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Cedar River at Palo

Highest listed crest 23.22 ftFlood stage 12.5 ft12 crests since 2008

The Cedar River at Palo crested at major flood stage 2 times among the 12 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2008 to 2024. The highest, 23.22 ft on June 13, 2008, was major flooding, 10.72 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
23.22 ft
June 13, 2008
Flood stage
12.5 ft
Major flooding from 17.0 ft
Crests at major
2
70th of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
June 28, 2024
13.56 ft, minor flooding
Location
Linn County
Near Cedar Rapids (9.1 mi), Marion (10.3 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 Palo
Action stage11.03Jan 25, 2017The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)12.55Jun 28, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage15.51Jun 1, 2013Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage17.02Sep 27, 2016Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

12 crests from 2008 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Cedar River at Palo, 2008 to 2024 510152025ft Flood stage 12.5 ftMajor 17.0 ft Jun 13, 2008: 23.22 ft, major floodingMar 17, 2010: 14.18 ft, minor flooding; 49,400 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 2011: 12.37 ft, action stage; 29,600 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 2012: 7.60 ft, below flood stage; 9,760 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2013: 15.67 ft, moderate flooding; 68,100 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2014: 15.00 ft, minor flooding; 59,200 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2015: 11.49 ft, action stage; 24,500 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2016: 18.07 ft, major flooding; 88,500 cubic feet per secondJan 25, 2017: 11.35 ft, action stage; 26,900 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 2019: 15.30 ft, minor flooding; 63,300 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2020: 13.86 ft, minor flooding; 46,600 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2024: 13.56 ft, minor flooding; 39,000 cubic feet per second Highest, 23.22 ft, Jun 13, 2008 2010201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Cedar River at Palo 2000s: 1 2010s: 5 5 2020s: 2 2000s2010s2020s
  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 Palo
1Jun 13, 200823.22+10.72Major—
2Sep 27, 201618.07+5.57Major88,500
3Jun 1, 201315.67+3.17Moderate68,100
4Mar 19, 201915.30+2.80Minor63,300
5Jun 24, 201415.00+2.50Minor59,200
6Mar 17, 201014.18+1.68Minor49,400
7Jun 25, 202013.86+1.36Minor46,600
8Jun 28, 202413.56+1.06Minor39,000
9Mar 28, 201112.37−0.13Action29,600
10Jun 28, 201511.49−1.01Action24,500
11Jan 25, 201711.35−1.15Action26,900
12May 10, 20127.60−4.90Below flood stage9,760

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 13, 2008: 23.22 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
  • AustinMN · Jun 12, 2008 · 22.40 ft · Major
  • JanesvilleIA · Jun 10, 2008 · 19.45 ft · Major · its highest
  • WaverlyIA · Jun 10, 2008 · 19.33 ft · Major · its highest
  • LansingMN · Jun 12, 2008 · 20.55 ft · Moderate

September 27, 2016: 18.07 ft here, major 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
  • ConesvilleIA · Sep 29, 2016 · 18.06 ft · Major
  • Cedar BluffIA · Sep 28, 2016 · 24.70 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • 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 1, 2013: 15.67 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
  • Cedar BluffIA · Jun 2, 2013 · 21.99 ft · Moderate
  • VintonIA · Jun 1, 2013 · 18.59 ft · Moderate
  • WaterlooIA · May 31, 2013 · 18.59 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
JanesvilleIA13.019.45 ft, Jun 10, 20081
Palo this gaugeIA12.523.22 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 Linn County

Flood gauges in Linn County
Cedar Rapids12.031.12 ft, Jun 13, 200827
Marion7.514.12 ft, Jul 1, 20140

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge PLOI4, 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.