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Cedar River at Waterloo

Highest listed crest 27.01 ftFlood stage 13.0 ft90 crests since 1929

The Cedar River at Waterloo crested at major flood stage 4 times among the 90 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1929 to 2026. The highest, 27.01 ft on June 11, 2008, was major flooding, 14.01 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
27.01 ft
June 11, 2008; 112,000 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
13.0 ft
Major flooding from 21.0 ft
Crests at major
4
52nd of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
June 26, 2024
15.69 ft, minor flooding
Location
Black Hawk County
Near Waterloo (0.9 mi), Cedar Falls (6.3 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 Waterloo
Action stage8.535Jul 13, 2026The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)13.030Jun 26, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage19.07May 25, 2004Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage21.04Sep 24, 2016Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

90 crests from 1929 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Cedar River at Waterloo, 1929 to 2026 51015202530ft Flood stage 13.0 ftMajor 21.0 ft Mar 16, 1929: 20.00 ft, moderate flooding; 65,000 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1933: 19.50 ft, moderate flooding; 61,000 cubic feet per secondApr 21, 1941: 9.23 ft, action stage; 11,700 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1942: 12.22 ft, action stage; 23,000 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1943: 10.75 ft, action stage; 17,700 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1944: 13.25 ft, minor flooding; 26,400 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1945: 18.38 ft, minor flooding; 53,300 cubic feet per secondJan 6, 1946: 12.99 ft, action stage; 25,200 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1947: 18.70 ft, minor flooding; 55,600 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 1948: 15.85 ft, minor flooding; 38,200 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1949: 12.21 ft, action stage; 23,100 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1950: 15.90 ft, minor flooding; 38,400 cubic feet per secondApr 9, 1951: 18.83 ft, minor flooding; 56,400 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1952: 13.57 ft, minor flooding; 28,000 cubic feet per secondAug 7, 1953: 11.29 ft, action stage; 19,800 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1954: 18.40 ft, minor flooding; 49,400 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1955: 7.40 ft, below flood stage; 6,590 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1956: 7.09 ft, below flood stage; 5,920 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 1957: 7.65 ft, below flood stage; 7,680 cubic feet per secondJul 17, 1958: 6.67 ft, below flood stage; 4,320 cubic feet per secondMar 28, 1959: 13.15 ft, minor flooding; 24,700 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1960: 18.10 ft, minor flooding; 48,100 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1961: 21.86 ft, major flooding; 76,700 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1962: 19.26 ft, moderate flooding; 51,200 cubic feet per secondMay 12, 1963: 10.50 ft, action stage; 16,200 cubic feet per secondSep 12, 1964: 6.66 ft, below flood stage; 4,210 cubic feet per secondApr 8, 1965: 21.67 ft, major flooding; 69,500 cubic feet per secondOct 2, 1965: 15.13 ft, minor flooding; 33,400 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1967: 10.77 ft, action stage; 18,400 cubic feet per secondJul 18, 1968: 12.35 ft, action stage; 22,800 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1969: 20.15 ft, moderate flooding; 58,600 cubic feet per secondMay 16, 1970: 8.11 ft, below flood stage; 9,340 cubic feet per secondApr 3, 1971: 13.69 ft, minor flooding; 26,700 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 1972: 8.06 ft, below flood stage; 9,030 cubic feet per secondSep 30, 1972: 9.59 ft, action stageApr 18, 1973: 16.18 ft, minor flooding; 37,300 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1974: 15.78 ft, minor flooding; 35,500 cubic feet per secondMay 1, 1975: 12.86 ft, action stage; 24,100 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1976: 10.58 ft, action stage; 17,200 cubic feet per secondSep 18, 1977: 6.19 ft, below flood stage; 3,120 cubic feet per secondJul 10, 1978: 10.82 ft, action stage; 18,000 cubic feet per secondAug 25, 1979: 15.12 ft, minor flooding; 32,500 cubic feet per secondAug 13, 1980: 12.98 ft, action stage; 25,900 cubic feet per secondJun 27, 1981: 10.09 ft, action stage; 16,300 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1982: 13.41 ft, minor flooding; 27,500 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1983: 13.40 ft, minor flooding; 27,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 1984: 13.11 ft, minor flooding; 26,300 cubic feet per secondFeb 25, 1985: 8.75 ft, action stageMar 5, 1985: 8.42 ft, below flood stage; 10,400 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1986: 15.27 ft, minor flooding; 33,400 cubic feet per secondOct 15, 1986: 11.15 ft, action stage; 19,700 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1988: 6.94 ft, below flood stage; 5,150 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1989: 7.44 ft, below flood stage; 6,730 cubic feet per secondJul 30, 1990: 17.38 ft, minor flooding; 47,100 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 1991: 17.73 ft, minor flooding; 48,200 cubic feet per secondMar 12, 1992: 11.29 ft, action stage; 20,900 cubic feet per secondApr 2, 1993: 20.60 ft, moderate flooding; 68,100 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1994: 10.36 ft, action stage; 17,200 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 1995: 8.90 ft, action stage; 11,600 