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Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr

Highest listed crest 26.80 ftFlood stage 12.0 ft43 crests since 1947

The Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr crested at major flood stage 1 time among the 43 crests the National Weather Service lists from 1947 to 2025. The highest, 26.80 ft on July 11, 1993, was major flooding, 14.80 feet above flood stage. 3 other gauges on the Raccoon River crested above flood stage within a week of it, 2 at their own highest listed crest.

The gauge

Highest listed crest
26.80 ft
July 11, 1993; 67,900 cubic feet per second
Flood stage
12.0 ft
Major flooding from 25.0 ft
Crests at major
1
93rd of 203 gauges in Iowa
Most recent flood crest
July 31, 2025
12.50 ft, minor flooding
Location
Polk County
Near Des Moines (1.8 mi), Pleasant Hill (7.2 mi), Norwalk (7.3 mi)

Flood stages

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

Flood categories, Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr
Action stage8.04Feb 28, 2023The level at which the NWS or its partners begin to take action
Flood stage (minor)12.016Jul 31, 2025Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat
Moderate flood stage16.016Mar 15, 2019Some inundation of structures and roads near the stream
Major flood stage25.01Jul 11, 1993Extensive inundation of structures and roads

Every listed crest

43 crests from 1947 to 2025. Filled: at or above flood stage. Hover a crest for its date and stage.

Listed crests at the Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr, 1947 to 2025 0102030ft Flood stage 12.0 ftMajor 25.0 ft Jun 13, 1947: 20.51 ft, moderate floodingApr 2, 1960: 19.11 ft, moderate floodingJun 18, 1984: 16.34 ft, moderate flooding; 31,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 23, 1985: 7.90 ft, below flood stageJul 2, 1986: 19.38 ft, moderate flooding; 34,400 cubic feet per secondAug 27, 1987: 12.39 ft, minor flooding; 12,200 cubic feet per secondSep 9, 1989: 7.85 ft, below flood stage; 4,020 cubic feet per secondJun 17, 1990: 19.42 ft, moderate flooding; 33,600 cubic feet per secondJun 8, 1991: 15.36 ft, minor flooding; 21,900 cubic feet per secondJul 11, 1993: 26.80 ft, major flooding; 67,900 cubic feet per secondMay 29, 1995: 11.34 ft, action stage; 12,300 cubic feet per secondJun 22, 1996: 13.67 ft, minor flooding; 15,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 19, 1997: 13.93 ft, minor flooding; 13,400 cubic feet per secondJun 16, 1998: 20.45 ft, moderate flooding; 45,000 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 1999: 16.02 ft, moderate flooding; 23,600 cubic feet per secondJul 6, 2000: 7.46 ft, below flood stage; 5,760 cubic feet per secondFeb 22, 2001: 15.59 ft, minor floodingMay 7, 2001: 12.80 ft, minor flooding; 15,300 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2002: 8.39 ft, action stage; 7,440 cubic feet per secondMay 9, 2003: 14.84 ft, minor flooding; 20,800 cubic feet per secondMay 24, 2004: 19.45 ft, moderate flooding; 38,400 cubic feet per secondMay 13, 2005: 15.03 ft, minor flooding; 23,100 cubic feet per secondMay 3, 2006: 7.99 ft, below flood stage; 7,620 cubic feet per secondApr 27, 2007: 19.17 ft, moderate flooding; 37,600 cubic feet per secondJun 13, 2008: 24.66 ft, moderate flooding; 56,300 cubic feet per secondDec 28, 2008: 15.51 ft, minor floodingApr 28, 2009: 14.80 ft, minor flooding; 22,400 cubic feet per secondMar 18, 2010: 17.92 ft, moderate flooding; 28,800 cubic feet per secondJun 21, 2011: 13.17 ft, minor flooding; 17,400 cubic feet per secondApr 15, 2012: 7.31 ft, below flood stage; 6,600 cubic feet per secondJun 1, 2013: 16.44 ft, moderate floodingSep 10, 2014: 14.31 ft, minor flooding; 19,800 cubic feet per secondJun 26, 2015: 21.54 ft, moderate flooding; 52,200 cubic feet per secondDec 15, 2015: 18.09 ft, moderate flooding; 30,600 cubic feet per secondMay 21, 2017: 12.24 ft, minor flooding; 15,700 cubic feet per secondJul 1, 2018: 16.33 ft, moderate flooding; 22,200 cubic feet per secondMar 15, 2019: 19.77 ft, moderate flooding; 38,300 cubic feet per secondOct 12, 2019: 11.23 ft, action stage; 13,900 cubic feet per secondMar 26, 2021: 4.56 ft, below flood stage; 2,400 cubic feet per secondJun 7, 2022: 12.49 ft, minor flooding; 15,500 cubic feet per secondFeb 28, 2023: 10.03 ft, action stage; 11,300 cubic feet per secondMay 22, 2024: 14.05 ft, minor flooding; 16,700 cubic feet per secondJul 31, 2025: 12.50 ft, minor flooding; 14,800 cubic feet per second Highest, 26.80 ft, Jul 11, 1993 19501960197019801990200020102020

