Mississippi River at Clayton
Highest listed crest 627.28 ftFlood stage 620.0 ft23 crests since 1938
The Mississippi River at Clayton crested above flood stage 22 times among the 23 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1938 to 2024. The highest, 627.28 ft on April 24, 1965, was minor flooding, 7.28 feet above flood stage. 43 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 27 at their own highest listed crest.
The gauge
- Highest listed crest
- 627.28 ft
- April 24, 1965
- Flood stage
- 620.0 ft
- No major stage set
- Crests at major
- 0
- 22 above flood stage
- Most recent flood crest
- July 6, 2024
- 622.69 ft, minor flooding
Flood stages
The thresholds the National Weather Service uses for this gauge today, and how many listed crests reached each.
| Action stage | 616.0 | 1 | Apr 26, 1982 |
| Flood stage (minor) | 620.0 | 22 | Jul 6, 2024 |
Every listed crest
23 crests from 1938 to 2024. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.
Crests at or above flood stage, by decade
- 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.
- 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
| 1 | Apr 24, 1965 | 627.28 | +7.28 | Minor |
| 2 | Apr 21, 2001 | 625.48 | +5.48 | Minor |
| 3 | Apr 28, 2023 | 624.71 | +4.71 | Minor |
| 4 | Jun 30, 1993 | 623.76 | +3.76 | Minor |
| 5 | Apr 22, 1969 | 623.70 | +3.70 | Minor |
| 6 | Apr 26, 2019 | 623.58 | +3.58 | Minor |
| 7 | Apr 15, 1997 | 623.28 | +3.28 | Minor |
| 8 | Apr 18, 2011 | 623.28 | +3.28 | Minor |
| 9 | Apr 24, 1952 | 623.15 | +3.15 | Minor |
| 10 | Apr 20, 1951 | 623.00 | +3.00 | Minor |
| 11 | Apr 10, 1967 | 622.78 | +2.78 | Minor |
| 12 | Jul 6, 2024 | 622.69 | +2.69 | Minor |
| 13 | May 4, 1975 | 622.60 | +2.60 | Minor |
| 14 | Mar 22, 1973 | 622.30 | +2.30 | Minor |
| 15 | Apr 10, 1986 | 622.16 | +2.16 | Minor |
| 16 | Oct 5, 1986 | 622.11 | +2.11 | Minor |
| 17 | Apr 15, 2019 | 621.39 | +1.39 | Minor |
| 18 | Oct 2, 2010 | 621.27 | +1.27 | Minor |
| 19 | May 11, 1954 | 620.90 | +0.90 | Minor |
| 20 | Sep 19, 1938 | 620.76 | +0.76 | Minor |
| 21 | May 5, 2019 | 620.63 | +0.63 | Minor |
| 22 | May 27, 2019 | 620.44 | +0.44 | Minor |
| 23 | Apr 26, 1982 | 619.96 | −0.04 | Action |
The worst floods along the Mississippi River
For this gauge's highest crests, the other gauges on the Mississippi River that crested above flood stage within a week.
April 24, 1965: 627.28 ft here, minor flooding
- Lock and Dam 3 - Red WingMN · Apr 19, 1965 · 687.77 ft · Major · its highest
- Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota CityMN · Apr 19, 1965 · 667.85 ft · Major · its highest
- Lock and Dam 5a - WinonaMN · Apr 19, 1965 · 663.35 ft · Major · its highest
- Lock and Dam 6 - TrempealeauMN · Apr 21, 1965 · 653.02 ft · Major · its highest
- Lock and Dam 7 - La CrescentMN · Apr 21, 1965 · 647.38 ft · Major · its highest
- Lock and Dam 8 - GenoaWI · Apr 22, 1965 · 638.40 ft · Major · its highest
- Lock and Dam 9 - LynxvilleWI · Apr 24, 1965 · 633.16 ft · Major · its highest
- Dubuque (Railroad Bridge)IA · Apr 26, 1965 · 26.81 ft · Major · its highest
- Lock and Dam 2 - HastingsMN · Apr 17, 1965 · 25.90 ft · Major · its highest