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 1996: 8.16 ft, below flood stage; 9,100 cubic feet per secondMar 14, 1997: 12.28 ft, action stage; 23,300 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 1998: 11.79 ft, action stage; 23,300 cubic feet per secondJul 23, 1999: 20.78 ft, moderate flooding; 69,300 cubic feet per secondJul 14, 2000: 12.85 ft, action stage; 24,900 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2001: 16.59 ft, minor flooding; 45,800 cubic feet per secondAug 8, 2002: 7.63 ft, below flood stage; 7,820 cubic feet per secondMay 11, 2003: 10.01 ft, action stage; 16,200 cubic feet per secondMay 25, 2004: 19.32 ft, moderate flooding; 58,500 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 2005: 12.46 ft, action stage; 23,700 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 2006: 10.21 ft, action stage; 18,100 cubic feet per secondAug 24, 2007: 12.61 ft, action stage; 24,200 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 2008: 27.01 ft, major flooding; 112,000 cubic feet per secondApr 29, 2009: 10.28 ft, action stage; 17,700 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2010: 16.86 ft, minor flooding; 49,900 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 2011: 14.05 ft, minor flooding; 33,700 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 2012: 8.21 ft, below flood stage; 10,700 cubic feet per secondMay 31, 2013: 18.59 ft, minor flooding; 57,300 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 2014: 18.39 ft, minor flooding; 56,200 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2015: 11.13 ft, action stage; 20,700 cubic feet per secondSep 24, 2016: 22.95 ft, major flooding; 83,700 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 2016: 11.74 ft, action stage; 23,400 cubic feet per secondSep 23, 2018: 18.96 ft, minor flooding; 59,500 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 2019: 18.83 ft, minor flooding; 58,700 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2020: 14.54 ft, minor flooding; 36,000 cubic feet per secondAug 31, 2021: 12.47 ft, action stage; 26,700 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 2022: 9.14 ft, action stage; 13,300 cubic feet per secondMar 2, 2023: 11.64 ft, action stage; 23,000 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2024: 15.69 ft, minor flooding; 41,700 cubic feet per secondAug 2, 2025: 12.51 ft, action stage; 26,700 cubic feet per secondJul 13, 2026: 12.90 ft, action stage Highest, 27.01 ft, Jun 11, 2008 19401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Cedar River at Waterloo 1920s: 1 1930s: 1 1940s: 4 1950s: 5 1960s: 6 1970s: 4 1980s: 4 1990s: 4 2000s: 3 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 2 1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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 90 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Cedar River at Waterloo
1Jun 11, 200827.01+14.01Major112,000
2Sep 24, 201622.95+9.95Major83,700
3Mar 29, 196121.86+8.86Major76,700
4Apr 8, 196521.67+8.67Major69,500
5Jul 23, 199920.78+7.78Moderate69,300
6Apr 2, 199320.60+7.60Moderate68,100
7Jun 29, 196920.15+7.15Moderate58,600
8Mar 16, 192920.00+7.00Moderate65,000
9Apr 2, 193319.50+6.50Moderate61,000
10May 25, 200419.32+6.32Moderate58,500
11Mar 31, 196219.26+6.26Moderate51,200
12Sep 23, 201818.96+5.96Minor59,500
13Apr 9, 195118.83+5.83Minor56,400
14Mar 17, 201918.83+5.83Minor58,700
15Jun 13, 194718.70+5.70Minor55,600
16May 31, 201318.59+5.59Minor57,300
17Jun 23, 195418.40+5.40Minor49,400
18Jun 22, 201418.39+5.39Minor56,200
19Mar 17, 194518.38+5.38Minor53,300
20Mar 31, 196018.10+5.10Minor48,100
21May 21, 199117.73+4.73Minor48,200
22Jul 30, 199017.38+4.38Minor47,100
23Mar 15, 201016.86+3.86Minor49,900
24Apr 15, 200116.59+3.59Minor45,800
25Apr 18, 197316.18+3.18Minor37,300
26Mar 8, 195015.90+2.90Minor38,400
27Mar 1, 194815.85+2.85Minor38,200
28Jun 11, 197415.78+2.78Minor35,500
29Jun 26, 202415.69+2.69Minor41,700
30Mar 20, 198615.27+2.27Minor33,400
31Oct 2, 196515.13+2.13Minor33,400
32Aug 25, 197915.12+2.12Minor32,500
33Jun 24, 202014.54+1.54Minor36,000
34Mar 26, 201114.05+1.05Minor33,700
35Apr 3, 197113.69+0.69Minor26,700
36Apr 2, 195213.57+0.57Minor28,000
37Mar 21, 198213.41+0.41Minor27,500
38Mar 9, 198313.40+0.40Minor27,200
39Jun 17, 194413.25+0.25Minor26,400
40Mar 28, 195913.15+0.15Minor24,700
41Feb 20, 198413.11+0.11Minor26,300
42Jan 6, 194612.99−0.01Action25,200
43Aug 13, 198012.98−0.02Action25,900
44Jul 13, 202612.90−0.10Action—
45May 1, 197512.86−0.14Action24,100
46Jul 14, 200012.85−0.15Action24,900
47Aug 24, 200712.61−0.39Action24,200
48Aug 2, 202512.51−0.49Action26,700
49Aug 31, 202112.47−0.53Action26,700
50Jun 30, 200512.46−0.54Action23,700

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 11, 2008: 27.01 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
  • 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
  • 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 24, 2016: 22.95 ft here, major flooding

  • Cedar FallsIA · Sep 24, 2016 · 98.90 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
  • 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

March 29, 1961: 21.86 ft here, major flooding

  • 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
  • JanesvilleIA · Mar 28, 1961 · 16.33 ft · Moderate
  • 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
JanesvilleIA13.019.45 ft, Jun 10, 20081
PaloIA12.523.22 ft, Jun 13, 20082
VintonIA15.024.70 ft, Jun 12, 20084
Waterloo this gaugeIA13.027.01 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 Black Hawk County

Flood gauges in Black Hawk County
Hudson15.019.03 ft, Apr 25, 20081
Cedar Falls89.0102.10 ft, Jun 10, 20087
Finchford17.020.82 ft, Jun 10, 20081

Black Hawk County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Iowa

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge ALOI4, 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.