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Iowa River at Marshalltown

Highest listed crest 22.25 ftFlood stage 19.0 ft110 crests since 1903

The Iowa River at Marshalltown crested above flood stage 16 times among the 110 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1903 to 2025. The highest, 22.25 ft on July 2, 2014, was minor flooding, 3.25 feet above flood stage. 8 other gauges on the Iowa River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
22.25 ft
July 2, 2014; 24,500 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
19.0 ft
Major flooding from 26.0 ft
Crests at major
0
16 above flood stage
Most recent flood crest
May 23, 2024
20.00 ft, minor flooding
Location
Marshall County
Near Marshalltown (2.2 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Iowa River at Marshalltown
Action stage14.062Jul 31, 2025The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)19.016May 23, 2024Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage23.00—Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage26.00—Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

110 crests from 1903 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Iowa River at Marshalltown, 1903 to 2025 51015202530ft Flood stage 19.0 ftMajor 26.0 ft May 29, 1903: 13.00 ft, below flood stage; 7,760 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 1915: 13.80 ft, below flood stage; 9,440 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1916: 9.50 ft, below flood stage; 3,620 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1917: 14.60 ft, action stage; 13,000 cubic feet per secondJun 4, 1918: 17.74 ft, action stage; 42,000 cubic feet per secondMar 17, 1919: 13.00 ft, below flood stage; 7,480 cubic feet per secondOct 6, 1919: 12.40 ft, below flood stage; 6,520 cubic feet per secondSep 17, 1921: 13.40 ft, below flood stage; 8,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 24, 1922: 11.70 ft, below flood stage; 5,710 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1923: 10.50 ft, below flood stage; 4,350 cubic feet per secondJun 29, 1924: 13.60 ft, below flood stage; 9,060 cubic feet per secondJun 19, 1925: 7.60 ft, below flood stage; 2,480 cubic feet per secondSep 19, 1926: 13.90 ft, below flood stage; 10,000 cubic feet per secondJun 9, 1927: 13.00 ft, below flood stage; 7,610 cubic feet per secondAug 3, 1929: 15.00 ft, action stage; 15,500 cubic feet per secondApr 1, 1930: 10.60 ft, below flood stage; 4,800 cubic feet per secondApr 4, 1933: 15.50 ft, action stage; 17,100 cubic feet per secondJan 24, 1934: 6.30 ft, below flood stage; 1,400 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1935: 15.70 ft, action stage; 12,500 cubic feet per secondMar 9, 1936: 13.60 ft, below flood stage; 8,450 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1937: 13.80 ft, below flood stage; 9,130 cubic feet per secondMay 6, 1938: 11.30 ft, below flood stage; 4,540 cubic feet per secondMar 13, 1939: 13.80 ft, below flood stage; 9,080 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1940: 7.90 ft, below flood stage; 2,200 cubic feet per secondSep 8, 1941: 9.60 ft, below flood stage; 2,900 cubic feet per secondJun 3, 1942: 15.80 ft, action stage; 18,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 27, 1943: 12.10 ft, below flood stage; 4,960 cubic feet per secondMay 20, 1944: 15.90 ft, action stage; 18,900 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1945: 14.10 ft, action stage; 8,340 cubic feet per secondJan 6, 1946: 15.60 ft, action stage; 14,300 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1947: 16.80 ft, action stage; 20,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 1948: 15.80 ft, action stage; 15,000 cubic feet per secondMar 5, 1949: 14.80 ft, action stage; 10,000 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 1950: 15.80 ft, action stage; 14,800 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1951: 16.13 ft, action stage; 15,200 cubic feet per secondMar 11, 1952: 13.99 ft, below flood stage; 6,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 21, 1953: 16.70 ft, action stage; 7,000 cubic feet per secondAug 28, 1954: 16.09 ft, action stage; 11,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 20, 1955: 11.75 ft, below flood stage; 3,290 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 1956: 9.89 ft, below flood stage; 2,160 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1957: 15.24 ft, action stage; 7,800 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1958: 14.11 ft, action stage; 5,550 cubic feet per secondMar 27, 1959: 15.57 ft, action stage; 10,000 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1960: 17.51 ft, action stage; 21,500 cubic feet per secondMar 31, 1961: 14.81 ft, action stage; 7,850 cubic feet per secondMar 29, 1962: 15.90 ft, action stage; 9,400 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 1963: 12.64 ft, below flood stage; 3,890 cubic feet per secondMay 8, 1964: 10.40 ft, below flood stage; 