major · its highest
  • VintonIA · Jun 12, 2008 · 24.70 ft · Major · its highest
  • ConesvilleIA · Jun 15, 2008 · 23.40 ft · Major · its highest
  • PaloIA · Jun 13, 2008 · 23.22 ft · Major · its highest
  • AustinMN · Jun 12, 2008 · 22.40 ft · Major
  • WaverlyIA · Jun 10, 2008 · 19.33 ft · Major · its highest
  • LansingMN · Jun 12, 2008 · 20.55 ft · Moderate

July 22, 1999: 17.15 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Cedar FallsIA · Jul 23, 1999 · 96.20 ft · Major
  • Charles CityIA · Jul 21, 1999 · 22.81 ft · Major
  • Cedar RapidsIA · Jul 25, 1999 · 18.31 ft · Major
  • ConesvilleIA · Jul 28, 1999 · 16.80 ft · Major
  • WaterlooIA · Jul 23, 1999 · 20.78 ft · Moderate
  • VintonIA · Jul 24, 1999 · 18.00 ft · Moderate
  • AustinMN · Jul 19, 1999 · 14.54 ft · Minor

March 28, 1961: 16.33 ft here, moderate flooding

  • Cedar FallsIA · Mar 21, 1961 · 96.10 ft · Major
  • WaterlooIA · Mar 29, 1961 · 21.86 ft · Major
  • Charles CityIA · Mar 27, 1961 · 21.60 ft · Major
  • Cedar RapidsIA · Mar 31, 1961 · 19.66 ft · Major
  • VintonIA · Mar 30, 1961 · 19.30 ft · Major
  • ConesvilleIA · Apr 2, 1961 · 16.62 ft · Major
  • AustinMN · Mar 26, 1961 · 17.03 ft · Minor
  • AustinMN · Mar 26, 1961 · 17.00 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 BluffIA16.024.70 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
Janesville this gaugeIA13.019.45 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

Other gauges in Bremer County

Flood gauges in Bremer County
Waverly12.019.33 ft, Jun 10, 20081
Tripoli15.018.51 ft, Aug 29, 20215

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge JANI4, 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.