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Mississippi River at Muscatine

Highest listed crest 25.61 ftFlood stage 16.0 ft48 crests since 1892

The Mississippi River at Muscatine crested at major flood stage 21 times among the 48 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1892 to 2026. The highest, 25.61 ft on July 9, 1993, was major flooding, 9.61 feet above flood stage. 17 other gauges on the Mississippi River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 9 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
25.61 ft
July 9, 1993
Flood stage
16.0 ft
Major flooding from 20.0 ft
Crests at major
21
10th of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
April 24, 2026
17.60 ft, minor flooding
Location
Muscatine County
Near Muscatine (2.1 mi)
Identifiers
NWS MUSI4
No USGS station

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Mississippi River at Muscatine
Action stage15.01Jun 18, 2015The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)16.015Apr 24, 2026Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage18.011May 12, 2018Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage20.021Jul 11, 2024Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

48 crests from 1892 to 2026. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Mississippi River at Muscatine, 1892 to 2026 14161820222426ft Flood stage 16.0 ftMajor 20.0 ft Jun 28, 1892: 17.43 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 1916: 17.00 ft, minor floodingApr 24, 1922: 19.50 ft, moderate floodingApr 21, 1929: 17.00 ft, minor floodingSep 24, 1938: 18.50 ft, moderate floodingJun 15, 1942: 17.60 ft, minor floodingJun 30, 1944: 19.00 ft, moderate floodingApr 1, 1945: 17.20 ft, minor floodingApr 29, 1951: 21.00 ft, major floodingApr 28, 1952: 21.05 ft, major floodingApr 3, 1960: 18.38 ft, moderate floodingApr 29, 1965: 24.81 ft, major floodingApr 16, 1967: 19.50 ft, moderate floodingApr 26, 1969: 21.20 ft, major floodingApr 25, 1973: 21.63 ft, major floodingJun 26, 1974: 19.08 ft, moderate floodingMay 9, 1975: 20.96 ft, major floodingApr 5, 1979: 18.90 ft, moderate floodingOct 7, 1986: 20.59 ft, major floodingApr 25, 1993: 21.29 ft, major floodingJul 9, 1993: 25.61 ft, major floodingMay 2, 1996: 17.60 ft, minor floodingApr 20, 1997: 21.09 ft, major floodingApr 12, 1998: 19.20 ft, moderate floodingJul 8, 1998: 16.14 ft, minor floodingMay 26, 1999: 16.91 ft, minor floodingJun 17, 2000: 16.74 ft, minor floodingApr 25, 2001: 23.50 ft, major floodingApr 27, 2002: 16.45 ft, minor floodingJun 7, 2002: 17.42 ft, minor floodingMay 24, 2003: 16.25 ft, minor floodingMay 27, 2004: 16.15 ft, minor floodingJun 23, 2004: 18.13 ft, moderate floodingMay 1, 2008: 21.47 ft, major floodingJun 17, 2008: 24.42 ft, major floodingApr 23, 2011: 21.87 ft, major flooding; 258,762 cubic feet per secondApr 22, 2013: 21.86 ft, major flooding; 258,561 cubic feet per secondJul 5, 2014: 23.75 ft, major floodingJun 18, 2015: 15.31 ft, action stageSep 30, 2016: 17.67 ft, minor floodingJun 1, 2017: 18.20 ft, moderate floodingMay 12, 2018: 18.80 ft, moderate floodingApr 10, 2019: 21.95 ft, major floodingMay 3, 2019: 24.33 ft, major floodingJun 2, 2019: 24.52 ft, major flooding; 306,740 cubic feet per secondMay 2, 2023: 22.31 ft, major floodingJul 11, 2024: 21.48 ft, major flooding; 253,248 cubic feet per secondApr 24, 2026: 17.60 ft, minor flooding; 186,177 cubic feet per second Highest, 25.61 ft, Jul 9, 1993 1900192019401960198020002020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Mississippi River at Muscatine 1890s: 1 1900s: 0 1910s: 1 1920s: 2 1930s: 1 1940s: 3 1950s: 2 1960s: 4 1970s: 4 1980s: 1 1990s: 7 2000s: 9 9 2010s: 9 2020s: 3 1890s1900s1910s1920s1930s1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Mississippi River at Muscatine
1Jul 9, 199325.61+9.61Major—
2Apr 29, 196524.81+8.81Major—
3Jun 2, 201924.52+8.52Major306,740
4Jun 17, 200824.42+8.42Major—
5May 3, 201924.33+8.33Major—
6Jul 5, 201423.75+7.75Major—
7Apr 25, 200123.50+7.50Major—
8May 2, 202322.31+6.31Major—
9Apr 10, 201921.95+5.95Major—
10Apr 23, 201121.87+5.87Major258,762
11Apr 22, 201321.86+5.86Major258,561
12Apr 25, 197321.63+5.63Major—
13Jul 11, 202421.48+5.48Major253,248
14May 1, 200821.47+5.47Major—
15Apr 25, 199321.29+5.29Major—
16Apr 26, 196921.20+5.20Major—
17Apr 20, 199721.09+5.09Major—
18Apr 28, 195221.05+5.05Major—
19Apr 29, 195121.00+5.00Major—
20May 9, 197520.96+4.96Major—
21Oct 7, 198620.59+4.59Major—
22Apr 24, 192219.50+3.50Moderate—
23Apr 16, 196719.50+3.50Moderate—
24Apr 12, 199819.20+3.20Moderate—
25Jun 26, 197419.08+3.08Moderate—
26Jun 30, 194419.00+3.00Moderate—
27Apr 5, 197918.90+2.90Moderate—
28May 12, 201818.80+2.80Moderate—
29Sep 24, 193818.50+2.50Moderate—
30Apr 3, 196018.38+2.38Moderate—
31Jun 1, 201718.20+2.20Moderate—
32Jun 23, 200418.13+2.13Moderate—
33Sep 30, 201617.67+1.67Minor—
34Jun 15, 194217.60+1.60Minor—
35May 2, 199617.60+1.60Minor—
36Apr 24, 202617.60+1.60Minor186,177
37Jun 28, 189217.43+1.43Minor—
38Jun 7, 200217.42+1.42Minor—
39Apr 1, 194517.20+1.20Minor—
40May 7, 191617.00+1.00Minor—
41Apr 21, 192917.00+1.00Minor—
42May 26, 199916.91+0.91Minor—
43Jun 17, 200016.74+0.74Minor—
44Apr 27, 200216.45+0.45Minor—
45May 24, 200316.25+0.25Minor—
46May 27, 200416.15+0.15Minor—
47Jul 8, 199816.14+0.14Minor—
48Jun 18, 201515.31−0.69Action—