Crests at or above flood stage, by decade

Crests at or above flood stage per decade, Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr 1940s: 1 1950s: 0 1960s: 1 1970s: 0 1980s: 3 1990s: 7 2000s: 9 9 2010s: 9 2020s: 3 1940s1950s1960s1970s1980s1990s2000s2010s2020s
  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, Raccoon River at Des Moines Fleur Dr
1Jul 11, 199326.80+14.80Major67,900
2Jun 13, 200824.66+12.66Moderate56,300
3Jun 26, 201521.54+9.54Moderate52,200
4Jun 13, 194720.51+8.51Moderate—
5Jun 16, 199820.45+8.45Moderate45,000
6Mar 15, 201919.77+7.77Moderate38,300
7May 24, 200419.45+7.45Moderate38,400
8Jun 17, 199019.42+7.42Moderate33,600
9Jul 2, 198619.38+7.38Moderate34,400
10Apr 27, 200719.17+7.17Moderate37,600
11Apr 2, 196019.11+7.11Moderate—
12Dec 15, 201518.09+6.09Moderate30,600
13Mar 18, 201017.92+5.92Moderate28,800
14Jun 1, 201316.44+4.44Moderate—
15Jun 18, 198416.34+4.34Moderate31,500
16Jul 1, 201816.33+4.33Moderate22,200
17May 22, 199916.02+4.02Moderate23,600
18Feb 22, 200115.59+3.59Minor—
19Dec 28, 200815.51+3.51Minor—
20Jun 8, 199115.36+3.36Minor21,900
21May 13, 200515.03+3.03Minor23,100
22May 9, 200314.84+2.84Minor20,800
23Apr 28, 200914.80+2.80Minor22,400
24Sep 10, 201414.31+2.31Minor19,800
25May 22, 202414.05+2.05Minor16,700
26Feb 19, 199713.93+1.93Minor13,400
27Jun 22, 199613.67+1.67Minor15,500
28Jun 21, 201113.17+1.17Minor17,400
29May 7, 200112.80+0.80Minor15,300
30Jul 31, 202512.50+0.50Minor14,800
31Jun 7, 202212.49+0.49Minor15,500
32Aug 27, 198712.39+0.39Minor12,200
33May 21, 201712.24+0.24Minor15,700
34May 29, 199511.34−0.66Action12,300
35Oct 12, 201911.23−0.77Action13,900
36Feb 28, 202310.03−1.97Action11,300
37Jun 13, 20028.39−3.61Action7,440
38May 3, 20067.99−4.01Below flood stage7,620
39Feb 23, 19857.90−4.10Below flood stage—
40Sep 9, 19897.85−4.15Below flood stage4,020
41Jul 6, 20007.46−4.54Below flood stage5,760
42Apr 15, 20127.31−4.69Below flood stage6,600
43Mar 26, 20214.56−7.44Below flood stage2,400

The worst floods along the Raccoon River

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

July 11, 1993: 26.80 ft here, major flooding

June 13, 2008: 24.66 ft here, moderate flooding

June 26, 2015: 21.54 ft here, moderate flooding

Gauges on the Raccoon River

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

Flood gauges on the Raccoon River
Des Moines Fleur Dr this gaugeIA12.026.80 ft, Jul 11, 19931
Des Moines IA 28IA36.041.31 ft, Jun 13, 20083
Van MeterIA17.026.34 ft, Jul 10, 19933
Van Meter Hwy R16--IFCIA857.8867.14 ft, Jul 10, 19931

Other gauges in Polk County

Flood gauges in Polk County
Grimes14.016.58 ft, Jul 10, 19930
Des Moines 2nd Ave23.031.57 ft, Jun 13, 20082
Des Moines SE 6th St24.035.55 ft, Jun 13, 20086
Saylorville Reservoir884.0892.03 ft, Jul 11, 19930
Des Moines Easton Blvd12.517.51 ft, Jul 1, 20183
Ankeny NE 86th Ave11.016.17 ft, Jul 1, 20180
Des Moines IA 2836.041.31 ft, Jun 13, 20083
Clive I-80/359.013.41 ft, Jun 25, 20150
Des Moines 63rd St14.019.08 ft, Jun 30, 20189

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

NOAA National Water Prediction Service, gauge DEMI4, 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.