2,320 cubic feet per secondApr 6, 1965: 17.63 ft, action stage; 17,400 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1966: 16.25 ft, action stage; 8,800 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 1967: 15.49 ft, action stage; 6,900 cubic feet per secondJul 20, 1968: 11.84 ft, below flood stage; 3,330 cubic feet per secondJul 9, 1969: 19.37 ft, minor floodingMay 14, 1970: 14.99 ft, action stage; 6,580 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 1971: 17.22 ft, action stage; 11,700 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1972: 17.55 ft, action stage; 10,900 cubic feet per secondApr 17, 1973: 16.52 ft, action stage; 8,340 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 1974: 19.38 ft, minor flooding; 15,600 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 1975: 18.42 ft, action stage; 11,500 cubic feet per secondApr 19, 1976: 17.27 ft, action stage; 8,840 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1977: 16.35 ft, action stage; 6,330 cubic feet per secondSep 21, 1978: 16.50 ft, action stage; 6,320 cubic feet per secondMar 19, 1979: 19.77 ft, minor flooding; 20,900 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1980: 15.85 ft, action stage; 6,040 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 1981: 14.15 ft, action stage; 4,150 cubic feet per secondMar 20, 1982: 17.50 ft, action stage; 9,130 cubic feet per secondJul 4, 1983: 18.65 ft, action stage; 10,900 cubic feet per secondJun 14, 1984: 18.29 ft, action stage; 11,100 cubic feet per secondMar 4, 1985: 17.07 ft, action stage; 6,870 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 1986: 18.10 ft, action stage; 10,600 cubic feet per secondOct 13, 1986: 15.99 ft, action stageAug 27, 1987: 15.44 ft, action stage; 5,680 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 1988: 13.94 ft, below flood stage; 2,980 cubic feet per secondMar 10, 1989: 13.90 ft, below flood stage; 1,300 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1990: 20.38 ft, minor flooding; 17,300 cubic feet per secondJun 5, 1991: 19.97 ft, minor flooding; 15,200 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1992: 16.10 ft, action stage; 5,310 cubic feet per secondAug 17, 1993: 20.77 ft, minor flooding; 20,400 cubic feet per secondMar 6, 1994: 16.75 ft, action stage; 6,420 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 1995: 15.48 ft, action stage; 4,330 cubic feet per secondJun 18, 1996: 16.52 ft, action stage; 5,970 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1997: 17.87 ft, action stage; 8,890 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1998: 19.66 ft, minor flooding; 12,600 cubic feet per secondJun 11, 1999: 18.22 ft, action stage; 9,790 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 2000: 16.41 ft, action stage; 5,790 cubic feet per secondMar 21, 2001: 17.43 ft, action stage; 7,910 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2002: 13.08 ft, below flood stage; 2,750 cubic feet per secondMay 10, 2003: 16.37 ft, action stage; 5,420 cubic feet per secondMay 26, 2004: 18.18 ft, action stage; 8,330 cubic feet per secondJun 30, 2005: 17.13 ft, action stage; 7,240 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2006: 14.22 ft, action stage; 3,610 cubic feet per secondJun 24, 2007: 20.13 ft, minor flooding; 16,900 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2008: 21.79 ft, minor flooding; 22,400 cubic feet per secondApr 28, 2009: 18.30 ft, action stage; 10,100 cubic feet per secondJun 28, 2010: 19.00 ft, minor flooding; 12,100 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 2011: 16.93 ft, action stage; 6,480 cubic feet per secondMay 4, 2012: 13.09 ft, below flood stage; 2,400 cubic feet per secondMay 30, 2013: 22.08 ft, minor flooding; 25,500 cubic feet per secondJul 2, 2014: 22.25 ft, minor flooding; 24,500 cubic feet per secondAug 30, 2015: 19.99 ft, minor flooding; 14,300 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 2015: 20.38 ft, minor flooding; 16,800 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 2016: 17.63 ft, action stage; 8,510 cubic feet per secondSep 27, 2018: 18.25 ft, action stage; 9,000 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2019: 20.32 ft, minor flooding; 15,700 cubic feet per secondJun 23, 2020: 18.21 ft, action stage; 9,250 cubic feet per secondMar 7, 2021: 13.22 ft, below flood stageJun 16, 2022: 16.64 ft, action stage; 7,020 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 2023: 17.71 ft, action stage; 9,290 cubic feet per secondMay 23, 2024: 20.00 ft, minor flooding; 14,500 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 2025: 18.67 ft, action stage; 9,930 cubic feet per second Highest, 22.25 ft, Jul 2, 2014 192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Iowa River at Marshalltown 1900s: 0 1910s: 0 1920s: 0 1930s: 0 1940s: 0 1950s: 0 1960s: 1 1970s: 2 1980s: 0 1990s: 4 2000s: 2 2010s: 6 6 2020s: 1 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 110 listed crests.