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.

July 9, 1993: 25.61 ft here, major flooding

  • QuincyIL · Jul 13, 1993 · 32.13 ft · Major · its highest
  • HannibalMO · Jul 15, 1993 · 31.80 ft · Major · its highest
  • Quincy Lock and Dam 21IL · Jul 13, 1993 · 31.30 ft · Major · its highest
  • LaGrangeMO · Jul 13, 1993 · 30.00 ft · Major · its highest
  • Gregory LandingMO · Jul 9, 1993 · 28.49 ft · Major · its highest
  • Canton Lock and Dam 20MO · Jul 9, 1993 · 27.88 ft · Major · its highest
  • KeokukIA · Jul 10, 1993 · 27.58 ft · Major · its highest
  • New BostonIL · Jul 9, 1993 · 25.90 ft · Major · its highest
  • BurlingtonIL · Jul 10, 1993 · 25.10 ft · Major
  • KeithsburgIA · Jul 9, 1993 · 24.15 ft · Major

April 29, 1965: 24.81 ft here, major flooding

June 2, 2019: 24.52 ft here, major flooding

Gauges on the Mississippi River

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

Flood gauges on the Mississippi River
TiptonvilleMO37.048.35 ft, May 5, 20112
Alma - Pool 5MN672.0672.13 ft, Apr 16, 20010
AltonIL21.039.55 ft, Aug 1, 19937
Baton RougeLA35.047.28 ft, May 15, 192731
BellevueIL17.023.51 ft, Apr 26, 196511
BrainerdMN16.017.61 ft, Jun 28, 20120
BrownsvilleMN635.0640.20 ft, Apr 22, 19650
BurlingtonIL15.025.73 ft, Jun 17, 200836
CamancheIA17.024.65 ft, Apr 28, 196520
Canton Lock and Dam 20MO15.027.88 ft, Jul 9, 19933
Cape GirardeauMO32.048.86 ft, Jan 2, 201615
CaruthersvilleMO32.047.61 ft, May 7, 20112
ChesterIL27.049.74 ft, Aug 7, 19939
Clarksville Lock and Dam 24MO25.037.73 ft, Jul 29, 199310
ClaytonIA620.0627.28 ft, Apr 24, 19650
DakotaMN644.0649.08 ft, Apr 21, 19650
DonaldsonvilleLA27.036.01 ft, May 15, 19273
Dubuque (LD11)IA16.025.69 ft, Apr 26, 196513
Dubuque (Railroad Bridge)IA17.026.81 ft, Apr 26, 196518
Fort RipleyMN10.514.15 ft, Apr 8, 19970
Fridley abv 37th Ave NEMN16.020.00 ft, Apr 17, 19656
FultonIL16.024.75 ft, Apr 28, 196513
GladstoneIL10.022.46 ft, Jun 17, 200824
GraftonIL20.038.17 ft, Aug 1, 199315
Gregory LandingMO15.028.49 ft, Jul 9, 19934
HannibalMO17.031.80 ft, Jul 15, 199310
HelenaAR44.060.21 ft, Feb 12, 19374
HerculaneumMO26.029.79 ft, Jul 10, 20240
HickmanKY34.054.29 ft, May 2, 20113
Hwy 169 at ChamplinMN12.017.96 ft, Apr 12, 19653
Hwy 610 in Brooklyn ParkMN12.019.53 ft, Apr 17, 19654
Illinois CityIA15.024.10 ft, Jul 9, 199321
KeithsburgIA14.024.49 ft, Jun 17, 200822