- Dubuque (LD11)IA · Apr 26, 1965 · 25.69 ft · Major · its highest
April 21, 2001: 625.48 ft here, minor flooding
- Lock and Dam 3 - Red WingMN · Apr 28, 2001 · 685.20 ft · Major
- Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota CityMN · Apr 16, 2001 · 665.70 ft · Major
- Lock and Dam 5a - WinonaMN · Apr 17, 2001 · 661.95 ft · Major
- Lock and Dam 6 - TrempealeauMN · Apr 18, 2001 · 651.43 ft · Major
- Lock and Dam 7 - La CrescentMN · Apr 18, 2001 · 645.20 ft · Major
- Lock and Dam 8 - GenoaWI · Apr 18, 2001 · 636.21 ft · Major
- Lock and Dam 9 - LynxvilleWI · Apr 21, 2001 · 631.22 ft · Major
- Dubuque (Railroad Bridge)IA · Apr 21, 2001 · 25.40 ft · Major
- Dubuque (LD11)IA · Apr 21, 2001 · 23.91 ft · Major
- St. PaulMN · Apr 18, 2001 · 23.76 ft · Major
April 28, 2023: 624.71 ft here, minor flooding
- Lock and Dam 3 - Red WingMN · Apr 25, 2023 · 683.49 ft · Major
- Lock and Dam 6 - TrempealeauMN · Apr 25, 2023 · 651.01 ft · Major
- Dubuque (Railroad Bridge)IA · Apr 29, 2023 · 24.30 ft · Major
- Dubuque (LD11)IA · Apr 29, 2023 · 23.03 ft · Major
- McGregorIA · Apr 28, 2023 · 22.91 ft · Major
- CamancheIA · Apr 30, 2023 · 22.86 ft · Major
- MuscatineIA · May 2, 2023 · 22.31 ft · Major
- FultonIL · Apr 30, 2023 · 22.06 ft · Major
- BellevueIL · Apr 29, 2023 · 21.78 ft · Major
- Rock IslandIL · May 1, 2023 · 21.51 ft · Major
Gauges on the Mississippi River
Flood gauges sharing the river's name, linked within 80 miles of one another.
| Tiptonville | MO | 48.35 ft, May 5, 2011 | 2 |
| Alma - Pool 5 | MN | 672.13 ft, Apr 16, 2001 | 0 |
| Alton | IL | 39.55 ft, Aug 1, 1993 | 7 |
| Baton Rouge | LA | 47.28 ft, May 15, 1927 | 31 |
| Bellevue | IL | 23.51 ft, Apr 26, 1965 | 11 |
| Brainerd | MN | 17.61 ft, Jun 28, 2012 | 0 |
| Brownsville | MN | 640.20 ft, Apr 22, 1965 | 0 |
| Burlington | IL | 25.73 ft, Jun 17, 2008 | 36 |
| Camanche | IA | 24.65 ft, Apr 28, 1965 | 20 |
| Canton Lock and Dam 20 | MO | 27.88 ft, Jul 9, 1993 | 3 |
| Cape Girardeau | MO | 48.86 ft, Jan 2, 2016 | 15 |
| Caruthersville | MO | 47.61 ft, May 7, 2011 | 2 |
| Chester | IL | 49.74 ft, Aug 7, 1993 | 9 |
| Clarksville Lock and Dam 24 | MO | 37.73 ft, Jul 29, 1993 | 10 |
| Clayton this gauge | IA | 627.28 ft, Apr 24, 1965 | 0 |
| Dakota | MN | 649.08 ft, Apr 21, 1965 | 0 |
| Donaldsonville | LA | 36.01 ft, May 15, 1927 | 3 |
| Dubuque (LD11) | IA | 25.69 ft, Apr 26, 1965 | 13 |
| Dubuque (Railroad Bridge) | IA | 26.81 ft, Apr 26, 1965 | 18 |
| Fort Ripley | MN | 14.15 ft, Apr 8, 1997 | 0 |
| Fridley abv 37th Ave NE | MN | 20.00 ft, Apr 17, 1965 | 6 |
| Fulton | IL | 24.75 ft, Apr 28, 1965 | 13 |
| Gladstone | IL | 22.46 ft, Jun 17, 2008 | 24 |
| Grafton | IL | 38.17 ft, Aug 1, 1993 | 15 |
| Gregory Landing | MO | 28.49 ft, Jul 9, 1993 | 4 |
| Hannibal | MO | 31.80 ft, Jul 15, 1993 | 10 |
| Helena | AR | 60.21 ft, Feb 12, 1937 | 4 |
| Herculaneum | MO | 29.79 ft, Jul 10, 2024 | 0 |
| Hickman | KY | 54.29 ft, May 2, 2011 | 3 |
| Hwy 169 at Champlin | MN | 17.96 ft, Apr 12, 1965 | 3 |
| Hwy 610 in Brooklyn Park | MN | 19.53 ft, Apr 17, 1965 | 4 |
| Illinois City | IA | 24.10 ft, Jul 9, 1993 | 21 |