Highest listed crests, Iowa River at Marshalltown
1Jul 2, 201422.25+3.25Minor24,500
2May 30, 201322.08+3.08Minor25,500
3Jun 13, 200821.79+2.79Minor22,400
4Aug 17, 199320.77+1.77Minor20,400
5Jun 18, 199020.38+1.38Minor17,300
6Dec 15, 201520.38+1.38Minor16,800
7Mar 15, 201920.32+1.32Minor15,700
8Jun 24, 200720.13+1.13Minor16,900
9May 23, 202420.00+1.00Minor14,500
10Aug 30, 201519.99+0.99Minor14,300
11Jun 5, 199119.97+0.97Minor15,200
12Mar 19, 197919.77+0.77Minor20,900
13Jun 22, 199819.66+0.66Minor12,600
14Jun 23, 197419.38+0.38Minor15,600
15Jul 9, 196919.37+0.37Minor—
16Jun 28, 201019.000.00Minor12,100
17Jul 31, 202518.67−0.33Action9,930
18Jul 4, 198318.65−0.35Action10,900
19Mar 21, 197518.42−0.58Action11,500
20Apr 28, 200918.30−0.70Action10,100
21Jun 14, 198418.29−0.71Action11,100
22Sep 27, 201818.25−0.75Action9,000
23Jun 11, 199918.22−0.78Action9,790
24Jun 23, 202018.21−0.79Action9,250
25May 26, 200418.18−0.82Action8,330
26Jul 1, 198618.10−0.90Action10,600
27Jun 22, 199717.87−1.13Action8,890
28Jun 4, 191817.74−1.26Action42,000
29Feb 28, 202317.71−1.29Action9,290
30Apr 6, 196517.63−1.37Action17,400
31Oct 1, 201617.63−1.37Action8,510
32Jun 14, 197217.55−1.45Action10,900
33Mar 31, 196017.51−1.49Action21,500
34Mar 20, 198217.50−1.50Action9,130
35Mar 21, 200117.43−1.57Action7,910
36Apr 19, 197617.27−1.73Action8,840
37Mar 15, 197117.22−1.78Action11,700
38Jun 30, 200517.13−1.87Action7,240
39Mar 4, 198517.07−1.93Action6,870
40Feb 19, 201116.93−2.07Action6,480
41Jun 13, 194716.80−2.20Action20,500
42Mar 6, 199416.75−2.25Action6,420
43Feb 21, 195316.70−2.30Action7,000
44Jun 16, 202216.64−2.36Action7,020
45Apr 17, 197316.52−2.48Action8,340
46Jun 18, 199616.52−2.48Action5,970
47Sep 21, 197816.50−2.50Action6,320
48Jul 11, 200016.41−2.59Action5,790
49May 10, 200316.37−2.63Action5,420
50Aug 17, 197716.35−2.65Action6,330

The worst floods along the Iowa River

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

July 2, 2014: 22.25 ft here, minor flooding

May 30, 2013: 22.08 ft here, minor flooding

  • MarengoIA · May 31, 2013 · 20.36 ft · Major
  • Tama Hwy E49IA · May 28, 2013 · 15.20 ft · Major · its highest
  • Iowa CityIA · Jun 5, 2013 · 24.90 ft · Moderate
  • Tama US 63IA · May 31, 2013 · 22.05 ft · Minor
  • Belle PlaineIA · May 30, 2013 · 18.80 ft · Minor
  • Steamboat RockIA · May 30, 2013 · 13.94 ft · Minor
  • RowanIA · May 27, 2013 · 12.80 ft · Minor

June 13, 2008: 21.79 ft here, minor flooding

  • Columbus JctIA · Jun 15, 2008 · 32.30 ft · Major · its highest
  • WapelloIA · Jun 14, 2008 · 32.15 ft · Major · its highest
  • Iowa CityIA · Jun 15, 2008 · 31.53 ft · Major · its highest
  • OakvilleIA · Jun 14, 2008 · 23.22 ft · Major · its highest
  • Lone Tree (Tri-County Bridge)IA · Jun 15, 2008 · 23.10 ft · Major · its highest
  • MarengoIA · Jun 12, 2008 · 21.38 ft · Major · its highest
  • RowanIA · Jun 9, 2008 · 15.89 ft · Moderate · its highest
  • Tama US 63IA · Jun 13, 2008 · 21.31 ft · Minor
  • Belle PlaineIA · Jun 13, 2008 · 19.86 ft · Minor · its highest
  • Steamboat RockIA · Jun 8, 2008 · 17.86 ft · Minor · its highest

Gauges on the Iowa River

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

Flood gauges on the Iowa River
Belle PlaineIA15.019.86 ft, Jun 13, 20080
Columbus JctIA23.032.30 ft, Jun 15, 20083
Iowa CityIA23.531.53 ft, Jun 15, 20082
MarengoIA15.021.38 ft, Jun 12, 200810
Marshalltown this gaugeIA19.022.25 ft, Jul 2, 20140
OakvilleIA11.023.22 ft, Jun 14, 20081
Steamboat RockIA11.017.86 ft, Jun 8, 20080
WapelloIA21.032.15 ft, Jun 14, 20087
Lone Tree (Tri-County Bridge)IA16.023.10 ft, Jun 15, 20083
RowanIA12.515.89 ft, Jun 9, 20080
Tama Hwy E49IA12.515.20 ft, May 28, 20133
Tama US 63IA20.022.31 ft, Apr 28, 20070

Other gauges in Marshall County

Flood gauges in Marshall County
Marshalltown14.018.07 ft, May 21, 20240

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MIWI4, 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.