KeokukIA16.027.58 ft, Jul 10, 199324
La Crosse - Pool 8WI12.017.89 ft, Apr 22, 19654
LaGrangeMO17.030.00 ft, Jul 13, 19934
Lake CityWI16.022.18 ft, Apr 19, 19653
Lansing - Pool 9IA17.022.50 ft, Apr 24, 19651
LeClaireIA11.017.75 ft, Apr 28, 196516
LouisianaMO15.028.40 ft, Jul 28, 19934
McGregorIA16.025.38 ft, Apr 24, 19653
Mel Price (Alton) Lock and DamIL21.042.72 ft, Aug 1, 19938
MemphisTN34.048.70 ft, Feb 10, 19372
Muscatine this gaugeIA16.025.61 ft, Jul 9, 199321
NatchezMS48.061.95 ft, May 19, 20116
New BostonIL15.025.90 ft, Jul 9, 199322
New MadridMO34.048.35 ft, May 6, 20114
New OrleansLA17.021.27 ft, Apr 25, 19225
OsceolaAR28.050.90 ft, Feb 7, 193742
QuincyIL19.032.13 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Quincy Lock and Dam 21IL18.031.30 ft, Jul 13, 19937
Red River LandingLA48.063.39 ft, May 18, 20110
Red WingMN14.020.70 ft, Apr 18, 19659
ReserveLA22.026.00 ft, Jun 11, 19291
Rock IslandIL15.022.70 ft, May 2, 201920
Saverton Lock and Dam 22MO16.029.58 ft, Jul 25, 19939
St. CloudMN9.011.44 ft, Apr 8, 19971
St. LouisMO30.049.58 ft, Aug 1, 19939
St. PaulMN14.026.01 ft, Apr 16, 196516
ThebesIL33.047.74 ft, Jan 2, 201612
Tunica Mhoon LandingMS30.053.20 ft, Feb 10, 19375
VicksburgLA43.057.10 ft, May 19, 201112
Wabasha - Pool 4MN12.020.05 ft, Apr 19, 19657
Winfield Lock and Dam 25MO26.039.62 ft, Aug 1, 19939
Winona - Pool 6MN13.020.77 ft, Apr 19, 19655
Lock and Dam 10 - GuttenbergIA15.023.65 ft, Apr 24, 19652
Lock and Dam 2 - HastingsMN15.025.90 ft, Apr 17, 196512
Lock and Dam 3 - Red WingMN680.5687.77 ft, Apr 19, 19658
Lock and Dam 4 - AlmaWI16.019.78 ft, Apr 19, 19652
Lock and Dam 5 - Minnesota CityMN660.0667.85 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 5a - WinonaMN655.0663.35 ft, Apr 19, 19654
Lock and Dam 6 - TrempealeauMN647.0653.02 ft, Apr 21, 19654
Lock and Dam 7 - La CrescentMN641.0647.38 ft, Apr 21, 19652
Lock and Dam 8 - GenoaWI631.0638.40 ft, Apr 22, 19653
Lock and Dam 9 - LynxvilleWI625.0633.16 ft, Apr 24, 19653
AitkinMN13.022.49 ft, May 20, 195011
Arkansas CityAR37.059.20 ft, Apr 21, 192715
GreenvilleAR48.065.40 ft, Apr 21, 192718

Other gauges in Muscatine County

Flood gauges in Muscatine County
Conesville13.023.40 ft, Jun 15, 200812
Illinois City15.024.10 ft, Jul 9, 199321

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge MUSI4, 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.