| Keithsburg | IA | 24.49 ft, Jun 17, 2008 | 22 |
| Keokuk | IA | 27.58 ft, Jul 10, 1993 | 24 |
| La Crosse - Pool 8 | WI | 17.89 ft, Apr 22, 1965 | 4 |
| LaGrange | MO | 30.00 ft, Jul 13, 1993 | 4 |
| Lake City | WI | 22.18 ft, Apr 19, 1965 | 3 |
| Lansing - Pool 9 | IA | 22.50 ft, Apr 24, 1965 | 1 |
| LeClaire | IA | 17.75 ft, Apr 28, 1965 | 16 |
| Louisiana | MO | 28.40 ft, Jul 28, 1993 | 4 |
| McGregor | IA | 25.38 ft, Apr 24, 1965 | 3 |
| Mel Price (Alton) Lock and Dam | IL | 42.72 ft, Aug 1, 1993 | 8 |
| Memphis | TN | 48.70 ft, Feb 10, 1937 | 2 |
| Muscatine | IA | 25.61 ft, Jul 9, 1993 | 21 |
| Natchez | MS | 61.95 ft, May 19, 2011 | 6 |
| New Boston | IL | 25.90 ft, Jul 9, 1993 | 22 |
| New Madrid | MO | 48.35 ft, May 6, 2011 | 4 |
| New Orleans | LA | 21.27 ft, Apr 25, 1922 | 5 |
| Osceola | AR | 50.90 ft, Feb 7, 1937 | 42 |
| Quincy | IL | 32.13 ft, Jul 13, 1993 | 7 |
| Quincy Lock and Dam 21 | IL | 31.30 ft, Jul 13, 1993 | 7 |
| Red River Landing | LA | 63.39 ft, May 18, 2011 | 0 |
| Red Wing | MN | 20.70 ft, Apr 18, 1965 | 9 |
| Reserve | LA | 26.00 ft, Jun 11, 1929 | 1 |
| Rock Island | IL | 22.70 ft, May 2, 2019 | 20 |
| Saverton Lock and Dam 22 | MO | 29.58 ft, Jul 25, 1993 | 9 |
| St. Cloud | MN | 11.44 ft, Apr 8, 1997 | 1 |
| St. Louis | MO | 49.58 ft, Aug 1, 1993 | 9 |
| St. Paul | MN | 26.01 ft, Apr 16, 1965 | 16 |
| Thebes | IL | 47.74 ft, Jan 2, 2016 | 12 |
| Tunica Mhoon Landing | MS | 53.20 ft, Feb 10, 1937 | 5 |
| Vicksburg | LA | 57.10 ft, May 19, 2011 | 12 |
| Wabasha - Pool 4 | MN | 20.05 ft, Apr 19, 1965 | 7 |
| Winfield Lock and Dam 25 | MO | 39.62 ft, Aug 1, 1993 | 9 |
| Winona - Pool 6 | MN | 20.77 ft, Apr 19, 1965 | 5 |
| Lock and Dam 10 - Guttenberg | IA | 23.65 ft, Apr 24, 1965 | 2 |
| Lock and Dam 2 - Hastings | MN | 25.90 ft, Apr 17, 1965 | 12 |
| Lock and Dam 3 - Red Wing | MN | 687.77 ft, Apr 19, 1965 | 8 |
| Lock and Dam 4 - Alma | WI | 19.78 ft, Apr 19, 1965 | 2 |
| Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota City | MN | 667.85 ft, Apr 19, 1965 | 4 |
| Lock and Dam 5a - Winona | MN | 663.35 ft, Apr 19, 1965 | 4 |
| Lock and Dam 6 - Trempealeau | MN | 653.02 ft, Apr 21, 1965 | 4 |
| Lock and Dam 7 - La Crescent | MN | 647.38 ft, Apr 21, 1965 | 2 |
| Lock and Dam 8 - Genoa | WI | 638.40 ft, Apr 22, 1965 | 3 |
| Lock and Dam 9 - Lynxville | WI | 633.16 ft, Apr 24, 1965 | 3 |
| Aitkin | MN | 22.49 ft, May 20, 1950 | 11 |
| Arkansas City | AR | 59.20 ft, Apr 21, 1927 | 15 |
| Greenville | AR | 65.40 ft, Apr 21, 1927 | 18 |
Other gauges in Clayton County
| Marquette | 12.38 ft, May 23, 2004 | 4 |
| McGregor | 25.38 ft, Apr 24, 1965 | 3 |
| Lock and Dam 10 - Guttenberg | 23.65 ft, Apr 24, 1965 | 2 |
| Elkader (IFC) | 755.15 ft, Sep 23, 2016 | 0 |
| Elkader | 27.77 ft, Jun 10, 2008 | 6 |
| Garber | 32.80 ft, May 23, 2004 | 28 |
| Elgin (IFC) | 775.60 ft, Aug 26, 2016 | 1 |
| Littleport | 25.36 ft, May 17, 1999 | 9 |
| Volga (IFC) | 790.79 ft, Jul 23, 2017 | 0 |
Clayton County: every hazard · River floods across the country · Iowa
NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge CLAI4, 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.