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Iowa River near Tama Hwy E49

Highest listed crest 15.20 ftFlood stage 12.5 ft13 crests since 2012

The Iowa River near Tama Hwy E49 crested at major flood stage 3 times among the 13 crests the National Weather Service lists from 2012 to 2025. The highest, 15.20 ft on May 28, 2013, was major flooding, 2.70 feet above flood stage. 6 other gauges on the Iowa River crested above flood stage within a week of it.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
15.20 ft
May 28, 2013; 26,700 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
12.5 ft
Major flooding from 14.0 ft
Crests at major
3
58th of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
August 1, 2025
13.63 ft, moderate flooding
Location
Tama County
Near Marshalltown (14.7 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 near Tama Hwy E49
Action stage11.01Mar 1, 2023The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)12.51Jun 25, 2020Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage13.06Aug 1, 2025Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage14.03Dec 16, 2015Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

13 crests from 2012 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Iowa River near Tama Hwy E49, 2012 to 2025 46810121416ft Flood stage 12.5 ftMajor 14.0 ft May 4, 2012: 6.56 ft, below flood stage; 2,730 cubic feet per secondMay 28, 2013: 15.20 ft, major flooding; 26,700 cubic feet per secondJul 3, 2014: 15.08 ft, major flooding; 25,400 cubic feet per secondSep 1, 2015: 13.39 ft, moderate flooding; 15,200 cubic feet per secondDec 16, 2015: 14.08 ft, major flooding; 19,800 cubic feet per secondOct 1, 2016: 13.11 ft, moderate floodingSep 5, 2018: 13.04 ft, moderate flooding; 11,300 cubic feet per secondMar 16, 2019: 13.95 ft, moderate flooding; 16,300 cubic feet per secondJun 25, 2020: 12.53 ft, minor flooding; 9,440 cubic feet per secondMar 8, 2021: 5.82 ft, below flood stage; 2,170 cubic feet per secondMar 1, 2023: 11.03 ft, action stage; 6,660 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2024: 13.69 ft, moderate flooding; 14,700 cubic feet per secondAug 1, 2025: 13.63 ft, moderate flooding; 14,400 cubic feet per second Highest, 15.20 ft, May 28, 2013 201520202025

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Iowa River near Tama Hwy E49 2010s: 7 7 2020s: 3 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, Iowa River near Tama Hwy E49
1May 28, 201315.20+2.70Major26,700
2Jul 3, 201415.08+2.58Major25,400
3Dec 16, 201514.08+1.58Major19,800
4Mar 16, 201913.95+1.45Moderate16,300
5May 24, 202413.69+1.19Moderate14,700
6Aug 1, 202513.63+1.13Moderate14,400
7Sep 1, 201513.39+0.89Moderate15,200
8Oct 1, 201613.11+0.61Moderate—
9Sep 5, 201813.04+0.54Moderate11,300
10Jun 25, 202012.53+0.03Minor9,440
11Mar 1, 202311.03−1.47Action6,660
12May 4, 20126.56−5.94Below flood stage2,730
13Mar 8, 20215.82−6.68Below flood stage2,170

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.

May 28, 2013: 15.20 ft here, major flooding

July 3, 2014: 15.08 ft here, major flooding

December 16, 2015: 14.08 ft here, major flooding

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
MarshalltownIA19.022.25 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 E49 this gaugeIA12.515.20 ft, May 28, 20133
Tama US 63IA20.022.31 ft, Apr 28, 20070

Other gauges in Tama County

Flood gauges in Tama County
Tama US 6320.022.31 ft, Apr 28, 20070
Elberon16.020.85 ft, Jul 9, 19930
Dysart12.018.25 ft, May 30, 20080

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge TMAI4, 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.